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Youth services: Lincolnshire to launch 'teenage services' unit

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Lincolnshire is to merge its Connexions and youth services to form a unit termed as 'teenage services' within its children's services department.

The unit will also include secondary schools, colleges, workplace and training providers, the Learning and Skills Council and teenage pregnancy services.

The council said young people would benefit from the greater integration of services, but was unable to say if any redundancies or job cuts would result from the move.

Jim O'Hara, head of youth services at Lincolnshire County Council, said: "This is based on two services that were judged to produce good outcomes for young people in the recent inspection of Lincolnshire children's services."

Education watchdog Ofsted published a Joint Area Review of children's services in Lincolnshire earlier this year. It concluded the service was delivering adequate outcomes.

A youth service inspection that took place alongside the review rated the service as good, and said it offered good value for money. It did, however, say there was a lack of funding for detached and outreach work.

O'Hara said the merger would avoid duplication of services, give a more coherent approach to funding, and give young people more influence.

"The potential for shared use of premises, where appropriate, will create more inclusive points of contact in local communities to services available for 13- to 19-year-olds," he added.

The merger is scheduled to happen by April 2008, but will be subject to consultation with staff and an assessment of the service structure.


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