Contact: Alison Alexander, 01962 846171, [email protected]

1 Summary

1.1 This report summarises activity that has taken place on the implementation of the 13 recommendations approved on Executive Members Decision Day 11 October 2007 on services for young people in Hampshire.

2 Recommendations

a) Executive Members to note the activity in section 3 and authorise officers to continue progressing the implementation of the recommendations agreed at Executive Members Decision Day, 11 October 2007.

b) Executive Members receive a further progress report in March prior to the transfer date of the workforce of South Central Connexions Partnership into Hampshire County Council Children's Services Department.

3 Activity to implement services for young people

Points 3.1 - 3.12 begin by outlining the relevant recommendation, as approved on 11 October 2007, and then summarises the activity on the implementation. Activity during October to December 2007 has been focused on planning. There will be an increase in the number of tangible outcomes from activity by the end of March 2008.

3.1 The Director of Children's Services will focus a greater proportion of the resources available for youth support on the young people who need them most. (See Appendix 1 - 11 October Decision Sheet, 1.1).

The principles underpinning the work includes the commitment to ensure resource meets need. This principle is being used in the work taking place to develop the service, to promote the developments to partners and in budget preparation.

3.2 More resources will be invested in front-line services through making savings in management, support functions and premises. (See Appendix 1 - 11 October Decision Sheet, 1.2).

Activity against this recommendation is divided into two parts;

· streamlining of management and,

· the redirection of services out of Connexions specific shop fronts.

3.2.1 Streamlining of management - the structure being implemented continues to seek to reduce the number of management positions. Other support functions such as administration, communications, data, performance, commissioning is being streamlined in the new arrangement.

3.2.2 Activity is continuing to streamline the number of buildings in which services are directly offered to young people. Sensitive negotiations are ongoing at a local, regional and national level regarding lease arrangements, however we are continuing to migrate services into a range of community based settings to increase usage and accessibility.

3.3 Recommendations 3 and 4 are taken together. Nine consortia teams of practitioners will be created and aligned within the 14-19 consortia partnerships. The staffing currently within the eleven district youth teams will be reconfigured and deliver more targeted services. (See Appendix 1 - 11 October Decision Sheet, 1.3 and 1.4).

Activity taking place covers the configuration in terms of number of existing staff who will transfer into the teams. Detailed discussion has taken place with a range of partners including 40% of the 95 Schools, Colleges and Training Providers across the county. This work will continue to be progressed. In addition discussion is taking place with the nine Hampshire Action Teams, 11 District Children and Young People Groups and the voluntary sector. The structure arrangements are being received very positively.

3.4 From April 2008, up to around 5% of the budget that in 2007/08 (£750,000) supported Connexions and youth service work will be used by District Managers in partnership with District Children and Young People's Partnerships for the purchasing of targeted and open access youth provision. (See Appendix 1 - 11 October Decision Sheet, 1.5).

Detailed work on this recommendation will take place once the budget allocation has been announced from central government.

3.5 A proportion of human resource will remain seconded to the Wessex Youth Offending Team to deliver preventative work and support young people back into education, employment and training. (See Appendix 1 - 11 October Decision Sheet, 1.6)

Plans have been put in place to maintain the seconded workforce within the Wessex Youth Offending Team as detailed in the recommendation. Discussion is taking place with the Local Authorities regarding staff seconded to YOT through the Keeping Young People Engaged (KYPE) funding.

3.6 Practitioners will prioritise those young people identified as vulnerable in the Children and Young Peoples Plan April 2006 - March 2009, with specific focus on children and young people in our care, those who have special educational needs, learning difficulties and disabilities up to the age of 25, and those at risk of not achieving positive outcomes. (See Appendix 1 - 11 October Decision Sheet, 1.7).

As we are developing the service plan the focus on looked after children and those with learning difficulties and/or disabilities is being maintained. Role profiles and the work with education establishments and training providers are reflecting this as a priority.

3.7 In relation to the branding of the integrated services, the Council will have close regard to the DCSF guidance in respect of the use of the term "Connexions." (See Appendix 1 - 11 October Decision Sheet, 1.8).

Specific activity on branding will increase in the first quarter of 2008. Some transitional funding has been received to support any rebranding that is necessary.

3.8 Services provided for young people will be performance managed against criteria. (See Appendix 1 - 11 October Decision Sheet, 1.9).

Activity under recommendation nine will increase in the first quarter of 2008. A range of task groups is identifying mechanisms to implement the performance criteria. All performance criteria developed will be based on the National Indicator Set.

3.9 The `in principle' commitment offered by the four local authorities (Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton) to underwrite the residual pension liability of Connexions staff moving into the County Council (up to a maximum of £383,500 for Hampshire County Council Children's Services Department) is approved. (See Appendix 1 - 11 October Decision Sheet, 1.10).

South Central Connexions Partnership confirmed in a letter (13 November 2007), that due to the allocation of transitional funding the `in principle' decision by the four Local Authorities will not need to be called upon. Discussion is continuing with South Central Connexions to clarify complexity and the uncertainties which will continue until after 1 April 2008.

3.10 In partnership with the three local authorities (Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton) officers will explore options for outsourcing the Client Caseload Information System (CCIS). (See Appendix 1 - 11 October Decision Sheet, 1.11).

Following analysis by the Head of Information and Systems Management for Children's Services, agreement was sought from the director that we could deliver the Client Caseload Information System (CCIS) internally. Documentation to support this is available.

3.11 That a review of the skills mix will be undertaken with a view to increasing the number of practitioners who are qualified to give careers advice and guidance. (See Appendix 1 - 11 October Decision Sheet, 1.12).

This recommendation confirms our commitment to increase the number of practitioners being incorporated into the delivery of the service. All educational establishments and training providers have been notified of this commitment.

3.12 That a progress report be brought back to the Executive Lead Member in January 2008. (See Appendix 1 - 11 October Decision Sheet, 1.13).

This report is in response to recommendation 13 that a progress report be brought back to the Executive Lead Member in January 2008.

4 Budget

We are still currently awaiting confirmation from the DCSF on the Connexions Grants allocation for 2008/09 to 2010/11. Service planning is based on the 2007/08 budget with the knowledge that there is likely to be a reduction in the Connexions grant for future years. Discussion is taking place with the DCSF to secure our grant allocation.

If the grant received is lower than the 2007/08 allocation there will a direct implication on service delivery. The full service costs will be available at the end of January 2008.

Contact: Alison Alexander Tel: 01962 846171 email: [email protected]

1 Summary

The following decision is sought:

That the Executive Lead Member for Children's Services (Education) agrees that:

1.1 The Director of Children's Services will focus a greater proportion of the resources available for youth support on the young people who need them most. (See main report 4.1)

1.2 (See main report 4.2 and Appendix 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7)

1.3 Nine consortia teams of practitioners, as defined in 2.2, of the main report will be created and aligned within the 14-19 consortia partnerships. As the 14 - 19 partnerships are not yet fully established the consortia teams will initially be managed by the Children's Services Department and deployed and based in education, training and other establishments, providing:

· information, support (including advice and guidance), prevention and early intervention services; and

· specialist support.

(See main report 4.3 and Appendix 8, 9 and 10)

1.4 The staffing currently within the eleven district (matching district council boundaries) youth teams will be reconfigured and deliver more targeted services. The teams will be managed by a district youth team leader working to the Children and Families district manager and will provide:

· information, support (including advice and guidance), prevention and early intervention services to those young people who will not be reached within consortia teams;

· specialist support; and

· open access youth clubs/projects for young people in local communities as appropriate and as part of a range of services available to them in the local community delivered by a range of providers defined in recommendation 1.5. (See main report 4.4 and Appendix 11 and 12)

1.5 From April 2008, up to around 5% of the budget that in 2007/08 (£750,000) supported Connexions and youth service work will be used by District Managers in partnership with District Children and Young People's Partnerships for the purchasing of targeted and open access youth provision. This is in addition to, and complements that provided by the district youth teams (as in 1.4) and existing services offered by the voluntary and community sector and district councils. (See main report 4.5)

1.6 A proportion of human resource (the current allocations from South Central Connexions and Children's Services is 17.5 FTE), will remain seconded to the Wessex Youth Offending Team to deliver preventative work and support young people back into education, employment and training. (See main report 4.6)

1.7 Practitioners will prioritise those young people identified as vulnerable in the Children and Young Peoples Plan April 2006 - March 2009, with specific focus on children and young people in our care, those who have special educational needs, learning difficulties and disabilities up to the age of 25, and those at risk of not achieving positive outcomes. (See main report 4.7)

1.8 That in relation to the branding of the integrated services, the Council will have close regard to the DCSF guidance in respect of the use of the term "Connexions."

1.9 Services provided for young people will be performance managed against the criteria set out in paragraph 4.9. (See main report 4.9)

1.10 The `in principle' commitment offered by the four local authorities (Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton) to underwrite the residual pension liability of Connexions staff moving into the County Council (up to a maximum of £383,500 for Hampshire County Council Children's Services Department) is approved. This `in principle' commitment does not affect the County Council's view that these costs should be met by the Department for Children Schools and Families from the transitional grant, but recognises the need to maintain an excellent service for young people through the transition process. The contribution would only be called upon after the existing commitment for the Department for Children, Schools and Families and South Central Connexions to meet a pension liability of up to £590,000. This in principle commitment is further dependant on the South Central Connexions Partnership being dissolved on the transfer of the service to Hampshire County Council on and not before 1 April 2008. Any cost incurred will be met from the funding for the Connexions service in 2008/09. (See main report 4.10 and Appendix 13)

1.11 In partnership with the three local authorities (Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton) officers will explore options for outsourcing the Client Caseload Information System (CCIS) reporting on the outcome at the Executive Lead Member for Children's Services (Education) decision day in December 2007. (See main report 4.11)

1.12 That a review of the skills mix will be undertaken with a view to increasing the number of practitioners who are qualified to give careers advice and guidance.

1.13 That a progress report be brought back to the Executive Lead Member in January 2008.

2 Reason

In 2006 the Government confirmed that the funding for Connexions services would be directed through Local Authorities to support the development of Integrated Youth Support Services.

2.1 This decision supports the following Hampshire County Council priority:

Making Hampshire safer and more secure for all

Maximising well-being

2.2 The decision supports the following Aims of the Children Act:

Being healthy; Staying safe; Enjoying and achieving; Making a positive contribution; Economic well-being.

3 Other Options considered and rejected:

3.1 To do nothing is not an option. On 21 June 2007, the Executive Lead Member for Children's Services (Education) determined that the functions currently delivered by South Central Connexions Partnership should, from April 2008, be brought in-house and incorporated into the Children's Services Department in line with the Change for Children programme, and the core principles of the department.

4 Conflicts of Interest declared by the decision maker or other Executive Member consulted

4.1 None.

5 Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee -

5.1 None

6 Reason(s) for the matter being dealt with if urgent -

Not applicable

Approved by: Date:

........................................

Councillor David Kirk

Executive Lead Member for Children's Services (Education)