Agenda item

The Panel considered a report and presentation of Linda Bailey, Strategic Lead for Progression and Learning which provided an update on the support available to care leavers to enable them to progress into education, employment and training.  The Strategic Lead provided details on the new European funded programmes, measures by Durham County Council to support care leavers into apprenticeships, feedback from care leavers, and priorities for the future (for copy of report and presentation see file of minutes).

The Chair thanked the Strategic Lead for the presentation and asked the Panel for comments and questions.  The following responses were provided by the Strategic Lead:

·      Providing clarification on accommodation options, the Strategic Lead stated that our Care Leavers reside in various placements including with foster carers, in supported lodgings and some live independently.

·      In response to concern from the Panel regarding the risk to the European funding following Brexit, the Strategic Lead assured the Panel that statutory functions would continue to be funded.  However, the risk to future European funding had been placed on the Council’s risk register.  Engagement work takes place with the North East Local Enterprise Partnership to ensure that DurhamWorks remains on the agenda. 

·      The Strategic Lead explained the term ‘self identifying’ refers to those young people who are not automatically referred, and, those referred to as ‘not known’ are those who are known to DurhamWorks, however, their next step with regard to education, employment or training is not known. 

·      Of 193 young people who had completed the DurhamWorks programme, 65% had progressed into employment, although we need to improve this figure.

·      The DurhamWorks programme has been in operation since January 2016.

·      Feedback from young people indicated that travel remains a barrier preventing some young people from accessing training and employment.

Resolved:

That the report and presentation be noted.