Children & Young People

Version 1, May 2008

Priority outcome: Improving outcomes for vulnerable children and young people

Why is this a priority?

We want to give every child and young person in South Tyneside the best start in life and the continuing support to be the best that they can be. 

However, some children and young people experience very difficult circumstances that can lead to them being taken into local authority care, which in turn can create barriers to achievement. 

Although we work hard to provide them with support, evidence shows that they are more likely to experience poor school achievement, health, social exclusion, unemployment, teenage pregnancy, homelessness, and drug and alcohol dependency. 

Other groups of ‘vulnerable’ children and young people in South Tyneside also need additional help and support to achieve improved outcomes. 

Some of the difficulties they face are closely interrelated and we need to consider the full picture around a child or young person to ensure we are meeting their needs.

For example, many vulnerable young people misuse substances.  They often have multiple mental health, social, educational issues and successful assessment and intervention services must be capable of recognising and adequately addressing a potentially wide range of predicaments and vulnerabilities. 

Key in delivering these services is the Matrix, a multi-agency, multi-disciplinary substance misuse service, implementing the young people’s element of the National Drug Strategy at a local level. 

The Matrix works with young people under 19, families and carers, whose lives have been affected by substance use or those who are at risk of developing substance use issues. 

They ensure all vulnerable young people including ‘looked after children’ and ‘young offenders’ have access to a service which ensures all their needs are considered and addressed e.g. drug and alcohol advice, treatment options, sexual/other health related issues including mental health, and family support.

Where are we now?

  • In November 2007 there were 263 looked after children in South Tyneside – higher than national levels
  • The numbers in family placements is higher than the national average and in neighbouring authorities (100% in 06/07)
  • School absence was 16.3% in 07/08 (above national average)
  • A high proportion achieve at least 1 qualification and a small but increasing proportion (5.3%) are achieving 5 or more GCSEs at A*-C (06/07)
  • In 2006/07 Looked After Children in South Tyneside were 2.49 times more likely to receive final warnings and convictions than their peers locally
  • There are more children issued with statements of special educational needs, and fewer are going into mainstream schools. (55.5% - significantly worse than our statistical neighbours and England)
  • It is estimated 596 young people committed offences for the first time in 07/08.
  • We have issued over 800 MAX cards to allow young people in the care system, and their carers and immediate family to access cultural facilities including museums and free swimming

Where do we want to be?

  • Making use of a range of support - from health visitors, school nurses or educational psychologists, to social workers and the youth offending and probation services - we will ensure that the needs of young people are addressed in a coordinated way
  • We want young people with special educational needs to be educated in mainstream schools and grow up alongside their peers
  • We need to work with young offenders to prevent them entering a cycle of offending and to support them to make positive choice
  • Children from black and minority ethnic communities, young carers, children in low-income households, and children with special health needs or disabilities may face many barriers – physical, financial, social, cultural and linguistic - that could prevent them having an equal life experience.  Working with partners we will provide more inclusive support to help address this
  • Continue to ensure young people with substance related needs have access to appropriate service provision with clear referral pathways from all services

National indicators in our Local Area Agreement

  • NI 58   - Emotional and behavioural health of children in care
  • NI 111 - First time entrants to the Youth Justice System aged 10-17
  • NI 115 - Substance misuse by young people
  • NI 148 - Care leavers in employment, education or training

How are we performing?

Improving outcomes for vulnerable young people is a complicated priority, which encompasses many different areas of work. 

Improved mental and emotional health can be seen in improved achievements, improved school attendance, reduced young offending, reduced substance misuse, and the progress young people make when they leave the school and local authority care systems.

We are collecting information on the first three of these, such as substance misuse, and this will be made available as it is collected. 

Young adults formerly in care are a key group at risk of social exclusion, and the culmination of the work with them is shown when care leavers reach 18 and are faced with a choice about what to do next with their lives. 

Evidence shows that for many young people financial and emotional support is withdrawn too suddenly, and young people find it hard to cope alone. 

If South Tyneside achieves its aim of supporting vulnerable young people, then they will progress smoothly into further education, employment or training, and will be helped on a path to achieving positive outcomes with their lives.

Figures were previously collected showing the ratio of the percentage of 19 year old former care leavers who were engaged in employment, education or training to the percentage of all 19 year olds in the population who were engaged in employment, education or training.

Ratio of care leavers in employment, education or training

However, from this year onwards, data will be collected measuring the percentage of care leavers in employment, education or training, rather than the ratio.  It was estimated that in 2007/08 81% of young people were in employment, education or training, against a target of 80%.

If you would like access to the figures, they are available on Statistics Online. However, due to data protection issues, no further information about children in care can be made publicly available.

If you would like more information, please use the links below, or the contact us link at the top of the page.

More information

Plans and strategies

Spirit of South Tyneside: our Community Strategy

Performing Together

 

Next update due: April 2009

 

Children & Young People page

Intelligence Main Page