Youth Engagement and Progression Framework

Kara RichardsHead of Youth Engagement

Welsh Government

Background• Need for significant and sustained reduction in young

people not in education, employment and training.

• Ongoing commitment to increase engagement and progression of young people in the Programme for Government and the Tackling Poverty Action Plan.

• New targets were set out in the plan to:– reduce the numbers of NEETs aged 16-18 to 9% by 2017

– reduce the proportion of young people aged 19-24 who are NEET in Wales relative to the UK as a whole by 2017.

• Our response - Youth Engagement and Progression Framework

Young people not in education, employment or training in Wales: Comparison of estimates in the Statistical First Release and using the Annual Population Survey1 (calendar year)

(p) SFR: Year end 2012 is provisional1For years 2001-2003 the source is the annual Local Labour Force Survey for Wales

The Framework

Early identification & Tracking

• Setting core standards for early identification in Wales

• Developing effective early identification systems pre and post-16

• Using early identification to start identifying support needs

• Strengthening school and LA tracking pre and post 16.

Brokerage

• Setting out a clear specification for the lead worker role

• Targeting lead workers to support those at most risk of disengagement

• Supporting effective practice in the delivery of lead worker roles

Provision

• Stronger mapping of existing provision

• Implementing the new Youth Guarantee

• Working with providers to improve the existing offer

• Targeting new provision at unmet needs

Employability & Progression -Traineeship Provision

• Flagship non-employed status training programme for 16-18 year olds, not otherwise engaged in post 16 education or training.

• Barriers preventing take up of employment or work ready programmes

• Unsure of career path to follow

• Helps development of confidence and motivation and tackles barriers to learning

Traineeship Review • York Consulting, in conjunction with Old Bell 3,

Cardiff University and IFF research

• Review of Work Based Learning Programme 2011-15

• Includes specific evaluation of Traineeships provision.

• Establish whether programme is operating as intended, and consider future development of the programme

Initial Findings

• Developing a flexible learning programme- flexibilities of the programme could be better utilised, and support more individualised.

• Employer Engagement- difficulties associated with securing and retaining employer engagement means some providers not offering sufficient work based activities.

• Bridges to Employment – low levels of take up possibly attributed to open ended provider risk

Initial Findings (cont.)

• Positive outcomes- good progression from entry level to level 1 but less progression above level 1.

• ESF programmes- alternatives being utilised rather than referral by Careers Wales to Traineeships.

• Marketing- lack of clarity around profile and positioning and benefits of programme.

Conclusion and next steps

• Need to consider structure of programme in addition to its profile and positioning

• Review will evaluate if the programme is being utilised to its full potential and whether it meets the needs of the intended cohort of young people.

• Recommendations will be made for the future development of the programme.

• Review to conclude in November 2015, after which, programme revisions will be implemented.

Thank you

Queries to: youthengagementand@Wales.GSI.Gov.UK

Workshop questions• How do you define or identify someone at risk of

disengaging in a Work Based Learning environment?

• Do Work Based Learning providers have a part to play in the Lead worker role?

• What are the challenges for WBL providers in supporting framework implementation?