www.wiltshire.gov.uk
YPSS - Information leaflet for Schools and other agencies
Index of Content
- Foreword
- Vision Statement
- Mission Statement
- Objectives
- What does the Young People's Support Service do?
- Who are the staff in the Young People's Support Service?
- Contact Details
Foreword from the Chair of the Young People's Support Service Strategic & Monitoring Board
In September 2000, following a thorough review of the Pupil Referral Units in Wiltshire and consultation with all stakeholders, it was felt appropriate that there should be a move from a re-active response to young people who are excluded to a more pro-active approach towards those at risk of exclusion. This involved a re-directing of resources so that teachers who were previously teaching groups of young people at PRUs developed preventative programmes within schools for identified groups of young people who were at risk of exclusion. This represented a significant change of emphasis.
As a result of this, the following were established:
- Four Young People’s Support Service Centres in Trowbridge, Salisbury, Devizes and Chippenham. These are multi-agency in operation and include partnerships through Connexions, Youth Offending Team, the Youth Development Service, Education Welfare Service, Social Care Teams and the Drug & Alcohol Action Team.
- Local inclusion groups attended by the YPSS Centre Manager and the Secondary Heads to provide a local steer for the development of preventative work in schools.
- An overarching YPSS Management Committee whose job is to guide the development of the service, receive regular information on the activity of the service and provide robust challenge. The membership reflects this crucial responsibility as it includes secondary school head-teachers, elected members and parents.
- Developing close working relationships between headteachers, senior managers from the C&F Branch, elected members, the YOT and the Youth Development Service colleagues.
This framework, established within the Department for Children & Education exists to meet the challenge of responding effectively to the needs of Wiltshire’s disengaged, disaffected and vulnerable young people. In so doing, I believe it will promote the social and educational inclusion of all children and young people within their families, school and local community.
Gerard MacMahon, Chair
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Vision Statement for the Young People's Support Service in Wiltshire "Our vision is that all young people in Wiltshire have access to full-time, appropriate and inclusive education." |
Mission Statement for the Young People's Support Service in Wiltshire
The Young People’s Support Service exists to promote the social and educational inclusion of the disaffected and vulnerable young people of Secondary School age in Wiltshire. This is in order to motivate and empower young people of all abilities and from all cultures, religious and ethnic backgrounds, to make successful choices in future education, employment or training, and to enhance their life opportunities. All work with young people and families is underpinned by the importance of developing mutual respect and an understanding of each others' roles and responsiblities in improving outcomes for the young person. This approach is also reflected in the way that the service operates as a team.
Objectives of the Young People's Support Service
- To work in partnership with schools in identifying at an early stage and supporting young people at Key Stage 3 & Key Stage 4, who are at risk of exclusion, in order to prevent permanent exclusion.
- To provide support to school staff in the area of behaviour management.
- To work in partnership with schools in providing appropriate education to young people at Key Stage 3 & Key Stage 4 who have medical needs, and who for a temporary period are unable to access full time schooling.
- To provide a full time appropriate educational provision for Key Stage 3 & Key Stage 4 pupils who are permanently excluded or who are on a fixed term exclusion of more than 15 days.
- To promote and support prompt realistic and appropriate reintegration of permanently excluded pupils at Key Stage 3 & Key Stage 4.
- To co-ordinate, contribute to or provide specialist support for excluded young people or chronic non-attenders, who are at risk of, or who are offending, or who are at risk of family or placement breakdown.
- To work, in partnership, with parents and carers in order to ensure a holistic approach to working with vulnerable and disaffected young people within their family school and community.
- To maximise the opportunities present within a multi disciplinary service to deliver a broad and creative service for this group of young people.
- To work in partnership with other agencies in order to access specialist advice and support, where necessary.
What does the Young People's Support Service do?
The Young People’s Support Service works in a variety of ways:
- Consultation with schools including in-service training.
- Adjustment programmes, a multi-agency intervention strategy which might include elements such as emotional literacy, managing anger or self-esteem.
- Restart programmes, for pupils considered to be at imminent risk of exclusion.
- Individual or small group tuition in numeracy, literacy and ICT.
- Co-ordination of Key Stage 4 packages, including work based learning and access to college courses.
- Provision of on-line learning opportunities.
Who are the staff in the Young People's Support Service?
In addition to the Centre Managers, each Centre has a staff group which includes teachers, specialist behaviour assistants, senior educational welfare officers (social inclusion), Connexions PAs, outdoor development specialist and group worker and support of an educational psychologist.
Contact Details
Centre Locations
The Young People's Support Service comprises four Centres as follows:
The Bridge Centre in Chippenham
Centre Manager - Kieran McCarthy
Tel: 01249 461664
Trinity Centre in Trowbridge
Centre Manager - Chris Whitfield
Tel: 01225 766853
Kennet Centre in Devizes
Centre Manager - Christine Palacio
Tel: 01380 730990
John Ivie Centre in Salisbury
Centre Manager - Brian Baker
Tel: 01722 335178
Each Centre has particular responsibiities for areas of the County and the Secondary Schools within each area.
