Decision details

The Chair welcomed Pam Goulding, Head of Service for Skills, Learning and Development, and, Sue Procter, Director for Programmes and Project Management to the table.

A report was presented to the Scrutiny Committee providing an update and overview of the support provided to young people by the Employment Support Team within Skills, Learning and Development. This enabled and assisted young people on their pathway in to further education/employment and also promoted sustainable employment for young people.

The report gave a review of the support that had been provided through the Professional Apprentices Programme, the mentoring programme and the work LCC did towards its internal apprentice programme.

Since July 2015 the service had provided support to Children's Services, specifically to support Children Looked After and Care Leavers, where they and their social workers opt in to the services available. There is a current case load of 47 young people of which 16 are actively engaged on an employment programme and 31 working towards being placement ready. 

Councillors were invited to ask questions and raise any comments in relation to the report, a summary of which is provided below:

·  Members enquired when the initial programme was expanded from years 9 – 11 to include years 7 – 8 and what benefits they had gained from it. To include years 7 – 8 had been a request from the schools because they felt there were some children in these years that needed mentoring and guidance to prevent them heading down the wrong path.

·  Regarding the charge the Government put on employers last year for apprenticeships, Members enquired how this had impacted on LCC and its budget. They were informed that the apprenticeship levy would come in to effect in April 2017 and the Skills, Learning and Development Team would be coming back to Management Team with a clear view of how they saw this working. In the public sector the expectation was there would be up to 2.3% expected of LCC to bring in apprenticeships. A further report was requested when this levy came in.

·  Apprenticeships had been relatively successful with a majority of apprentices gaining full time employment with LCC.

·  Councillors were concerned about the downward trend of apprenticeships over the last view years. One of the reasons for this was the transformation process within LCC. The budget situation at LCC had also had an effect. Hopefully with the introduction of the apprenticeship levy in April 2017 there would be a rise in apprenticeships.

·  Members enquired about the employment prospects of children leaving care from private homes. They were informed that the Employment Support Team looked after children leaving LCC care homes. Members were reassured that their concerns would be taken back to Children's Services.

Resolved: That the Scrutiny Committee note the report.