A project helping vulnerable young people in Crewe move from secondary school into further education has been recognised with a regional award.
The Crewe Multi-Agency Transition Pilot won the Partnerships Award at the North West Association of Directors of Children's Services IMPACT Awards after supporting 42 young people from three secondary schools.
The pilot brought together Cheshire East Council's Youth Support Service, local schools, Cheshire College South and West, the Department for Work and Pensions, health partners and neighbouring local authorities. It was funded by the Integrated Care Board.
Coordinated support for young people
The project was created to give young people at risk of disengaging from education a more coordinated route into further education. Partners shared information and used a common risk framework so that support could begin before pupils left school rather than after difficulties had already emerged.
As part of the work, the Department for Work and Pensions School Adviser role was redesigned to provide earlier and more proactive help. The council said this made it easier to identify barriers, connect families with the right services and maintain contact during the transition between institutions.
The approach is now being expanded in Macclesfield, Ellesmere Port, Warrington and Winsford. The Department for Work and Pensions is also using learning from the pilot to help shape wider regional and national practice.
Regional recognition
Councillor Laura Crane, Cheshire East Council's cabinet member for children and families, said the award reflected the commitment of staff and partner organisations to improving outcomes for young people.
She said the pilot had shown what could be achieved when schools, further education providers, council services, health professionals and employment advisers worked together around the needs of each young person.
The council said the project had strengthened communication between organisations and helped young people receive practical support at the point when they were most likely to lose contact with education or training.
The winning team was represented at the awards by Helen Wallace, Sarah Ramsay, Sally Ashworth and Jon Blackburn.