The guides, which have been developed as part of the NYA’s Routes to Success programme of work with the Local Government Association, are the final sections of ten-part guidance launched earlier this year.
Involving Young People in Commissioning is designed to help local authorities explore how young people can be part of the process of commissioning young people’s services.
The toolkit includes case studies on creative ideas adopted by local authorities for ensuring the voice of young people is heard and acted upon.
It also offers a self-assessment tool for local authorities to identify their strengths and weaknesses in involving young people.
Children’s minister Tim Loughton has previously called for young people to be “at the heart of local services, shaping delivery”.
The second guide, Guidance for Elected Members, summarises some of the key points that elected members may want to reflect on when making their decisions.
It also features an additional set of questions councillors can pose for themselves to help assess how well they are fulfilling their role.
NYA chief executive Fiona Blacke said: “These two publications complete what we believe is now a first-rate resource for the field.
“However we also recognise that it remains work in progress, and we will be looking to update the online versions of all ten documents and make them even more comprehensive as more examples of good practice in commissioning services for young people emerge.”
