Developing a world class workforce for Leicester’s children and young people
Our community is uniquely diverse and we recognise the richness and vibrancy this brings to our City and want our workforce to reflect, understand and engage appropriately with all our communities by reducing inequalities and valuing diversity. The City faces many challenges which impact directly or indirectly on our children, young people and their families. We are committed to improving their lives, achievements and aspirations through a world class children’s workforce.
Leicester needs a children’s workforce which is well trained, with workers developing their skills, through coherent career pathways. We need to recruit workers to bring fresh thinking and ideas and to retain workers, particularly where there are staff shortages, undue use of agency staff and high staff turnover. We need to develop visionary leadership and leadership capacity.
“The people who work directly with, and in support of, children, young
people and their families can make great differences to their lives. Most
are passionate about doing so. They should be respected and supported and have the confidence, pride and capacity to make a positive difference for all children, especially the most disadvantaged.”
DCSF 2020 Children and Young People’s Workforce Strategy Spring 2009
We must ensure that our children and young people’s workforce benefit from appropriate leadership, management and supervision; is properly supported by high quality resources and is challenged by ongoing learning and development opportunities.
The Children and Young People's Workforce Strategy has been produced by the Leicester Children and Young People’s Strategic Partnership (LCYPSP), a partnership of colleagues from all key agencies and organisations that work with children, young people and their families throughout the City. The strategy reflects both national imperatives and local priorities.
The Leicester Children and Young People's Strategic Partnership represents people who work for and with children and young people in Leicester in:
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Early years for example in nurseries and crèches
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Sports and culture for example in leisure centres and libraries
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Justice and crime prevention for example in the police authority and institutions for young offenders
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Youth work, for example in Connexions and the young people’s housing support service
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Social, family and community support, for example in family centres and agencies that support fostering
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Health for example in hospitals and GP surgeries
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Education for example in schools and colleges
In each of these settings there are people who hold a wide range of professional qualifications, have diverse skills, knowledge and experience, and who engage in very different ways with children and young people, their families and the wider community. Some are volunteers. Many have a wider remit which includes children and young people along with adults, for example health workers supporting learning disability services or social workers tackling substance misuse.
What they share is a vision for ‘A Brighter Future for Leicester’s Children and Young People’ and a responsibility for securing the five Every Child Matters (ECM) outcomes for all children which are:
The purpose of the strategic partnership and the aim of this strategy are through:
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integrated working;
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shared learning and training; and
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joint planning and shared action,
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to support valued colleagues to provide the best possible service, placing the needs of children, young people and their families at the heart of everything they do.
