7. POSITIVE ACTIVITES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE: FUTURE DIRECTION

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1 Cabinet 17 July POSITIVE ACTIVITES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE: FUTURE DIRECTION Relevant Cabinet Member Relevant Officer Mrs E A Eyre, Mrs L C Hodgson Director of Children's Services Recommendation 1. The Cabinet Members with Responsibility for Children and Families and Localism and Communities recommend Cabinet agrees that: (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) the current approach to Positive Activities is reviewed as set out in paragraph 17; Positive Activities Providers, Local Children's Trusts, Young People Local Members and partners are included in the review to support the identification of solutions for sustaining a local positive activities offer; Local Members are encouraged to pro-actively contribute to local discussions to identify solutions for sustaining a local positive activities offer and strengthening relationships with Local Children's Trusts; the outcome of this review is considered as part of any proposed future strategy and funding decisions through the 2016/17 budget-setting processes; it supports in principle that the current level of funding for Positive Activities is retained and managed as set out in paragraphs 20 and 21; the focus of the infrastructure support funding should be as set out in paragraph 22; the continuation of the funding for supporting inclusive positive activity provision for children with disabilities is as set out in paragraph 26; and

2 (h) the implementation of the review referred to in (a) above, and extension to contracts referred to in paragraph 20 (subject to any necessary budget approvals), is delegated to the Director of Children's Services in consultation with the Cabinet Members with Responsibility for Children and Families and Localism and Communities. Background Information 2. Positive Activities focus on providing young people with 'things to do and places to go'. Provision is mainly delivered through traditional style universally accessible youth groups (e.g. any young person can access). 3. Under Section 507B of the Education and Inspections Act 2006, the County Council has a duty to secure for qualifying young people (13-19 and those aged with a learning difficulty), so far as is reasonably practicable, a local offer of access to educational or recreational leisuretime activities and facilities that is sufficient to meet local needs and improve young people s well-being and personal and social development. There are also responsibilities to effectively publicise the overall local offer of all services and activities available to young people and their families and to ascertain the views of young people and involve them in the decision-making about and monitoring of the relevance and effectiveness of services. 4. In November 2011 as part of the BOLD programme, Cabinet took the decision to de-commission Worcestershire County Council Youth Services and re-commission externally provided Positive Activities (saving 1.782m). 5. It was agreed that the new Positive Activities provision would focus on reaching those young people who are, or are at risk of becoming not in education, employment or training (NEET) or involved in anti-social behaviour. It was also agreed that the commissioning of these new positive activities would be led by local elected members and that provision was targeted at vulnerable young people. Targeting is therefore predominantly geographic related to such "hotspots". 6. The remaining 1m has since been allocated across the six district council areas of the county using a needs-based formula (70% Needs and 30% Local Youth population). All current contracts run to 31 March Commissioned activities have so far reached 9,943 individual young people. There is evidence that these services are positively impacting on individual young people through the use of nationally recognised tools such as the Teen Outcomes Star and case study feedback from other stakeholders, including schools.

3 8. Ward level data from the Police indicates significant lowering of levels of reported anti-social behaviour in areas where commissioned positive activities are provided. However, due to delays in the implementation of an effective online data gathering system, it not yet possible to confirm the proportion of young people being reached are in the target groups of most the vulnerable. 9. In addition to County Council funded positive activities there is also a wide range of provision provided by the voluntary, community and private sector. The Worcestershire Council for Voluntary Youth Services (WCVYS) currently has 98 affiliated youth organisations that reach circa 10,000 young people, supported by up to 150 paid and 1,000 voluntary workers. Church groups, uniform groups and local clubs also reach thousands of young people. This provision is not necessarily targeted at the age range or the most vulnerable, but it does contribute a substantial volume of local and accessible activities. There is a good working relationship between providers of commissioned positive activities and the wider youth sector and collaboration and coordination of local provision is an increasing feature of the development of Local Children's Trusts and their relevant sub groups. 10. Previously, the duty to publicise the local activity offer to young people and their families was met through the provision of the Plug and Play website. However, this was held in suspense for a significant period during the development of the online facilities of the Early Help Hub and as a consequence is now requiring a review and relaunch. In this regard, consultation with young people took place during Takeover Day in November 2013 and scoping work is now underway with one of the Early Help providers with a view to the development of an App and related social media that will update and re-instate an effective model that is relevant to young people. Future funding for Positive Activities 11. The commissioning of Positive Activities forms part of Children's Services Next Steps Change Programme. This programme contributes to the Corporate FutureFit programme and provides the clarity and structure for Children's Services to respond to the corporate financial challenge. 12. As part of the continued need to reduce spending the Council needs to save 27m in 2014/15 and 25m annually thereafter. The Children's Services proportion of the Future Fit Savings already approved for 2014/15 to 2016/17 is 10.4m, with the expectation that significant further savings will be required, against a backdrop of increased demand for specialist services. 13. The current financial savings within Children's Services Next Steps Programme that are attributed to

4 Positive Activities are 500,000 in 2015/16. However it is expected, given the existing corporate financial challenge from 2015/16 onwards that the Children's Services Directorate will need to realise further savings in addition to their planned 10.4m. Plans for realising these savings will be considered and approved as part of future budget setting processes. 14. There are currently 23 Positive Activities contracts with providers and the contract values range from 6,150 to 220,000 per annum. (see appendix 1 for more detail) Two options have been considered to realise the planned 500,000 savings in 2015/16. (a) Option 1: Extend the contracts but reduce the contract values by 50%. The analysis of this option has concluded that some Providers with smaller contract values would become unviable and unable to sustain any level of provision just as they are beginning to make a difference. (b) Option 2 (Preferred): Re-tender the provision using the reduced budget. Invitation to Tender would need to be published in September 2014 to allow time for new provision to procured and be up and running by 1 April Given the existing corporate financial challenge and the need for all services including Children's Services to identify further savings, contracts would only be able to be awarded on a yearly basis. There is a potential risk that the Market may not respond to this, especially if TUPE implications are involved. 16. Learning from the recent consultation on the Future Lives Programme was that the Council, when making difficult decisions and radically reducing or removing funding for services, should allow time for planning and implementing transition arrangements, including support for council funded organisations to address their future sustainability without direct County Council funding and to encourage existing voluntary and private providers to develop their provision further. Proposed Positive Activities Strategy 17. In light of the current savings plans, the ongoing financial challenge and the learning from previous consultations, it is proposed that the current approach to Positive Activities is reviewed to ascertain whether the Council can ensure a sufficient local positive activities offer in accordance with its legal duties without any County Council funding from 2016/17.

5 18. This review would be managed over the next 20 months. It would involve working with existing Positive Activities Providers, Local Children's Trusts (LTC), Local Members, Young People and Partners to develop and implement solutions to sustain a local positive activities offer. 19. More detailed proposals would be discussed at Corporate Strategy Planning in September 2015, with any final decisions around future strategic direction and funding allocations being made as part of the formal budget setting for 2016/ To ensure stability of positive activities provision throughout this review, whilst consideration is given to ensuring a sufficient local offer, it is recommended that the current level of funding ( 1m) for Positive Activities is retained for a further financial year (2015/16). The existing 23 contracts would be extended, wherever possible, for a further financial year up to March This would effectively defer the existing 500,000 savings from 2015/16 to 2016/17 and have a corresponding increase in the corporate budget gap of this amount for 2015/16. The implications of how this corporate gap is managed will be discussed and agreed through formal budget setting for 2015/ In respect of the 100,000 sector specific annual positive activities infrastructure support fund it is recommended that the review confirms the ongoing use of this money. However it is recommended that this funding is used to:- Ensure the Council continues to meet its statutory responsibility of enabling local positive activities offer, in all settings across the County: Church, uniform, local, by supporting, advising, training and influencing service providers to ensure good quality, safe (Safeguarding and Health and Safety regulations) provision and providing accurate, up to date and accessible information on things to do and places to go for young people through relevant online and social media. Children with Disabilities (CWD) 23. The Joint Commissioning Unit commissioned a variety of providers across Worcestershire to provide positive activities/short breaks specifically for children with disabilities. It included contributions to some mainstream providers within the Positive Activities programme for enhanced inclusive provision up to a value of 27,000. This has enabled a small number of commissioned positive activities providers to provide specific activity programmes for young people with disabilities and to offer opportunities for additional integration into mainstream

6 activities where requested and appropriate to the young people involved. 24. The funding for children with disabilities (CWD) positive activities was aimed at strengthening opportunities and outcomes for children with disabilities within the agenda. It was also to promote learning and capacity building for positive activities provision for children with disabilities. 25. The current financial savings within Children's Services Next Steps Programme that are attributed to Positive Activities for Children with Disabilities is 27,000 in 2015/ In line with the previous proposals (outlined in paragraphs above) it is recommended that the Council aligns the funding for CWD positive activities contracts to mainstream contracts including:- Retain the current level of funding for positive activities for CWD ( 27,000) for a further financial year (2015/16). Defer the existing 27,000 savings from 2015/16 to 2016/17 and have a corresponding increase in the corporate budget gap of this amount for 2015/16. Use the next 20 months to work with Providers, Local Children's Trusts, Local Members and Partners to develop and implement solutions to sustain a local positive activities offer. Role of Local Members 27. Local Members have been pivotal in taking a leading role in the commissioning of Positive Activities. Positive Activities Local Commissioning Groups have been developed in District area and Local Members have been involved in all stages of the commissioning process. 28. This active role in commissioning is set to continue as the role of Local Members continues to evolve through the implementation of the County Council's Future Operating Model. Local Members will need to strengthen their role as the 'go to' person within communities as well as becoming local commissioners through the use of member budgets and working closely with the emerging Local Children's Trusts. 29. This evolving role of Local Members will be crucial in supporting the sustainability of a Positive Activities offer. Through the implementation of the Act Local Programme further work will be conducted in understanding what support, guidance and assistance Local Members need to become the 'go to' person. Expectations around the links to Local Children's Trusts will also be clarified. However, these expectations will differ across the six Districts to

7 reflect the different local partnership arrangements. Role of Local Communities Role of Young People 30. Local communities already play an active role in providing and volunteering at positive activities sessions for young people. Strengthening local communities engagement in positive activities will continue to be a priority within the Act Local programme with the Changing Futures Fund being available to offer support to the voluntary and community sector in developing provision. 31. One of the most important defining features of the commissioning of Positive Activities to date has been the direct involvement of local young people in the decision making and quality assurance process. 32. Steps have already been taken to include some (albeit reduced) capacity to provide the on-going training and coordination of young people involved as part of the rationalisation of young people's Participation and Engagement in Children's Services, but alternatives such as the commissioning of an organisation (e.g. the Worcestershire Youth Cabinet) to assist in this could be considered should some resources for infrastructure support be continued as recommended. 33. As an alternative developing and enabling appropriate and effective involvement of young people in the functions of the LCTs and Local Early Help Strategic Partnerships who may well be able to more easily identify existing groups of young people in localities could be a way forward. Dialogue with local members will be important to ensure that their voice an influence can continue to inform local decision making that delivers relevant and accessible activities. Role of Overview and Scrutiny Legal, Financial, HR and Equality Implications 34. Cross-party challenge and comments are welcomed and one methodology for ensuring this is engaging with Children's Overview and Scrutiny Panel throughout the review. Initial discussions with Children's Overview and Scrutiny Panel will take place in September 2014 to seek agreement for further involvement. It would be helpful, as part this involvement, to facilitate discussion around the development of the role of the LCTs in respect of this agenda. 35. There are legal implications in relation to the extension and subsequent ceasing of Positive Activities Provider's contracts. Standard legal procedures will be followed as part of any extension or cessation of contracts. 36. The HR implications will result in the deletion of the Commissioning Manager Young People's post. The impact of the removal of this post will be considered when developing options relating to any ongoing infrastructure support as currently this post provides substantial support to

8 existing Positive Activities Providers. If the deletion of this post results in redundancy, then any costs attached to this will need to be factored into the existing budget before any additional savings are declared. 37. The recommendation to continue funding for another year will create an additional corporate financial pressure of 527,000 in 2015/16 but contribute 500,000 towards closing the financial gap in 2016/17. This has an effect of increasing the corporate gap in 2015/16 only. 38. Commissioned Positive Activities provision has contributed to the Equality Duty Aims. All commissioned activities are inclusive in terms of the protected characteristics of Race, Religion and Belief, Gender, Sexual Orientation and Age (Young People: 75% 13-19yrs, 25% yrs) and in some cases with specific provision aimed at the particular needs of groups with one or more of the following protected characteristics: Disability (e.g. physical and learning disabilities, Asperger's etc) and Pregnancy and Maternity (teenage parents). 39. Due regard will be given to the Equality Duty in the process of exiting current contracts as may be proposed for March 2016 following the review (i.e. assess potential negative impact of cessation of particular services from an equalities perspective and identify mitigations) and to working with the VCS/private sector to support and enable a range of provision that meets the Duty going forward i.e. a further justification for maintaining and re-focusing infrastructure support / capacity-building activity. Appendix Contact Points Appendix: List of current positive activity provider contracts County Council Contact Points Worcester (01905) , Kidderminster (01562) or Minicom: Worcester (01905) Specific Contact Points for this report Hannah Needham Strategic Commissioner: Early Help and Partnership (01905) hneedham@worcestershire.gov.uk Paul Finnemore Commissioning Manager: Young People Pfinnemore@worcestershire.gov.uk Background Papers In the opinion of the proper officer (in this case the Director of Children's Services) the following are the background

9 papers relating to the subject matter of this report:- Statutory guidance on the role of Local Authorities in Youth Provision