PAPER D
Education,
Community Development and Lifelong Learning Select Committee - 28th
January 2003.
I.W. CONNEXIONS from September 2002.
STRATEGIC DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION
AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
1.
PURPOSE
ACTION
REQUIRED BY THE SELECT COMMITTEE
To consider and discuss the
implications of Connexions on the delivery of IWC funded services for young
people.
To suggest areas for partnership
work.
2.
BACKGROUND
2.
1 The Isle of Wight became part of a
pilot project for Connexions in April 2000. Previous papers to Executive Committee
July 2000 and April 2001 refer. The South Central Connexions area gained
Government approval to become "live" in September 2002.
2.2
South Central Connexions region covers the same geographical
area as the Learning & Skills
Council, Cities of Portsmouth and Southampton, County of Hampshire and the Isle
of Wight. A memorandum of Understanding exists between both parties, available
on request from the Connexions Office.
3.
INTRODUCTION
3.1 Connexions is a central Government
strategy. The strategy is designed to "end the fragmentation of services
for 13-19 year olds. It aims to give all young people the best start in life,
helping them to become well-rounded adults who are committed to learning and
development and contribute to economic prosperity." [1].
The holistic service for all 13-19 year olds, will include all aspects of
information, advice, guidance, personal development and academic achievement.
The Connexions strategy acknowledges the vital contribution all stakeholders,
including schools, further and higher education institutions, training
providers, Local Authority services, Health and Youth Justice.
3.2
Within the Connexions strategy is a
discrete Service of Personal Advisers (P.A). These professionals will be
trained to work across traditional organisational boundaries. Every qualified
Personal Adviser will hold a professional qualification (NVQ Level 4 or
equivalent) and the Diploma for
Personal Advisers.
3.5
A SCCP Business Plan has been approved by National Government. The business plan identifies nationally
agreed targets for individual stakeholders and recognises the contribution
Connexions makes to the successful achievement of the targets. It also
identifies a Connexions specific target for the active involvement of young people
in the delivery of the Connexions service and the need to improve the
destination statistics of young people who have previously become
"lost" to the system.
3.6
The local delivery plan for
2002-2003 was approved by the Local Management Committee (LMC)in June 2002. The
LMC will create a 2003 - 2004 Delivery Plan following consultation and the
Stakeholder Conference in March 2003. Councillor Jill Wareham represents the IW
Council on the LMC.
4.
MANAGEMENT ARRANGEMENTS
4.1
Each area within SCCP has been
required to create a Local Management Committee to oversee the work of the
local delivery team. The LMC is a multi-agency group that includes
representation by two young people. (See Annex One for current
membership).
4.2
The LMC is the local face for the
South Central Connexions Partnership Board.
4.3 The
Director of Education acts as chairperson to the LMC .
4.4
Most of the actives in the local
Deliver Plan will occur under contract. The Education Department and VT Careers
Management hold the largest contracts on the Island.
4.5
Administration, quality assurance
and contract monitoring will be provided by a local team consisting of a
Co-ordination Manager, an Information / Data Manager, an Office Manager and a
administrative post. These posts will be managed by the SCCP Chief Executive,
Pamela Chalnwood.
4.6
The Co-ordination Manager post was
appointed in July 2002. Anne Hendon-John will be seconded from the Education
Department to fulfil this role.
5.
FINANCIAL DETAILS
5.1
Local funding has been allocated
according to a nationally agreed funding formula that acknowledges level of
need. The formula was established following national consultation with
stakeholders during 2000-2001.
5.2
It is estimated that Isle of Wight Connexions will receive a
notional additional £300,000 (full-year costs) of funding for 2003-2004.
Connexions funding must provide additional services. It cannot be spent on
providing statutory services.
5.3
Isle of Wight Connexions has been able to secure additional
funding from Learning & Skills Council, Drug Prevention Advisory Service,
New Opportunities Fund, UKOnline and via the Transforming Youth Work
Development Fund.
5.4
The Local Management Committee is
committed to seeking funding opportunities from a variety of sources to ensure
a comprehensive service delivery. A Development Officer post has been included
in the staffing arrangements.
6.
MANAGEMENT INFORMATION
6.1
Connexions National Unit will
require local collection of data according to an established formula.
6.2
The data collection will inform the
Quality Standards process and negotiations for local contracts. A data Sharing
Protocol has been approved by SCCP Board.
6.3
Responsibility for Data collection will
form part of local contracts and will be managed by the local Information /
Data Manager, directed by the regional Data Controller.
6.4
Information will be collected
recognising the Data Protection Act 1998; the Human Rights Act 1998 and the
Learning and Skills Act 2000, section 114-122.
6.5
Detailed Information Management Guidance is available on
request from the Connexions Office.
6.6
It is suggested that the Connexions MI collection informs
the work of Officers creation of Referral, Information and Tracking RTI system
that local Authorities are required to establish by 2003.
7.
CONNEXIONS CARD
7.1
In September 2002, young people aged
16 - 19 years on the Isle of Wight will
become eligible to gain access to the Connexions Card. The card is available to
all "Learning Centres" and will be introduced at no cost to the
institution.
7.2
The Connexions Card will act as an
incentive to encourage young people to participate in education or training by
the issue of locally negotiated discounts.
7.3
The contract for the Connexions card
is held by Capita plc. Capita made a presentation to interested parties on the
Island in June 2002. It is anticipated that the microchip on the card will
allow it to be linked with Wight Leisure One Card.
7.4
Twenty local shops and services
supplement the range of national negotiated discounts.
7.5
The Connexions card carries a micro-chip giving the
potential for the Card to carry an e-purse, saving the need for carrying cash.
This additional function can be added to the card. The additional cost for
additional features will be the responsibility of each Learning Centre.
8.
CONNEXIONS STRATEGY & CONNEXIONS SERVICE
8.1
The Connexions Service of Personal Advisers will be
developed by "in-kind" contributions from Stakeholders and through
the Connexions funding for additional posts and activity. Connexions has
purchased five additional Personal Advisers (PA). Two are deployed by the
Careers service with a remit for Special Needs and Higher Education
respectively. One (intensively working) PA has been seconded to the Youth
Offending Team and one (intensively working) PA has been seconded to the
Independence Support Team. A PA post has been created to support the work of
Health colleagues. Currently a PA- Midwife is deployed to St Mary's hospital
conducting action research to inform future strategy of the Teenage Pregnancy
Strategy Group. Two young people's posts, (known as Connexors) support the work
of all Connexions staff.
8.2
The Connexions Strategy will be delivered through a multiplicity
of partnerships including the Learning & Skills Council, Local Learning
Partnerships, IWC directorates, Job Centre Plus, the Health Trust and the
voluntary sector.
9.
BEST VALUE REVIEWS and INSPECTION
9.1
Connexions is currently involved in
the Best Value review for the Youth Service and the cross-cutting review for
communications. Connexions was also involved in the cross-cutting review called
Opportunities for Young People.
9.2
Research conducted by Connexions in July 2001 (known as the
E.R.I.C. research) has helped to inform the recommendations of the BV
Opportunities for young people review.
9.3
A second research project, to be known as ERIC2 will be
conducted in March 2003. The Drugs Action Team is the major funding source for
this work.
9.4
Connexions is subject to an Inspection process conducted by
Ofsted, and rigorously monitored by Government Office.
10.
NEXT STEPS
10.1 Draft Partnership Agreements are currently
being established with all High schools and I W College to include Careers
Advice and Guidance and additional support for Citizenship and curriculum
issues.
10.2
Publicity and Marketing of Connexions will be conducted as
part of a national scheme. A major launch of Connexions Information Centres in
schools and IW College is planned for 14th April 2003.
10.3
Connexions will continue to support the Youth Service
initiative for a one-stop Information, Guidance, Advice and Support Centre, by
providing substantial resources to create premises on the site of the Old
Grammar School, Newport. The Transforming Youth Work Development Fund will be
supported for 2003-20004 (see Annex Two for
further information).
10.4
Connexions is involved in developing the work of the Looked
After Children's Education Service (known as LACES) and will be providing a
base for the Service from the 9a St John's Place premises from February 2003.
It is hoped that this will significantly improve the chances of Looked After
Children achieving GCSE grades by providing a base for private study,
additional teaching and student support.
10.5
Further consultation between January and March 2003,
including a stakeholder Conference on 25th March, will inform the
2003-2004 Local Delivery Plan.
11.
CONCLUSION
11.1
Connexions is radical way of working with, and providing a service
for young people. It requires the commitment of all stakeholders to ensure a
cohesive and effective approach to allowing each young person the best start in
life.
Contact point: Anne Hendon-John, I.W
Manager, Tel: 527565.
DAVID
PETTITT
Strategic
Director of Education & Community Development.