News
New Quality Framework Launched for Integrated Services for Young People
22 July 2010
21 July 2010
Press Release
IMMEDIATE
The Integrated Services for Young People (ISfYP) Framework and Quality Mark is the only externally validated process available, tailored to assess all aspects of integrated youth support, from universal through to targeted and specialist services.
Sue Quinn, National Youth Agency national programme manager said: “Working closely with local authorities as we do, we have gained a tremendous insight into the challenges they are facing in delivering integrated services or in showcasing their successes.
“The ISfYP Framework and Quality Mark have been designed, with the help of four integrated services around the country, to give local authorities a single route map for improving the quality of their provision and a mechanism to celebrate good practice internally and externally, and provide external validation of achievements.”
The ISfYP Framework is a self-assessment tool with 15 distinct standards, covering three operational strands – policy and strategy, people, partnerships and resources.
Integrated Services can achieve one of three levels, depending on the quality of their provision – Emerging, Aspiring and Established – helping them to identify areas for improvement and celebration.
Once the Established level has been achieved, services can attain the national ISfYP Quality Mark to demonstrate the strength of their services for young people. This is externally validated by an independent assessor – appointed by the National Youth Agency – and will be awarded based on the strength of the application and evidence provided.
“The authorities that piloted the ISfYP Framework found that it really helped them to move forward in the development of their services for young people,” adds Sue.
Cornwall County Council trialled the framework for the National Youth Agency:
Dave Ireland, manager for workforce development, schools and families for the authority said: “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.
“The framework and new standards really helped to ensure that high quality services were at the heart of our journey towards integration.”
For further information on the ISfYP Framework and Quality Mark visit www.nya.org.uk/integrated-services-for-young-people or call 0116 2427350
ENDS
For further media information CONTACT:
Holly-Marie Draper
Tel: 07921 687847
Email: hollyd@nya.org.uk
Notes to Editors
About the National Youth Agency
The National Youth Agency (NYA) works in partnership with a wide range of public, private and voluntary sector organisations to support and improve services for young people. Our particular focus is on youth work and we believe strongly that by investing in young people’s personal and social development, young people are better able to live more active and fulfilling lives.
Working with young people, we advocate for more youth-friendly services and policies. We have four themes:
- Developing quality standards in work with young people
- Supporting services for young people
- Developing the youth workforce
- Promoting positive public perceptions of young people
We deliver our work through training and consultancy, campaigning, publishing and on-line communications. Through our activities we want to ensure that young people have a strong voice and positive influence in our society.