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About IYSS
About the Integrated Youth Support Service in Portsmouth
Portsmouth City Council's Youth Service and Connexions service have merged to form an Integrated Youth Support Service (IYSS).
The vision for IYSS is to improve the outcomes for young people aged 13-19, or up to 25 years old for people with learning difficulties or disabilities. There are three teams within the IYSS:
- Information, advice and guidance (IAG): helping young people make the right learning and career choices and enabling them to make a successful transition into adulthood.
- Positive activities: consisting of things to do and places to go, including educational, cultural and recreational activities; sports, volunteering and participation.
- Targeted youth support (TYS): for vulnerable young people who may not meet traditional thresholds for statutory or specialist services but who, without help, are at future risk of further problems such as substance misuse, youth offending, teenage pregnancy and homelessness.
We employ Youth Advisers who are able to give advice and guidance on issues you may be faced with, whatever they are.
You can find Youth Advisers in schools, colleges and information centres across Portsmouth.
We want to make sure every young person has a positive and enjoyable life. To make sure we do this, we are working around five main priorities:
- be healthy;
- stay safe;
- enjoy and achieve;
- make a positive contribution; and
- achieve economic wellbeing.
Download our organisational structure chart 
which contains staff contact details. This is best printed onto an A3 sheet. (Last updated 10 June, 2010)
Background and National Requirements
Youth Matters (2005) and Youth Matters Next Steps (2006), along with Section
six of the Education and Inspections Act 2006 outline the government’s
expectation that local authorities will work with partners in all sectors to develop
integrated youth support services (IYSS). It is expected that there will be
integrated planning, commissioning and delivery of services for young people in
relation to three key inter-dependent aspects of provision, as detailed above.
In December 2007, the government published The Children’s Plan, setting out
the vision for improving outcomes for children and young people, and improving
the services that work with them. In July 2007, the government published Aiming High for Young People: A Ten Year Strategy for Positive Activities. This
was followed in March 2008 by the Aiming High for Young People
Implementation Plan. These key components in the government’s policies for
young people provide the basis for further work on integrated youth support in
Portsmouth.
Local Developments
In the context of Aiming High (above), an advisory body was set up in
Portsmouth to promote the implementation of integrated youth support services.
The IYSS Group was established in September 2007. The group provides
the forum for developing and driving the improvements in integrated youth
support. It reports to the Children and Young People’s Strategic Partnership and
is responsible for monitoring and ensuring that certain elements of the Children
and Young People’s Plan are achieved.
For more information read the Report to the Minister of children and young people.
Interested in working for the Integrated Youth Support Service in Portsmouth?
Visit the Portsmouth City Council website for information on current vacancies in the Integrated Youth Support Service and in other departments of the Council.
Working in partnership - Government Agencies
The Department for Children, Schools and Families
The Government has long been committed to enabling all children and young people to reach their full potential. This requires a strong lead in securing integrated children’s services and educational excellence.
The new Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) means we can really concentrate on achieving these objectives.
GOSE - Government Office for the South East
GOSE represent central government in the region and their role is to promote better and more effective integration of Government policies and programmes at a regional and local level.
LSC - Learning and Skills Council
The LSC have a single goal: to improve the skills of England’s young people and adults to ensure we have a workforce of world-class standard. The LSC is responsible for planning and funding high quality education and training for everyone in England other than those in universities.
The service is managed locally by Connexions Partnerships that bring together all the key youth support services. Connexions Direct offers advice on education, careers, housing, money, health and relationships for 13-19 year olds in the UK. Includes web chat, telephone and call-back.
Every Child Matters : Change for Children
The Government's aim is for every child, whatever their background or their circumstances, to have the support they need to:
- Be healthy
- Stay safe
- Enjoy and achieve
- Make a positive contribution
- Achieve economic well-being
Directgov brings together the widest range of public service information and services online. Produced by the Central Office of Information, Directgov provides information from across UK government departments on topics ranging from travel safety and parental leave to special educational needs and local NHS services.
Aimhigher is a national programme run by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) with support from the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF).
Regional Aimhigher websites are available at:
www.aimhigherhants.ac.uk - for young people in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight
www.aimhigherhantsandiow.ac.uk - for practitioners
The Hampshire Economic Partnership (HEP) - HEP was established in 1992 and brings together business and local government to influence government policy and support the economic prosperity of Hampshire and its cities.
Working in partnership - Local Authorities
Hampshire County Council : Children's Services Department
Isle of Wight Council : Children's and Young People's Services
Portsmouth City Council : Directorate of Children, Families & Learning
Southampton City Council : Young People
HantsWeb is the Family Information Service Directory for Hampshire, developed by the Children's Services Department. Find services by using the directory search and information by browsing through our pages.
Transforming the education system for 14-19 year olds.
Page updated: Wednesday, July 28, 2010 2:38 PM
