Agenda item

To receive a report from the Director of Children’s Services presenting an analysis on targeted youth work from 1 April 2015 to 30 September 2015 via Infographics.

The Director of Children’s Services submitted a report which presented an analysis on targeted youth work from 1 April 2015 to 30 September 2015.

The following were in attendance:

-  Councillor Lucinda Yeadon, Executive Board Member (Children and Families)

-  Councillor Jane Dowson, Deputy Executive Member (Children and Families)

-  Nigel Richardson, Director of Children’s Services

-  Paul Brennan, Deputy Director of Children’s Services (Learning)

-  Sue Rumbold, Chief Officer (Partnership Development and Business Support)

-  Andrea Richardson, Head of Service (Learning for Life)

-  Jean Ellison, Youth Offer Lead, Children’s Services.

The key areas of discussion were:

·  Clarification sought in terms of outcomes.  The Board was advised that a more detailed report in relation to targeted youth services was being presented to the Schools Forum in January 2016.  The Board asked to receive a copy of the report.

·  The challenges associated with maintaining a diminished resource and the need to develop a more holistic approach to youth services.

·  The important role of young people in relation to the delivery of youth service provision.

·  The varying levels of provision in different areas of the city.

·  The difficulties interpreting some information in the report. The Board was advised that the level of provision was based on the number of young people and deprivation in the area.

·  The importance of joined up working with schools and voluntary sector providers, particularly in relation to ensuring consistency of provision across the city.

·  Clarification sought about the measures used to monitor the quality of provision.  The Board was advised that financial pressures had impacted on quality assurance analysis, although reporting still existed through Community Committees and an increased use of Clusters.  Feedback was provided as part of outcome based accountability framework.

·  The value of youth work to support education and the types of outcomes that schools required. Concern was expressed about the risk of diluting provision.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the contents of the report be noted.

(b)  That the Board receives a copy of the report on targeted youth services, which is being presented to the Schools Forum in January 2016.

(c)  That the Scrutiny Board considers if a further piece of scrutiny work be undertaken on the overall youth offer in Leeds following receipt of the report on Universal Activities Funding in January 2016.

(Councillor A Ogilvie joined the meeting at 10.00am during the consideration of this item.)

(Mrs S Hutchinson left the meeting at 10.30am during the consideration of this item.)