By now most people must have come across the triangular diagram of the different tiers of service provision that should be available to support children, young people and families.
At the base are universal services such as schools. In the middle are targeted services including speech and language therapy. Right at the top are specialist services, such as child protection and adoption.
But while some services do fit very neatly into this model, I'm increasingly convinced that youth work doesn't.
We might like to think of youth services providing a universal service, but with much of the work either targeted on particular neighbourhoods or at specific groups of young people, it's difficult to argue that we're really universal. So are we a targeted service? Not if you look at the participation data coming out of most youth services.
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here