To monitor the progress and performance of the new youth services structure.

The Committee received a presentation that provided a spotlight on the Council’s Youth Justice and Young People’s Services which included (i) details on what has happened since youth services provision has been commissioned; (ii) progress made to date; (iii) how the challenges have been managed and moving forward how will this improve provision; and (iv) what targets have been set for the provision and how it will be monitored.  The mains points arising from the questioning on the presentation is summarised as follows:

v  Noted that the model of delivery for youth services has changed and the Borough has now commissioned 10 universal centre-based youth centres, 4 specialist’s youth provisions for specific cohorts of young people and 5 Detached youth provisions to support and engage young people on their territory (streets, parks, open & shared public spaces) where participation is voluntary. These  council commissioned youth centres work jointly with Youth Justice service in supporting young people as part of their step-down process to re-engaging in Targeted or Universal services and encouraging user voice through participative activities such as the youth Council.

v  Noted that the newly commissioned services are now beginning to bed in and be able to prove impact. The Council have held the first Youth Providers Forum since the award of the last contracts and all providers are very engaged in the new model moving forward – particularly in sharing good practice and working together to tackle issues.

v  Noted that a bid has been submitted for growth funding and discussions are being held about building collaboration to deliver training to the wider network and how to share this with minimal cost implications.

v  Noted that LBTH has been clear with the providers that they will be checked in terms of quality and the impact that this has had on young people's lives and indeed on Community cohesion.

v  Agreed that it is not just about the commissioning relationship, but it is about the ongoing development of working collaboratively and sharing best practice.

v  Noted that the commissioning approach was undertaken in a way that ensured that all local providers were fully informed about the Council’s approach.

v  Understood that LBTH are speaking to the providers about introducing a shared database as it is felt to be a more convenient means of exchanging data than file transfer as it allows for immediate updates and can be used to assert a common data system.

v  Noted that should a young person have no recourse to public funds, the law does not give them the right to financial or other forms of support from government agencies, except in cases where a young person’s human rights under the Human Rights Act may be violated.

v  Understood that Tower Hamlets Council aims to ensure that where young are entitled to assistance either under the HRA or under other legislation – this will be provided.  They are guaranteed that they will be listened to, and their concerns will be taken seriously.  However, LBTH also needs to act within the law so if the Council is unable to help them further, the young person will be pointed towards other organisations which may be able to do so.

v  Noted that LBTH are working to ensure that all the young people are getting fair access and that the Council are sharing information about all the different organizations that are out there to ensure that LBTH is matching young people to the right services at the right time.

v  Commented that whilst the information on the quality of work being undertaken with young people who are engaged with the with the Council's and the commissioned youth centres is very helpful.  It was felt that they as a committee had not really been given the desired level of assurance with regard to the youth provision (e.g., Eastside Youth or Minerva Community Centre’s) and would wish to see actual performance data and asked that such data should be made available as soon as possible.

v  Indicated that they would wish to see evidence of the quality of work being undertaken by providers towards supporting young people to take ownership of their own lives as it was felt really important to know whether things are getting better or not.

v  Commented that under the Social Value Act commissioning authorities need to give consideration at the pre-procurement stage to (i) how what is to be obtained will improve the social, environmental, and economic well-being of the relevant area over and above the core delivery of a contract; and (ii) how any such improvement might be secured.

v  Was pleased to note that Council’s Youth Justice and Young People’s Services would be very happy to look again at what assurance they  can be provided with in regard to those young people who are asylum seekers and have no recourse to public funds together with what data  can be provided on that, along with the other data that the committee has asked.

v  Noted that with regard to those children and young people who are unaccompanied asylum seekers LBTH is to offer trauma training to all the Borough’s youth providers to ensure that they have the specialist knowledge to build sustainable relationships with children and young people.

v  Agreed that Council’s Youth Justice and Young People’s Services needs to develop good quality youth provision that is available to all across the Borough through the eyes of as wide as a cross section of local children and young people.

v  Agreed that youth development strategies should be aimed at all children and young people. The assumption is that creating supportive and enriching environments for all children and young people will lead to the desired positive outcomes as well as reduced negative outcomes. However, it was very important to blend universal approaches with approaches that are targeting all those children and young people facing extra challenges from across the Borough.

v  Agreed that (i) the sharing best practice should be develop further; (ii) the Council’s Youth Justice and Young People’s Services should, ensure that providers are meeting the needs of the young people, (iii) young people should continue to be involved in the monitoring and the moulding of the youth offer so that their voice continues to be heard;  and (iv) therefore ensuring that are at the forefront of what LBTH is delivering.

v  Agreed that whilst effective youth work takes place in buildings as well as on the streets, considerable effort needs to go into creating an atmosphere in all youth venues which is stimulating, friendly and purposeful.

v  Noted that these youth venues serve the dual purpose of accommodating unstructured social interaction among different age groups and supplying instructional classes all in a safe, supervised environment.

v  Accepted that each venue needs to offer an extensive timetable of games, sports, advice, and opportunities to just chill-out. These venues  also should offer volunteering opportunities as well as access to training and nationally recognised qualifications.

v  Agreed that both the Committee and the Children and Education Scrutiny Sub-Committee have a key role to play to help improve the youth offer through monitoring and review to ensure that the offer still is relevant and is putting young people at the heart of what LBTH is doing in terms of supporting the community and providers.

In conclusion, the Chair thanked all those attendees for their contributions to the discussions which had provided a good sense on the progress in regard to (i) youth services provision; (ii) progress made to date; (iii) how the challenges have been managed and how will this improve provision; and (iv) the targets that have been set for the provision and how it will be monitored.