Contact: Lisa Smith, Youth Officer (Development & Training) Tel: 01962 717030 email: [email protected]

Bob Rhodes, Youth Officer (Accreditation) Tel: 01962 717029

email: [email protected]

1. Report Summary

1.1 The aim of this report is to provide information about youth work and training carried out by the Development and Training Team, with reference to the key issues being addressed. Information is included on current work and planned developments.

1.2 The activities detailed within this report support Aim 5 (Improving services) and Aim 6 (Developing staff) of the Corporate Strategy.

2. Development and Training

2.1 Quality youth work is underpinned by staff teams who are well trained and supported and are aware of current issues within the Youth Service both locally and nationally.

2.2 Effective development and training is an integral part of the organisation of the Youth Service in Hampshire and is the responsibility of all staff within the service. The Development and Training team has a particular role in driving the content and quality of development and training in accordance with national, regional, organisational and district requirements. Working alongside the eleven districts and the voluntary sector in Hampshire, the Development and Training team is committed to ensuring high quality training and staff development for all staff and volunteers at all levels of the service. It assists the County in meeting accreditation and qualification targets as set out in the Strategic Development Plan.

2.3 Particular strands of development work for both youth workers and young people through Development Youth Workers (DYW) include: Drugs Education work (DYW - Drugs Education); Development of the County and District Youth Councils including the Youth Parliament members (DYW - Participation); Transition Projects and work with 10 to 13s (DYW - 10-13s); Outdoor Education and Summer Activities Programme (DYW - Outdoor Education). The Duke of Edinburgh's Award programme of personal development can include participation in the developments above as well as encouraging participation in other new and challenging experiences.

3. Key Issues

3.1 Achievements during the last year include

· Delivery of extensive range of youth work training courses

· Partnership agreement between Solent Consortium members finalised Franchise agreement with Eastleigh college signed

· Appointment of additional Development Worker (Training)

· Validation of local youth work at NVQ Level II

· Development of Regional Connexions Training Forum

· Validation of the Foundation Degree in Youth work by the National Youth Agency

· A 5.5% increase in the number of Units offering the Duke of Edinburgh's Award

· A 34% increase in participation in the Award Programme

· A 23% increase in participants completing Awards

· Establishment of a County Outdoor Education Forum

· A 38% increase in volunteers trained as Award Leaders

· 213 volunteers trained as Award Expedition Section trainers since 2002

· Award volunteers attended an Exploration Conference

· Youth workers attended courses on Risk Management in the Outdoors

· Youth Workers attended training for the Youth Achievement Awards

· Successful 10 to 13's and Transition Projects

· Increase in the membership of the County Youth Council

· Increase in the number of workers from voluntary organisations participating in Youth Service training

· Performance review training delivered to all administration staff

· Elections for Hampshire for six members of the UK Youth Parliament have taken place with over 3100 young people participating in the voting

· Equalities Review Group serviced by Development worker (Training)

3.2 Anticipated developments include:

· Development of Senior Member (Young Worker) Training NVQ Level I

· Development Worker (Training) and Development Worker (Participation) to develop a strategy for involving young people in quality assurance processes and decision making

· Training the Trainers course delivered to administration staff

· Seven youth workers enrolled on the Foundation Degree (Youth Work) Southampton. Commencement of the Foundation Degree in January 2004.

· Appointment of additional Development Youth Worker to further develop participation work and support the involvement of young people in the delivery of the Connexions service.

· Training for the new regulations for Duke of Edinburgh's Award Expedition Section

· Establishing Expedition Training Teams in each District

· Increasing the number of Expedition Assessors

· Increasing the number of Youth Projects offering the Duke of Edinburgh's Award

· Increasing the number of Outdoor Education Opportunities in each District

· Increasing the number of Youth Projects offering the Youth Achievement Awards

· Appointment of Special Needs worker for the Duke of Edinburgh's Award

· All Youth Projects to have a structure for accrediting young people's learning

3.3 Issues for consideration:

· Development Worker (Participation) on maternity leave March 04-August 04

· Involvement of Development and Training Team in the delivery of training to Connexions staff not employed by Hampshire County Council

· Development Worker (10 to 13s ) post ends July 2004

· Appointment of Development Worker (Accreditation)

4. Staff development

4.1 8 members of staff have recently successfully completed their National Diploma in Youth and Community Work, a further 8 members of staff are being supported in their final year of this course.

4.2 27 youth workers have recently completed their NVQ2, in youth work. A further 30 will be supported in this qualification over the coming year.

4.3 £10,000 has been allocated to a bursaries budget for 03/04, supporting 40 individuals to access externally delivered short courses.

4.4 £52,000 has been allocated to support 37 members of staff undertaking longer, award bearing courses including professional qualifications, first and second degrees.

5. Youth Service resources

5.1 The Youth Service delegated budget for the Development and Training Team in 2003/2004 is £321,000. This includes full time staff salaries for the Development and Training Officer, the two Development Workers (Training) and the administration support.

5.2 Additional external funding of £54,700 comes from the Learning and Skills Council via Eastleigh College and from the Transforming Youth Work Development Fund..

6. Recommendation

6.1 The current work of the development and training team is to be welcomed and this report noted. Additional information for each Development area can be found in the appropriate Development Action Plan.

Section 100D - Local Government Act 1972 - Background Papers

1. The following documents disclose facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and has been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report.

N.B. The list excludes:

1. Published works

2. Documents which disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act.