Agenda item

(a)       That the Committee notes the development of the Integrated Youth Provision (IYP) and endorses the delivery model which was informed by the Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) agenda;

(b)       That the Committee endorses the increased focus on targeted and preventative  e.g. increased focus on substance misuse and sexual health innovations as this offered the earliest support to the most vulnerable young people;

(c)        That the Committee endorses the increasing focus on delivering within Flintshire’s secondary schools to support the engagement, attendance and wellbeing of the most vulnerable young people, particularly those who were ‘looked after’ children (LAC) and those at risk of becoming ‘Not in Education Employment or Training’ (NEET);

(d)       That the Committee invite the Youth Council to discuss youth provision issues in the County and provide a report back to the Committee;

(e)       That the Committee endorse the continued focus on safeguarding and educating young people with regard to online and social media safety; and

(f)        That the Committee request that the Integrated Youth Service seek to facilitate community initiated projects with advice and support across Flintshire.

The Interim Chief Officer, introduced a report to provide an update on the overall provision of Integrated Youth Services.  She provided background information and advised that the IYP model worked with other statutory organisations and voluntary sector providers to deliver a bespoke universal, targeted and specialist provision for young people.  She invited the Senior Manager Integrated Youth Provision to present the report which provided an overview of the many strands of service delivery for young people across Flintshire.

                        The Senior Manager reported on the main considerations, as detailed in the report, and explained that the IYP was informed by the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) agenda which enabled the service to provide the most reactive responses and the best preventative provision to match the needs of a cohort which required creative responses to complex individual needs.

                        Councillor Patrick Heesom expressed concerns that the report did not provide a universal service across the County and did not address the “dire circumstances” which prevailed in some areas due to lack of provision.  He also said the report was selective in terms of service provision and was provider not user driven.  Councillor Heesom suggested that a workshop be held to move forward the concerns raised and also ensure that the service was user driven.    

                        The Senior Manager responded to Councillor Heesom and referred to the issues of recruitment and lack of funding to provide additional services.  She advised that the focus was on prevention and informative education and commented on the range of services that young people were sign posted to and which fed into the IYP.

Councillor Aaron Shotton spoke of the need to achieve efficiencies across all services during the ongoing financial austerity.  He said the Authority had worked with local communities to provide a holistic approach to service delivery which may necessitate a change from the traditional provision.

In response to a question from Councillor Kevin Hughes on safeguarding and education of young people against internet and social media abuse, the Senior Manager gave an assurance that robust procedures were embedded into youth services provision to protect young people with regard to online and social media safety. 

                        The Chairman emphasised the need to encourage engagement with local communities and to explore the potential for ways in which the community can provide assistance to maintain service provision in their areas.

Councillor Andy Dunbobbin commented in favour of the Supporting Service Children in Education (SSCE) campaign on the service child pupil premium on which he had attended a seminar in Cardiff earlier in the month.

Following concerns raised by Councillor Patrick Heesom on the lack of youth service provision to the west of the County, the Interim Chief Officer gave a commitment to meet with him and the Senior Manager Integrated Youth Provision following the meeting.

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the Committee notes the development of the Integrated Youth Provision (IYP) and endorses the delivery model which was informed by the Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) agenda;

(b)       That the Committee endorses the increased focus on targeted and preventative  e.g. increased focus on substance misuse and sexual health innovations as this offered the earliest support to the most vulnerable young people;

(c)        That the Committee endorses the increasing focus on delivering within Flintshire’s secondary schools to support the engagement, attendance and wellbeing of the most vulnerable young people, particularly those who were ‘looked after’ children (LAC) and those at risk of becoming ‘Not in Education Employment or Training’ (NEET);

(d)       That the Committee invite the Youth Council to discuss youth provision issues in the County and provide a report back to the Committee;

(e)       That the Committee endorse the continued focus on safeguarding and educating young people with regard to online and social media safety; and

(f)        That the Committee request that the Integrated Youth Service seek to facilitate community initiated projects with advice and support across Flintshire.