The purpose of this book is to share widely lessons that can be learned from services that have brought about significant changes to the ways they work in order to raise standards of youth work provision and practice.
Particular themes have been selected that impact on quality outcomes for young people and the case studies describe how they have led to organisational development and service improvements. These themes included changing the culture and managing performance, ensuring resources are responsive to needs, developing the curriculum, assuring quality, capturing the voice of young people and working collaboratively with other services.
Six local authority youth services, identified as having strengths with regard to these particular themes through an analysis of Ofsted reports, contributed to the case studies. Interviews were held with senior managers and staff.
It is hoped that the book can help those involved with youth work at all levels to plan and manage the changes necessary to raise standards so young people can achieve the best possible outcomes.
The final section of the book codifies and classifies the developments described in the case studies and draws on ideas about leadership, management and change, which are increasingly familiar to those working in the sector. Using the 7S framework (strategies, structures, systems, staff, skills and knowledge, style of leadership and shared values) as also used in Hear by Right it explores how changes and the way they have been introduced have enhanced confidence and raised levels of achievement, leading to greater recognition of the value of youth work and the reputation of the workers and the services to which they belong.
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