Get to the office with coffee in hand to meet my counterparts from the youth offending team and secondary support. We're doing some exciting work on joining up our services and discuss ways of further improving co-ordination. I move from this to a meeting looking at the ICT systems for the integrated service - fascinating but complicating stuff. I have back-to-back meetings for the rest of the day which leaves me responding to emails late into the night.
Tuesday: Meet with a colleague from regeneration to discuss a joint European Social Fund bid to help improve the number of young people in work and training. This is about delivering services at a neighbourhood level. I speak to the lead councillor for young people every week. Today, we talk about opening a new club.
Wednesday: Start the day interviewing for a commissioning manager for young people. Local authorities are commissioning more services from the voluntary and community sector, so getting the right person in this post is crucial. I continue work on a budget proposal - it's strategic work in progress linking our arm's length management organisation and children and young people's services. Then I have a really productive meeting with the local police chief inspector. We identify some key actions, including how we can work together on Operation Kerb, which identifies and works with young people at risk of getting involved in gangs.
It's my children's parents evening so I force myself to leave work on time.
Thursday: I attend a Change for Children Network forum for children's services managers across the borough. I enjoy the debates on partnership working and the networking is brilliant with alternative education heads. Some joint working is definitely needed. Spend much of the afternoon dealing with an incident that occurred at one of the clubs the previous evening. Another late night responding to emails.
Friday: Today was the launch of the Hackney Youth Charter. This is the culmination of much hard work by young people and frontline staff. It is a fabulous, inspiring event that should make a real difference to the lives of young people in the borough and, if the attendance is anything to go by, I am confident that everyone is right behind this. Once again, I am humbled by the ability of young people to lead the way. What a high to end the week on.
- Dara de Burca is head of youth services at Hackney Borough Council.
