Beyond boundaries: a deeper look into multi-agency working to support young people
When it comes to youth workers effectively supporting young people - it’s all about who they know.
Our recent research highlights that youth workers are deeply embedded in their local areas, regularly collaborating with professionals from a range of sectors such as education, health, and social care. This means that they can help to create referral pathways for young people who need extra help, as well as work collaboratively with other providers to create a wide range of enjoyable, enriching, and sociable activities.
The benefits of multi-sector interactions are wide-ranging and include enabling young people to access help earlier - before challenges escalate into crises - leading to better long-term outcomes. However, our research identified gaps in these networks. In some areas, services were either unavailable or too stretched to engage meaningfully. In others, teachers, health care workers and other professionals had a limited understanding of the role youth workers play and the value they bring to wider service provision.
This study was conducted in partnership with UK Youth, the UK’s leading youth work charity, and commissioned by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). It draws on insights from six local case studies across England and an online survey of 296 youth workers and allied professionals. The full report is published by DCMS and can be accessed here.
For further information regarding SQW’s work on the study, please contact Jo Hutchinson via jhutchinson@sqw.co.uk.
