Young people

Kent Family Hubs Consultation

19 July 2023 0 Comments

Consultation opens: 19 July 2023
Consultation closes: 13 September 2023

Kent County Council (KCC) has launched an eight-week Family Hub services consultation which sets out proposals on the future of young peoples’ services. 

Family Hubs brings together and integrates support services for children, young people and families, so that they are easier for people to access. By being focused on building better, strong relationships with families, we can work with multi-agency services, reducing the need for families to tell us their stories more than once and allow them to access help and support how they chose to i.e., from a physical building, outreach in the community or online/virtual. The consultation sets out the range of services that would be available under the Family Hub model, and the different ways they could be delivered. 

KCC was one of 75 local authorities successfully awarded Department for Education (DfE) funding to design and implement a three-year Family Hub model in Kent, following the September 2020 review by Dame Andrea Leadsom MP focusing on improving outcomes for babies and the first 1,001 days of a child’s life.   

The findings of that review enabled the DfE and Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) to develop a framework to support successful and ambitious local authorities to work with health partners to develop a Start for Life concept and Family Hub model. 

Kent has been awarded Trailblazer status; one of only 14 authorities awarded the honour of becoming a national leader for the Family Hubs and Start for Life programme.   

the DfE Family Hub model fits perfectly into the Framing Kent’s Future strategic vison for children, young people, and families, as well as supporting the wider national and community challenges following the Covid-19 pandemic.  

How to get involved

Read the Consultation Document or

just read the summary document which gives an overview of the proposals .

KCC are keen to hear your views on our proposals and how any changes may affect you.

Attend an activity event over the summer across Kent to find out more and ask your questions.

Events in AshfordDateTimeAddress
Come and meet the team at the Bandstand, find out about your local youth services and join in with some activities!Tuesday
8 August		12pm to 3pmHigh Street, Ashford,
TN24 8SA
A family event providing practical advice, information and support including healthy eating on a budget, looking after yourself and your bank balance! Lots of local organisations offering additional support services, benefits advice, free school meals and healthy start vouchers and other schemes. Come along and find out more.Wednesday 9 August10am to 2pmSingleton Village Hall, Hoxton Close, TN23 5LB

Complete the residents questionnaire by 13 September 2023

KCC Consultation home page

Consultations, Disability, Education, Kent County Council, News, Wellbeing, Young people

Share your ideas for change

20 May 2021 0 Comments

Do you live, study or work in Beaver?
Are you 18 to 25 years old?
How can Beaver be made a place where young people can live more healthily and feel safe?

Ashford Community Safety Partnership are looking for young people aged 18 – 25 to take part in a guided community walk around Beaver on 26 June, and share ideas for change.

Join them on Saturday 26 June, 10.15am to 1.15pm
South Ashford Baptist Church, 24 Brookfield Road, Ashford,TN23 4EY

You’ll use C3’s CHESS™ App to review local shops, food outlets, amenities and public spaces. The App is easy to use and C3 will show you how. You will collect information about the neighbourhood and the things that make it easier, or harder, for you to live healthily, spend time with friends, and feel safe.

On Saturday 10 July you are invited to a follow up session. They’ll share the CHESS walk results, and help you work together to generate ideas for change and turn these into a community action plan. You’ll also receive a £15 voucher.

To find out more or take part please contact:
Alison Oates, Community Safety and Wellbeing Manager, Ashford Borough Council
01233 330 225
csu@ashford.gov.uk

This project is run by Ashford Community Safety Partnership and C3 Collaborating for Health.

Community, Health, News, Security, Young people

Children and Young People with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Consultation

2 December 2020 0 Comments

Kent County Council, Kent and Medway CCG

Kent’s Strategy for Children and Young People with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities 2021-2024

Opened: 02 December 2020
Closes: 04 February 2021

Kent County Council and the NHS in Kent and Medway are keen to hear your views and opinions about their new special educational needs and disabilities strategy for children and young people in Kent.

The strategy sets out our ambitions to make sure that all children in Kent have equal access to support and education that meets their unique needs and that they and their families are supported to live their best life.

It also explains how we will shape our services for children and their families in a way that improves wellbeing, resilience and learning in our communities.

The strategy has been prepared jointly by Kent County Council and the NHS in partnership with children and young people, parents and carers, Kent PACT and other key stakeholders.

We recommend you read the draft Strategy before completing the questionnaire using the link at the bottom of the post.

Consultation Documents

Supporting Documents

Respond

Kent County Council
kccconsultations.inconsult.uk/consult.ti/sendstrategyconsultation/consultationHome

Children, Consultation, Education, Health, Kent County Council, News, Uncategorized, Young people

Survey on services for children and young people

14 August 2019 0 Comments

Transforming health and social care in Kent and Medway

Opens: 10 August 2019
Closes: 23 August 2019

The NHS and local councils want to transform health and care services for children and young people and are calling on local people to get involved and help.

A recent Healthwatch survey showed children and young people in Kent and Medway want their voice to be heard when local services are designed, and the NHS has launched a survey to enable this. Dr Bob Bowes, a GP in Tunbridge Wells and Clinical Chair for Kent and Medway Sustainability and Transformation Partnership said: “We want local children, young people and their parents and carers to help us design services which are fit for the future to give children and young people the best start in life.

“They really can make a difference and we want suggestions for how we can improve.

“We need your help to tell us what already works well in the current system, and what doesn’t.”

The survey, which is open to children and young people from birth to 25 and their parents and carers, will help the NHS and local councils decide the priorities for future improvements to children’s services. The survey takes around 10 minutes to fill in and will close on Friday, 23 August.

There is a version for:

The NHS is keen to get feedback from children and young people of all ages as well as their parents and carers.

Kent County Council and Medway Council are working together with the NHS to improve services.

Cllr Josie Iles, Medway Council’s Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services, said: “We are pleased to be working with partners to further develop a collective understanding of the needs of children and young people in Kent and Medway.”

Children, Consultation, Health, News, STP, STP, Young people

16 and beyond: Help making your decision

3 August 2017 0 Comments

Kent Choices - a guide to your futureYour future. It’s your choice.

You need to stay in education or training after you’re 16, but how you do this is up to you. There are lots of options and you need to pick the one that will help you get the future you want.

Help making your decision

You don’t have to do this alone

It’s normal to be unsure or not know what to do for the best in this situation, but you don’t have to make this decision by yourself. There are lots of places where you can get help and advice, or just have a chat about what you think is the best option for you.

  • Ask your school. They have to give you impartial advice and will have free access to a careers advisor for you.
  • Talk to your friends and family. They know you and can give you their honest opinion.
  • Go to a school or college open day, or come to one of our briefing events. You’ll get to meet staff and providers who can answer any questions you might have about the learning, working or training opportunities on offer.
  • Think about the job or course you want to do, and then go online for careers advice or to a careers library to find out what qualifications you need to get it.
  • Try some work experience or volunteering to get a feel for different types or areas of work.
  • Visit the National Careers Service to try their online tools around finding out what your skills are and what kind of way forward might suit you.
  • If you want to know more about the things you could do that don’t involve staying on at school or college, try Ready To Work Kent.

It’s also important for you to have faith in your instincts. It’s useful to get other people’s opinions, but you’re the only one who has the final answer. Trust yourself.

Kent County Council
www.kent.gov.uk/education-and-children/college-sixth-form-employment-and-training/options-at-16-and-beyond#tab-4

Education, Employment, News, Young people

16 and beyond: Work experience and volunteering

2 August 2017 0 Comments

Kent Choices - a guide to your futureYour future. It’s your choice.

You need to stay in education or training after you’re 16, but how you do this is up to you. There are lots of options and you need to pick the one that will help you get the future you want.

Work experience and volunteering

An introduction to the workplace and key working skills

Having work or volunteering experience during your summer holidays or year out makes your CV stronger and makes you more attractive to a potential employer. It demonstrates that you’re keen to get ahead and take the initiative, and gives you the chance to practice the skills you’ll need in a real organisation.

Find work experience with us or with other businesses in Kent.

Find opportunities to volunteer and get experience in all kinds of different roles across Kent and the whole country.

The National Citizen Service (NCS) is a UCAS-recognised opportunity for students in Years 11 and 12 to take part in outdoor activities, learn skills for life and work, and give back to the local community. It costs only £50 (help with paying for this may be available), all meals and activities are covered, and it looks great on your CV. For more information or to sign up, visit National Citizen Service.

Kent County Council
www.kent.gov.uk/education-and-children/college-sixth-form-employment-and-training/options-at-16-and-beyond#tab-3

Education, Employment, News, Young people

16 and beyond: Earn as you learn

1 August 2017 0 Comments

Kent Choices - a guide to your futureYour future. It’s your choice.

You need to stay in education or training after you’re 16, but how you do this is up to you. There are lots of options and you need to pick the one that will help you get the future you want.

Earn as you learn

Apprenticeships and self employment

If you have a career sector or path in mind and want to start earning money as you learn, an apprenticeship could be for you. You’ll do real jobs for real employers; training on the job, working towards an industry-standard qualification.

Find out more about what’s available and how to apply at Apprentice Kent.

Some providers who offer apprenticeships also offer Study Learning Programmes for people aged 16 to 19. These include areas like catering, construction and hairdressing. To find out more visit the Kent Association of Training Organisations (KATO) website or talk to your careers teacher.

Working for yourself

If you like the idea of setting your own hours, working when and where you want, and you have an idea that might make money, you could speak to the Kent Foundation about getting your business idea off the ground. The Kent Foundation offer free business support to young people who want to start or grow a business, and they could help you bring your business ideas to life.

Remember that until you’re 18, you’ll need to be in learning or training as well as developing your business.

Kent County Council
www.kent.gov.uk/education-and-children/college-sixth-form-employment-and-training/options-at-16-and-beyond#tab-2

Education, Employment, News, Young people

16 and beyond: Learn full time

31 July 2017 0 Comments

Kent Choices - a guide to your futureYour future. It’s your choice.

You need to stay in education or training after you’re 16, but how you do this is up to you. There are lots of options and you need to pick the one that will help you get the future you want.

Learn full time

Stay on full-time at school or college

Lots of school have sixth forms. You can stay at your current school or move to a new one. Sixth forms tend to be smaller, and offer more teaching structure and student support than colleges.

Colleges are often larger and more informal than sixth forms, and they offer a wider variety of courses, but they will expect you to be able to manage your own work and time effectively.

If you’re not sure which is right for you, some schools run joint courses with colleges so you can experience both.

You need to find a school or college that offers the courses or subjects you are interested in studying, or the best route to the level of qualifications you want. If you have special educational needs, you’ll also want to think about whether your chosen provider is suitable for your situation.

Search and apply for courses through UCAS Progress

Open days

Schools and colleges have open days that you can go along to and find out more about what’s offered and get a feel for the place.

Find open days in your local area

Kent County Council
www.kent.gov.uk/education-and-children/college-sixth-form-employment-and-training/options-at-16-and-beyond#tab-1

 

Education, News, Young people

New mental health and eating disorders services

30 June 2017 0 Comments

Ashford Clinical Commissioning GroupFrom 1 September 2017, people of any age in east Kent with an eating disorder, and children and young people who need specialist mental healthcare, will get more joined-up services.

This is because contracts for a new all-age eating disorders service in Kent and Medway and an innovative children and young people’s mental health service in Kent have been awarded to the same organisation: NHS trust NELFT.

Currently, different trusts provide different aspects of the service, and there is no separate specialist service for people with eating disorders: it is part of wider mental health services.

Although the contracts were awarded separately, NELFT won both of them after being judged best for quality and value for money by each of the teams involved, who included GPs and mental health specialists. All the Kent services provided by NELFT will be based locally.

Children, young people and families with experience of mental health problems, and teenagers and adults with experience of eating disorders played a key role in the process, including setting out what they expect from the new service. (more…)

Children, Health, News, Wellbeing, Young people