Connexions Services from April 2008 (Report of the Director of the Children and Young People’s Services – Agenda Item 9)
With the consent of the Committee the box in Appendix 2 to the interleaved report in relation to post 16 provision was amended to read as follows -
‘To directly contract with schools who have a sixth form and the sixth form centre through a Service Level Agreement.
To prepare a contract waiver and award for post 16 provision through CoNEL.
To deliver PA support for young people in work based learning as part of targeted support.’
In response to a question about apprenticeships, we noted that engagement with employers to ensure that there were work opportunities and apprenticeships available formed part of the delivery of the Connexions service.
RESOLVED
That approval be granted to the commissioning approach to the delivery of Connexions services from April 2008 as detailed below –
1. Provision of in-house centrally managed services
a) Targeted information, advice and guidance service
Target Group
Young people 13-19 and up to 25 who had a special need where there were additional factors which could impact on their engagement such as mental health or teenage pregnancy.
Internal Services - Delivery Approach
This area of work to be delivered by Personal Advisers (PA) allocated to the specialist teams providing support and the PA staff be managed by those teams e.g. Youth Offending Team. There would also need to be a small central team who worked with targeted groups who were not covered within the specialist teams.
This to be quality assured through a separate centralised QA team within the 14-19 section.
b) Intensive intervention information, advice and guidance
Target Group
Young people 13-19 and up to 25 who had a special need where there were exceptional factors that were preventing their re-engagement with education, training or employment and those who were NEET.
Internal Services - Delivery Approach
This area of work to be delivered through the Connexions central team focused on working with young people who were NEET. It would link with contracting for provision through local providers including the voluntary sector for entry to employment type programmes.
c) Quality Assurance
Target Group
Systems and processes for delivery to all young people.
Internal Services - Delivery Approach
The Children & Young People’s Service, 14-19 team to take overall lead on quality assurance as part of the reshaping of the service.
The role to include a scrutiny function linked to Performance Management and Workforce Development below.
d) Performance management
Target Group
All staff
Internal Services - Delivery Approach
This area of work to be managed by the Head of Youth Service with close links to the QA function above, as part of the reshaping of the service.
All staff to be part of a performance management scheme.
e) Increasing participation
Target Group
Young people 13-19 and up to 25 who had a special need
Internal Services - Delivery Approach
This area of work to be managed by the Head of Youth Service with close links to the Head of Participation, Parental and Community Involvement.
Building on the work currently undertaken by Connexions to promote participation and decision making in all aspects of service delivery.
2. Commissioning process from April 2008.
a) Universal Information, advice and guidance services (Value approximately £1 million)
Target Group
All young people 13-16 registered at a Haringey school (secondary/special)
Commissioning Approach
To directly contract with secondary and special schools to provide a core offer of universal IAG services, through a Service Level Agreement.
Special Schools to provide enhanced training and support PA’s to deliver a universal service for children and young people with LDD/SEN and to meet standards, e.g. for Section 140 assessments.
Target Group
Haringey young people 16-19 and up to 25 with SEN who accessed post 16 education and training through school sixth forms, the Sixth Form Centre, further education providers (CoNEL) and work based learning.
Commissioning Approach
To directly contract with schools who have a sixth form and the sixth form centre through a Service Level Agreement.
To prepare a contract waiver and award for post 16 provision through CoNEL.
To deliver PA support for young people in work based learning as part of targeted support.
Target Group
Young people 13-19 and up to 25 with SEN who accessed youth service provision or drop in centres at Wood Green and Tottenham.
Commissioning Approach
The Youth Service to take the overall lead on integrating the work of Connexions within the targeted youth support framework. Reshaping the service and delivery of Connexions.
IAG not being delivered by the Youth Service to be commissioned at pre and post 16 stages. Drop in centres providing support to young people who came to the centres.
b) Targeted information, advice and guidance
Target Group
Young people 13-19 and up to 25 who had a special need where there were additional factors which could impact on their engagement such as mental health or teenage pregnancy.
Commissioning Approach
Commission specialist services to deliver targeted/intensive work e.g.
(This is not an exhaustive list).
c) Intensive intervention information, advice and guidance
Target Group
Young people 13-19 and up to 25 who had a special need where there were exceptional factors that were preventing their re-engagement with education, training or employment and those who are NEET.
Commissioning Approach
This would be led by the central NEET team of Personal Advisers able to commission specialist services to deliver targeted/intensive work as required for the client group.
d) CCISdata tracking system
Target Group
All young people to be recorded on a pan London database to enable tracking of progression post 16.
Commissioning Approach
To be commissioned following market research.
Connexions were currently providing this service. To be explored as part of the market research on the viability of Connexions continuing to provide this service from April 2008.
e) Workforce development
Target Group
All staff
Commissioning Approach
Prospects currently provided the CPD training for Connexions; this would need to be commissioned following market testing with a PQQ stage. Training provisioned by Organisational Development & Learning to be explored
f) Communications and marketing and provision of careers information
Target Group
All young people
Commissioning Approach
Restricted tender to be sought following market research with a PQQ stage. In 2 parts –
· Market testing to identify service providers that could provide the booklets, library, employer links and IT based programmes.
· Careers Event – tendered e.g. through the VCS. Had to link to employers to ensure progression routes to avoid NEETs (see below).
g) Employer Links
Target Group
Young people post 16
Commissioning Approach
Restricted tender following market research with PQQ stage.
The tender process to consider creating a dedicated employer links and events organiser. The communications aspect of the work detailed above could also be combined. This would be dependent on the outcome from the market research.
h) Positive Activities for Young People (PAYP)
Target Group
Young people 13-19 and up to 25 who had a special need where there were exceptional factors that are preventing their re-engagement with education, training or employment and those who are NEET.
Commissioning Approach
There would need to be central co-ordination and commissioning through the LAA tolink with the targets and meet needs analysis. This could lead to commissioning services through a competitive tendering process and also through direct commissioning of Council services.