Agenda item

·         Head of the Rotherham Integrated Youth Support Service (Schools and Lifelong Learning, Children and Young People’s Services), to report.

Councillor M. Hussain, Cabinet Member for Communities and Cohesion, welcomed the Principal Youth Officer (Integrated Youth Support Service, Schools and Lifelong Learning, Children and Young People’s Services) to the meeting.  The Head of the Integrated Youth Support Service (IYSS) had submitted a report that provided an update on the Service. 

The Integrated Youth Support Service for Rotherham officially launched on 2^nd September, 2013.  The report that had been submitted and the presentation outlined the progress of the Service in its first month of operation. 

·         All locality based plans had been produced for the period September, 2013 to March, 2014;

·         Full Team Plans would then be produced annually from April, 2014;

·         All manager posts had been filled;

·         Workers were embedding into the new Service;

·         A review of the Service’s Town Centre provision had been undertaken to ensure that all buildings and provision were appropriate.  My Place had been designated as an activity and arts centre, and the Eric Manns building had been designated for targeted support work;

·         Work with My Space and external partners was on-going to improve young peoples’ provision, availability and access to the resource.

·         The Head of the Integrated Youth Support Service had worked closely with the Head of the Youth Offending Service to produce an action plan and suite of performance indicators for the Youth Offending Service.

·         The provision offered through the Outdoor Learning Team had been reviewed and work had been undertaken to promote the services available to private enterprises and individuals to maximise income generation;

o   The Mayor had recently visited Habershon House and met young people using the resource.

·         Commissioning of a contract for work with young people aged sixteen and above who were suffering from Domestic Abuse, or at risk of Domestic Abuse, had completed;

·         Commissioning for a further two projects was underway, one relating to working with teenage parents to help them prevent a second, unplanned pregnancy, and the second relating to the provision of money management advice and training for young people, including the role of credit unions.

·         The Service had been well-represented at the Rotherham Show: -

o   The Voice and Influence Service, including the Youth Cabinet, had represented the Service well;

o   Promotion literature and items had been handed out;

·         The IYSS would work with South Yorkshire Police on a review of the role of Police Young People’s Officer (PYPPOs). 

·         Building updates were provided for the Service’s buildings across the Borough.

·         Good News: -

o   The IYSS LGBT Team had been nominated for an award under the Community Project Category of the European Diversity Awards.  Unfortunately the Team did not win, but it was excellent to be nominated with approximately 600 others.  Only fourteen of the nominees won awards. 

Discussion ensued and the following issues were raised: -

·         Resources;

·         Strengths and areas for improvement.

Resolved: - (1) That the report be received and its content noted.

(2)  That the Cabinet Member receives a report in a forthcoming meeting relating to the new suite of performance indicators for the Youth Offending Service.

(3)  That the Cabinet Member receives a quarterly report outlining the progress made against the implementation of inspection outcomes.