NCVYS STRATEGIC INFORMATION SERVICE BULLETIN NO. 428

27 February 2009

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Should youth work be brought under CWDC?

Do you think youth work should stay with Lifelong Learning UK or become the remit of the Children's Workforce Development Council? Sector Skills Councils represent different occupational groups of workers both paid and unpaid. Their main remit is to reduce skills gaps and shortages. The Government needs to decide whether to renew the licenses of each individual Sector Skills Council, which will allow them to continue to operate and deliver work, and meet the skills gaps of specific occupational groups. Please take a minute to respond to our poll which will inform our response to the re-licensing consultation process.  

http://www.ncvys.org.uk/polls.php?act=view&id=33

National Youth Conference on 21 March in Leeds

The Department for Children Schools and Families (DCSF) and the Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG) are jointly holding a National Youth Conference for young people to engage with each other and offer solutions to key decision makers on the most pressing community issues affecting young people today. The event will cover a variety of issues including interfaith dialogue, preventing violent extremism, foreign policy, civic/community and political engagement, media responsibility, using art for expression and gang culture. For more information E: dialogue@opm.co.uk or T: 0845 055 3900.

Additional funding for better access to contraception and support

Following the publication of the Under 18 Conception Statistics 1998-2007 by the Office of National Statistics, which showed an increase in teen pregnancies by 2.6% in 2007, the Government announced an extra £20.5 million to help young people get better access to contraception and support, and raise the awareness of the risks of unprotected sex. The Government had originally pledged to halve pregnancy rates among girls under 18 by 2010 from a 1998 baseline.

http://www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/health/teenagepregnancy

National Apprenticeships Week - 21,000 posts in the public sector

As part of this week's National Apprenticeships Week, Skills Secretary John Denham and Children's Secretary Ed Balls announced that 21,000 apprenticeships will be created in 2009-10 in NHS and social care services, further education colleges and universities, local government posts and central government departments.

http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/pns/DisplayPN.cgi?pn_id=2009_0038

Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care report

The DCSF has launched their annual report on the Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care (MTFC) programme, which showed that children at the point of leaving the treatment foster care programme have reductions in offending, alcohol and substance misuse and have fewer psychiatric disorders and depression.

http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/pns/DisplayPN.cgi?pn_id=2009_0037

Improving the Outcomes for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Pupils - Literature Review

The DCSF has published a review of the evidence and literature from the UK over the last ten years on Gypsy, Roma and Traveller (GRT) pupils and their parents. Also incorporated in the research was a European perspective to provide a valuable context for the review.

http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/research/programmeofresearch/projectinformation.cfm?projectId=15667&type=5&resultspage=1

Targeted Youth Support Pathfinders Evaluation report

The DCSF has published its final evaluation report for the Targeted Youth Support (TYS) pathfinders aimed to ensure young people at risk of poor outcomes receive a genuinely personalised package of support at the earliest possible opportunity. The evaluation aimed to identify effective approaches to the delivery of integrated targeted support and to assess the impact on young people's transition to adulthood.

http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/research/programmeofresearch/projectinformation.cfm?projectId=14880&type=5&resultspage=1

Ofsted report on contact between social workers and children in care

Ofsted's children's rights director for England, Dr Roger Morgan, has published a report - Future rules - setting out children's advice on the Regulations to be made under the Children and Young Persons Act 2008. Social workers should visit children and young people living away from home at least once a month, is the message that children in care are giving to the Government to help shape new regulations under the Act.

http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/Ofsted-home/News/Press-and-media/2009/February/Children-in-care-want-more-frequent-contact-with-social-workers/(language)/eng-GB

BBC Children in Need - Northern Regional Committee Vacancies

BBC Children in Need is seeking to recruit individuals with extensive and demonstrable experience of improving outcomes for children and young people to provide independent, objective contributions to its Northern Regional Committee which is responsible for distributing around £8m annually to organisations delivering services for children and young people on a not for profit basis. For more information about the role please contact David Carnaffan on 0191 2441401 david.carnaffan@bbc.co.uk or Elaine James on 0113 2247155 elaine.james@bbc.co.uk. The deadline for applications is 25 March 2009.

National Home Safety Equipment Scheme

The Government has awarded £18 million to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) to run ‘Safe at Home', a National Home Safety Equipment Scheme, until March 2011. Safe At Home will be delivered through local schemes run by partners such as Sure Start Children's Centres, local authorities and Primary Care Trusts.

http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/pns/DisplayPN.cgi?pn_id=2009_0036

Information sharing: responsibilities of managers and organisations

Following the publication of the updated information sharing guidance in October 2008, the DCSF is organising events in March focusing on how organisations can support front-line practitioners and what managers need to do to embed good practice in information sharing. These half-day regional events are aimed at managers, team leaders or others providing professional support on information sharing to front-line practitioners who have to make decisions about information sharing on a case-by-case basis. For more information contact ilona@ncvys.org.uk.

Improving Opportunity, Strengthening Society: A third progress report

Launched in January 2005, Improving Opportunity, Strengthening Society set out the Government's commitment to create strong cohesive communities in which every individual, whatever their racial or ethnic origin, is able to fulfil their potential through the enjoyment of equal opportunities, rights and responsibilities. This report outlines the progress and includes a detailed statistical breakdown called 'Race Equality in Public Services' (REPS).

http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/communities/raceequalitythirdreport

Youth Affairs Unit training

Active Citizenship and Emotional Literacy are the focus of the short courses being run by the Youth Affairs Unit at De Montfort University in April. Social and emotional aspects of learning are high on the government's agenda and active citizenship is a key aim of educational, social and youth policy initiatives. Taught by a highly-respected team who have extensive experience in delivering training across the children and youth sector, these courses aim to help you access the latest knowledge and legislation surrounding these topics.

http://www.dmu.ac.uk/partnerships/consultancy/innovation_centre/dmccc/short_courses/youth-affairs/index.jsp''

Response to improving the trial process for young witnesses

Plans to give young, vulnerable witnesses better support and encourage more witnesses to come forward with evidence of crimes have been published by the Ministry of Justice following a consultation on Improving the Criminal Trial Process for Young Witnesses.

http://www.justice.gov.uk/news/newsrelease250209a.htm

ISA Decision Making Process

The Independent Safeguarding Authority has published a resource on its Decision Making Process. The ISA's Decision-making process is the method used by the ISA's caseworkers and the ISA Board to decide whether it is appropriate that an individual should be barred from working with children or vulnerable adults. 

http://www.isa-gov.org/Default.aspx?page=382

CRAE sends children's rights impact statement to Ed Balls

Mike Lindsay, national coordination for the Children's Rights Alliance for England, has written to the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families calling on the Minister to mark this year's 20th anniversary of the United Nation's adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child by pledging to deliver a world-class commitment to children's rights.

http://www.crae.org.uk/pdfs/CRIS%20Childrens%20Plan%202009.pdf

Small organisations report

Children England has published a report on small children's organisations in the voluntary and community sector. The report, Small Change?, finds that four out of ten small children's charities are in a vulnerable funding position and may have to close. The report draws on a survey of 125 small children's charities with an annual income of under £250,000 and finds that children, young people and their families may lose out on vital services due to a lack of funding and support.

http://www.childrenengland.org.uk/index.php?pageID=641

UK Civil Society Almanac 2009

NCVO has published the UK Civil Society Almanac 2009 which reveals that civil society, including charities, housing associations, universities and co-operatives, is a larger employer than both the banking and accountancy industries combined and is a significant and growing employer of 1.3 million people. Over the last ten years, the VCS has experienced a much higher rate of increase (24%) than both the private sector (9%) and the public sector (16%). It's increasingly becoming an attractive career option.

http://www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/press/releases/?id=12786

Last days for Speaking Out Small Grants applications!

This is a final reminder that the Speaking Out Small Grants Programme worth up to £30,000 will be accepting applications until Monday 2 March. Small grants of up to £1000 will go to deliver activities aimed at influencing policy, raise awareness and promoting debate in key areas affecting young people: health; community empowerment; youth justice; homelessness and housing; and employment, education and training. The report on last year's scheme is also available.

http://www.ncvys.org.uk/index.php?page=597

Factor in Faith Small Grants Programme - 2 weeks to go

A separate NCVYS small grants programme is also running. This funding, as part of our Factor in Faith campaign, is aimed at developing and promoting faith and culturally sensitive youth work practice. The deadline for applications is 13 March 2009.

http://www.ncvys.org.uk/index.php?page=697

Latest workforce development ‘snippets' now online!

The monthly workforce development e-bulletin from NCVYS is now available to download.

http://www.ncvys.org.uk/index.php?page=279&PHPSESSID=58e07e3c5957062b49af9707e7e4e5db

THIS WEEK IN PARLIAMENT

Participation in higher education

The House of Commons Public Accounts Committee has published a report examining progress in widening participation in higher education.

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmselect/cmpubacc/226/22602.htm

Carers

Following the publication of the National Audit Office report on support to carers, Terry Rooney (Lab, Bradford, North) led a debate on this issue in the House of Commons, highlighting the contribution of individuals and the voluntary sector.

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmhansrd/cm090226/halltext/90226h0001.htm#09022649000001

Volunteering

As part of a debate on volunteering, Derek Wyatt (Lab, Sittingbourne and Sheppey) as the Minister for the Third Sector, Kevin Brennan what more can the Government do to support efforts to establish regular volunteering as a social norm.

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmhansrd/cm090225/debtext/90225-0001.htm#09022574000029

Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill

The Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families Ed Balls led a debate in the House of Commons on the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill during its second reading.

This bulletin is prepared by the National Council for Voluntary Youth Services. Please contact Ilona Pinter at NCVYS for more details, or email ilona@ncvys.org.uk