Issue - meetings

KENT COUNTY COUNCIL

RECORD OF DECISION

DECISION TAKEN BY

Cabinet

6 February 2008

DECISION NO.

07/0110

5.       Targeted Youth Support

(Item 6 – Report by Mr Chris Wells, Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Educational Standards, Mr Mark Dance, Cabinet Member for Operations, Resources and Skills and Mr Graham Badman, Managing Director, Children, Families and Education)

(Joanna Wainwright, Director – Commissioning (Specialist Services) CFE was present for this item)

(1)       This report outlined the next steps for Kent to implement Targeted Youth Support, a key branch of Integrated Youth Support Services.  Both initiatives are derived from the Youth Matters Green Paper launched in July 2005, within the Every Child Matters Framework.

(2)       Joanna Wainwright said that unlike some other areas there has been targeted youth support in Kent for a number of years.  The report addressed Government requirements and every local authority must be piloting Targeted Youth Support in at least at one locality and have a robust plan for roll out by December 2008, across the entire local authority area.  Kent will be doing that by building on and developing existing multi-agency projects which have and continue to target the needs of vulnerable young people.  As these projects continue, steps will be taken to make sure that access to support is consistent across the county.

(3)       Mr Hill said he welcomed this report and highlighted in particular the multi-agency approach which was being undertaken to target vulnerable young people and help them before they cross the line into offending.  Mrs Allen also spoke about the multi-agency work being undertaken in this field and referred to a recent seminar where young people who had been in care or had been looked after children had given very positive feedback on the services they had received.

(4)       Cabinet then agreed:-

(a)       to the appointment of a Targeted Youth Support Project Lead together with the establishment of a Project Team as described in paragraphs 5(a) and 5(b) of the Cabinet report;

(b)       to the recommendations set out in the Cabinet Report in respect of the proposed pilot in Canterbury and other geographical areas and to a third pilot to evaluate the implementation of Targeted Youth Support involving the reduction of young people who are not in Education, Employment or Training; and

(c)        agreed the proposed timeframe for implementation of pilots and roll out across the county, as detailed in the Cabinet Report.

Background Documents:  Targeted Youth Support: A Guide

.........................................................................

     Signed

       date    February 2008

      Chief Executive

FOR COUNCIL SECRETARIAT USE ONLY

Decision Referred to Cabinet Scrutiny

Cabinet Scrutiny Decision to Refer Back for Reconsideration

Reconsideration Record Sheet Issued

Reconsideration of Decision Published

YES

NO

YES

NO

YES

NO

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