Bath & North East Somerset Council
DECISION MAKER:	Cllr Christopher Watt, Lead Member for Children's Services
DECISION DATE:	On or after 4th October 2008	PAPER NUMBER		3
TITLE:	Response to Ofsted Inspection of Bath and North East Somerset's Youth Service	EXECUTIVE FORWARD PLAN REFERENCE:
		E	1866
WARD:	All
AN OPEN PUBLIC ITEM
List of attachments to this report: 1. Inspection Report May 2008 (Appendix 1) 2. Bath and North East Somerset Council's Action Plan to respond to the findings of the Inspection (Appendix 2)

1 THE ISSUE

1.1 This report outlines the outcomes of the Ofsted Inspection of the Council's Youth Service in May 2008 and the actions being taken by the service to respond to its findings and recommendations.

1.2 The Report and Action Plan were considered by the Children and Young People's Overview and Scrutiny Panel on 22^nd September 2008 and their comments have been incorporated into this Report and the final version of the Action Plan.

2 RECOMMENDATION

The Cabinet member is asked to agree that:

2.1 The Lead Member for Children's Services approves the Report and Action Plan

2.2 The Lead Member asks the Divisional Director for Children, Young People and Family Support Services to report progress with the Action Plan to the Children and Young People's Overview and Scrutiny Panel

3 FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

3.1 There are no direct financial implications arising from this Report or the Action Plan, which will be implemented within existing resources. Building upon the review of the Youth Work Service undertaken in 2007 and 2008 (and reported to the Panel on 26^th November 2007 and 19^th May 2008, the Action Plan will contribute to the arrangements for the future provision, management and resourcing of the Service.

4 CORPORATE PRIORITIES

• Building communities where people feel safe and secure
  
• Improving life chances of disadvantaged teenagers and young people.

5 THE REPORT

5.1 The Inspection was carried out by Ofsted under section 136 of the Education and Inspectors Act 2006 and was undertaken at the same time as the Joint Area Review of Children's Services and as well as being published as a separate report, was summarised as an annex to the Joint Area Review Inspection Report. The Youth Service Inspection Report became a public document on 9^th September 2008. This was the first such inspection of the Council's Youth Work Service.

5.2 The Council has a statutory duty to ensure the provision of positive activities for teenagers (aged 13-19 years) that secures for them access to:-

• Sufficient educational leisure time activities which are for the improvement of their well being and sufficient facilities for such activities: these activities should include volunteering
  
• Sufficient recreational leisure time activities which are for the improvement of their well being and sufficient facilities for such activities

The Council can directly provide; provide in partnership or commission the provision of its youth work services. The Service is provided through a combination of:-

• Youth Centre based provision
  
• Outreach and mobile services
  
• Detached Youth Worker Services/Street based services
  
• Special projects (DAFBY: participation)
  
• Partnership projects with voluntary sector organisations, other agencies and parishes

5.3 The Inspection was based upon a combination of a position statement submitted by the Service: analysis of data: two fieldwork weeks which include observations of youth work sessions (announced and unannounced) interviews and meetings with young people and stakeholders: and service specific interviews and meetings. The Service is judged against three key aspects:-

• Standards of young people's achievements and the quality of youth work practice
  
• Quality of curriculum and resources
  
• Leadership and management

Judgements are made on the following scale:-

• 4 - Excellent/Outstanding
  
• 3 - Good
  
• 2 - Satisfactory/Adequate
  
• 1 - Inadequate

5.4 The Inspection highlighted strengths and areas for development in respect of each key aspect and reached the following judgements:-

• Standards of young people's achievement - 3
  
• Quality of youth work practice - 3
  
• Quality of curriculum and resources - 2
  
• Leadership and management - 2

The Inspection concluded that the quality of youth work provided by Bath and North East Somerset Council is good and the Local Authority adequately secures its provision

5.5 The Service has already taken steps within its Service Plan 2008-2010 to build upon its strengths: embed its good practice; and address the areas for development. The findings from the Inspection will reinforce this, and specific actions to respond to the identified areas for development are detailed in appendix 2. Staff across the Service have been involved in compiling the Service Plan and the Action Plan, and will be involved in its implementation and review of progress. Young People will also be invited to participate and contribute.

6 RISK MANAGEMENT

6.1 The report author and Cabinet member have fully reviewed the risk assessment related to the issue and recommendations, in compliance with the Council's decision making risk management guidance.

7 EQUALITIES

7.1 An equalities impact assessment is being undertaken in respect of the action plan

8 RATIONALE

8.1 The Council is required to make the Inspection Report available to the public and to compile an action plan to respond to its findings - and submit this to Ofsted.

9 OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED

9.1 None

10 CONSULTATION

10.1 Trades Unions; Overview & Scrutiny Panel; Staff; Other B&NES Services; Service Users; Stakeholders/Partners; Other Public Sector Bodies; Section 151 Finance Officer; Monitoring Officer

10.2 Consultation has taken place with staff in the Youth Service and across Children, Young People and Family Support Services to inform the compilation of the Action Plan.

10.3 The Inspection Report is a public document and will be made available where applicable to service users, prospective service users, staff and other interested parties.

10.4 The Inspection Report will be placed on the Council Information Service website

10.5 The Trades Unions were sent a copy of the report on 25^th September 2008.

11 ISSUES TO CONSIDER IN REACHING THE DECISION

11.1 The Action Plan is relevant to the following issues:-

• Social inclusion
  
• Young people
  
• Human rights
  
• Corporate

12 ADVICE SOUGHT

12.1 The Council's Monitoring Officer (County Solicitor) and Section 151 Officer have had the opportunity to input to this report and have cleared it for publication.

Contact person	Maurice Lindsay, Divisional Director, Children, Young People and Family Support Services, Children's Service 01225 396289 Maurice_Lindsay@bathnes.gov.uk
Background papers
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