Integrated Services for Young People
Many local authorities have been struggling with finding the best way to integrate their services for young people. In response to this the National Youth Agency has designed an Integrated Services for Young People (ISfYP) Framework and Quality Mark. These will help ensure that you have the right pieces in place to provide the best quality and value for money services for young people.
The Framework
This is the only externally validated process that assesses all aspects of integrated youth support – from universal to targeted and specialist services. The self-assessment tool helps you identify ways to improve quality. Fifteen standards are organised within three strands, covering the most important elements of integrated youth support. The standards were designed in consultation with a range of local authorities and are flexible enough to be applied to a variety of models for integrated youth support.
Policy and Strategy
- Performance management
- Management information
- Quality Assurance
- Equality and Diversity
- Core aims and objectives
- Integrated working
- Legal requirements
People
- Young people’s learning and achievement
- Recognising young people’s progress
- Involving young people
- Quality of practice and service delivery
- Workforce development
Partnerships and resources
- Partnerships
- Commissioning
- Resources
There are three levels within each standard, which are as follows:
3 Established Good overall performance and systems are fit for purpose.
2 Aspiring Managers are aware of gaps that exist. Practice in this field may be appropriate and reflect acceptable standards.
1 Emerging Systems are not yet fit for purpose.
Benefits
This Framework can be used in the following ways:
- as a tool for development and cross service working
- as a means of measuring progress towards effective integration
- as a mechanism to drive value for money
- as a standard for commissioning.
Read the NYA Integrated Services for Young People leaflet >>
The Quality Mark
If your authority wants to attain the national Integrated Services for Young People Quality Mark, and therefore demonstrate the strength of your provision for young people, you must achieve 12 standards at the ‘Established’ level. Your submission will be evaluated by an NYA independent assessor. If you are successful, you will be awarded the Integrated Services for Young People Quality Mark national award.
Benefits of the Quality Mark
The Integrated Services for Young People Quality Mark provides tangible evidence of the impact that integrated services can bring in improving outcomes for young people. It will:
- signal a commitment to quality services
- celebrate good practice with peers, staff, partners and young people
- provide objective, external validation of achievements
- help support external funding bids
- bring recognition and prestige
-
help demonstrate provision for young people as set out in Section 507B of the Education Act (1996).
Cornwall County Council used the ISfYP Framework to develop their services:
Cornwall County Council seized the opportunity to work with the Agency in piloting the new Integrated Services for Young People Framework. They saw that it would help them move forward in the development of their services for young people.
“We really wanted to bring together all the services that address young people’s needs, and realised that we would all benefit from closer working relationships,” said Dave Ireland, Manager, Workforce Development, Children, Schools and Families, Cornwall County Council.
Cornwall County Council wanted to bring a diverse range of services under the umbrella of integration, including the youth offending service, Connexions, teenage pregnancy unit, local authority youth work, voluntary sector youth provision and young people’s alcohol and drug education services.
“We realised that this was quite a challenge,” said Dave. “But the framework and new standards really helped to ensure that high quality services were at the heart of our journey towards integration.”
Work on the pilot has enabled colleagues to share and exchange information about thinking and practice, to question processes and procedures and to begin to forge a positive direction with collaboration at its centre.
Register your interest
Quality Mark: Integrated Services for Young People Framework is now available to purchase - visit the online shop to find out more >>
Bookmark with