The Strategic Director, Place will submit Document “G” which gives an update on the work undertaken by the Youth Service (Bradford East Area) during April 2017 and March 2018.

Recommended-

That the work undertaken by the Youth Service in the Bradford East Area as detailed in Document “G” be welcomed.

                                                                        (Norrina Rashid – 01274 432135)

The Strategic Director, Place submitted Document “G” which gave an update on the work undertaken by the Youth Service (Bradford East Area) during April 2017 and March 2018.

It was reported that as part of a wider health service initiative called Youth In Mind, the CCGs were now commissioning the Youth Service to deliver ‘Buddy support’ to support young people who had been assessed by the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) to have mental health issues. Since the start of April 2017, Youth Workers had received on average 5 referrals, at any one point in time. Youth in Mind was part of the CCGs strategy to broaden support for young people with mental health issues within non medical/ specialist services.    

Members were informed that Youth Workers acted as Buddies to the young people, their role was to befriend them, support them using the Signs of Safety approach and navigate them to the various support opportunities available to them. 

A young person who had used the Buddy Support System spoke about her positive experience and assistance she had received through the scheme.

Members were informed about the work undertaken by the Youth Service in the Bradford East area to contribute to achieving the Youth Service Key Performance Indicators during April 2017 and March 2018 (detailed in Appendix “A” to the report).

It was reported that in addition to maintaining the level of open access youth provision had seen significant growth in the number of specific one to one interventions that had helped address the need of vulnerable young people. Three case studies from the YIM (Youth in Mind) program that highlighted the impact of these interventions on the lives of young people in Bradford East ward were reported to Members.

Members commented on a number of issues which included:

·         How much money was available to support the six Bradford East Wards?

·         How would the Service know if Key Performance Indicators 2 (Voice and influence), 3 (open access) and 4 (targeted provision) had increased?

·         Concerned that if a child did not live near a youth centre or referred to the Youth Service they would not know how to access the Service; struggled to find out how a young person would access the Youth Service and worried that the element of accessing the Youth Service was still not right; a Youth Service app was being developed what stage was that at?

·         Youth Service had taken on CAHMS work and supported mental health and having done this work now for a year did Youth Workers feel it was too big a job and were they being supported?

·         Worried about those young people that were not being reached due to the intensive support needed.

·         There was a danger of Youth Service having to pick up capacity in other areas such as Social Care.

·         At the last joint Children’s Services and Health and Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee there was a suggestion that buddying should be undertaken with young people who had similar experiences as the young person needing support.

·         How many secondary schools were not participating in Youth Service interventions? what was the scale of the problem of young people who were excluded from school?

·         Through the Youth Services intervention work were safeguarding issues referred to Children’s Services?

·         Were any children turned away due to capacity?

In response to Members questions it was reported that:

·         Funding available to the wards would be provided to Members.

·         The various KPI figures would be monitored next year as this year was the first year they had been introduced; one to one work with young people had increased; youth voice had increased and young people were more actively engaged and more information and advice work was being undertaken.

·         Concerns raised about accessibility to the Youth Service would be taken to the Youth Service Practitioners meeting; the Youth Service app was still in development.

·         Youth Workers were enjoying the extra responsibility they had taken on in relation to CAHMS work; very few young people required the specialist support; Youth Workers were being fully supported.

·         Evaluation of Youth in Mind/Buddy Support had been undertaken and Youth Workers were commended for the excellent work they do.

·         Bradford was the only City where the CAHMS waiting list was below 10 weeks due to the work undertaken by the Youth Service.

·         Youth Service was looking at undertaking more small group work with young people and intensive one to ones.

·         More work would be undertaken with secondary schools in the coming year; the number of pupils being excluded was increasing.

·         Any issues relating to safeguarding would be referred to Children’s Services; Youth Service were linked to various services/agencies and the Service also worked with residential units.

·         Youth Services were overstretched but no child would be turned away only in circumstances where it was not a Youth Service responsibility; some young people just dropped out and a handful that did not engage; Youth Service do try and locate young people that did not engage.

In response to a Member’s question it was reported that in the Bradford East Area young people had been supported to access information, advice and guidance digitally through a self-care tool called Make Your Mind Up. This digital tool enabled young people to explore a range of issues such as employability, housing, diet and exercise whist promoting better mental health and wellbeing.

It was reported that this digital tool worked alongside a range of other activities which increased the numbers of young people accessing Information, Advice and Guidance. For instance Job clubs, which run in the Little Horton, Bowling Barkerend & Bradford Moor wards. Here young people were able to explore career choices, search for employment, training & education opportunities as well a develop CV’s and practise interview techniques.

Resolved-

(1)       That the work undertaken by the Youth Service in the Bradford East Area as detailed in Document “G” be welcomed.

(2)       That the young people be thanked for attending the meeting and for the work they undertake in supporting the Youth Service such as assisting Junior Youth Clubs.

Action:           Strategic Director, Place