City of Westminster
Item No.
Decision-maker
Date
21th
Cabinet Member for June
Leisure and Lifelong 2002
Learning
Title of Report
Creation of Connexions Personal
Adviser posts in line with the contract
and delivery plan with Central London
Connexions
CLASSIFICATION FOR GENERAL Report of
RELEASE
Director of Education
Wards Involved
All
Policy Context
This reorganisation will allow the Connexions
Service to meet its delivery plan and will support
delivery of the City of Westminster Council
Education Guarantee
Financial Summary
The 26 posts cost approximately £750,000 per
annum, of which
 £622,500 is externally funded by Connexions
 £ 10,000 is externally funded by SRB5
 £ 5,000 is externally funded by the Youth
Justice Board
 £67,500 is funded from other Council
departments as match funding to extend
provision
 a total of £45,000 is funded by three schools
from their budgets.
1.
Summary
1.1
This report provides information about the creation of 26 new posts
within the Youth Service, which, for the most part are funded externally
by the Connexions Service.
1.2
The DfES has funded the new Connexions Service through the Central
London Connexions Partnership. Westminster Council has a contract
from the Central London partnership to deliver the non-careers part of
the Westminster Connexions Service.
2.
RECOMMENDATIONS
2.1
That the 26 posts detailed at Appendix 1 be created as part of the
Youth Service establishment from 1st June 2002 at grades to be
determined by the Head of Personnel.
2.2
That the Director of Education be given delegated authority to create
up to 20 further posts as an additional part of the Youth Service
establishment at grades determined by the Head of Personnel
provided that the posts are fully funded from external sources and/or
contained within existing budgets.
3.
Background Information
3.1
The DfES has established a new service for 13 – 19 year olds called
Connexions. Connexions is a national initiative that aims to co-ordinate
the work of existing agencies and professions, supplemented by the
creation of a new professional role (Personal Advisers) to
 Raise the aspirations, participation and achievement levels of
young people
 Provide all young people outside learning or otherwise at risk of
underachieving, with the support they need to fulfil their potential
 Provide an integrated support service for young people and their
carers to assist young people to engage effectively in learning and
employment
 Influence and improve learning provision and other services for all
young people
3.2
The work of the Connexions Service will support the delivery of the
Council’s Education Guarantee
3.3
The City of Westminster is one of 7 boroughs in the Central London
Connexions Partnership. This partnership has adopted a lead body
model, with the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea holding the
main contract.
3.4
Each local authority has a multi-agency Local Management Committee
to oversee the work of the Connexions Service. In Westminster that is
led by the Local Authority.
3.5
Westminster City Council has an annually renewable contract with the
Central London Connexions Partnership to deliver the service in
Westminster. The staff are managed and employed through the Youth
Service.
3.6
A pilot project has been in place for one year. This becomes a full
Connexions Service from 1st June 2002. The DfES have approved a
business plan and agreed to partly fund the posts. The service will be
reviewed and there may be opportunities for additional staffing in the
future.
3.7
In addition to the specified posts there is an annual budget of £10,000
for interpreters to support the PA Refugees & Asylum Seekers to be
used as and when required.
3.8
In addition to the specific posts identified in this report, as Connexions
is a developing service, it is possible that further funding will be made
available by government or other partners to employ additional staff to
support the delivery of the Connexions service. It is proposed that the
Director of Education be given delegated authority to create up to a
further 20 posts at grades to be determined by the Head of Personnel
on the basis that they are fully funded from external sources and/or
contained within existing budgets.
4.
Detail
4.1
The posts to be established are laid out in Appendix 1
5.
Financial Implications
5.1
The 26 posts cost approximately £750,000 per annum, of which
£622,500 is externally funded by Connexions, £10,000 externally
funded by SRB5, £5,000 externally funded by the Youth Justice Board,
£67,500 funded from other Council departments as match funding to
extend provision and a total of £45,000 funded by three schools from
their budgets.
5.2
There is a budget for the support costs for the posts either in the main
Connexions budget, the partner agency budget or a combination of
both.
5.3
Should funding be withdrawn, there could be potential redundancy
costs but it is not anticipated that there will be either a reduction in
funding or short notice of cessation of funding. However, in either
event, costs associated with winding up the service would be claimed
from Connexions.
6.
Legal Implications
6.1
There are no legal implications arising from this report other than the
potential redundancy implications where the funding ceases at short
notice. It is not anticipated that there will be redundancy costs as this is
an ongoing developing initiative.
7.
Staffing Implications
7.1
This report creates 26 new posts initially as agreed through the
Westminster Connexions 2002/03 delivery plan, and thereafter as and
when funding is agreed by the Central London Connexions
Partnership.
7.2
The specific posts being created in the first tranche are detailed in
appendix one.
7.3
The Unions were consulted through the departmental Joint
Consultative Committee and
the proposals were received as
supportive to the City council. and the existing staff
8.
Outstanding Issues
8.1
There are no outstanding issues
9.
Performance Plan Implications
9.1
This reorganisation will allow the Connexions Service to meet its
delivery plan and will support delivery of the City of Westminster
Council Education Guarantee
10.
Consultation
10.1
The Connexions Local Management Committee which has
representatives from a wide variety of Council and external agency
stakeholders, was consulted at all stages of the development of the
local delivery plan, which has been approved by the Government Office
for London.
11.
Crime and Disorder Act
11.1
One of the posts (PA Vulnerable Young People) specifically targets
young people who are involved in or at risk of being involved in crime,
and many of the other posts will also support, challenge and offer
constructive alternatives to these young people.
12.
Health and Safety Issues
12.1
There are no Health & Safety issues.
13.
Co-operation with Health Authorities
13.1
The Health Authority is a partner agency in the Connexions Service
and has been represented at the Local Management Committee whilst
the development of these posts has been agreed.
13.2
The Health Authority is likely to put staff into some of the Connexions
venues to work in partnership with these new posts.
14 Conclusion
14.1
This reorganisation will allow the Connexions Service to meet its
delivery plan and will support delivery of the City of Westminster
Council Education Guarantee. If these posts were not established the
Council would be in breach of its contract with the Central London
Connexions Partnership.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUERIES ABOUT THIS REPORT OR WISH TO
INSPECT ANY OF THE BACKGROUND PAPERS, PLEASE
CONTACT SHARON COHEN.ON 020 7641 1530; EMAIL ADDRESS
scohen3@westminster.gov.uk FAX NUMBER 020 7641 1542
BACKGROUND PAPERS
The documents used or referred to in compiling the report were: Westminster Connexions Delivery Plan 2002/03
Schedule of posts to be created for the Connexions Service
Appendix 1
Funding Source
Post
Connexions Support Officer
Team Leader – one stop shops
PA one stop
PA one stop
PA one stop
PA one stop
One Stop Shop administrator
PA disabilities
100% Connexions funding
100% Connexions funding
100% Connexions funding
100% Connexions funding
100% Connexions funding
100% Connexions funding
100% Connexions funding
50% Quality Protects & 50% Learning
Disabilities Partnership Board
PA hospital
50% connexions & 50% Home Tuition
Unit
PA youth work
100% Connexions funding
PA Refugees & Asylum seekers
100% Connexions funding
PA Care Leavers
£12,500 from WALC, rest from
Connexions
PA Vulnerable young people
£5,000 Youth Justice Funding, rest from
Connexions
PA Housing
£10,000 housing, rest from Connexions
PA mentors care leavers
100% Connexions funding
PA mentors care leavers
100% Connexions funding
PA North Westminster Community £10,000 SRB5, rest from Connexions
School – transition project
PA Quinton Kynaston
25% School funding & 75% Connexions
PA St Marylebone
50% School funding & 50% Connexions
PA St Georges & St Augustines
100% Connexions funding
PA Pimlico
100% Connexions funding
PA North Westminster Community 50% School funding & 50% Connexions
School
PA Kingsway College
100% Connexions funding
PA City Of Westminster College
100% Connexions funding
PA Westminster City School, QEII and 100% Connexions funding
College Park
PA Greycoat
25%
School
funding
and
75%
Connexions
…………………………………………………………………………………………
For completion by Cabinet Member

Declaration of Interest
I have no interest to declare in respect of this report
………………………………. Signed ……………………………. Date
I have to declare an interest
State nature of interest ……..…………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………….. Signed ……………………………. Date
(N.B: If you have an interest you should seek advice as to whether it is
appropriate to make a decision in relation to this matter.)
For the reasons set out above, I agree the recommendation(s) in the report
and reject any alternative options which are referred to but not recommended.
Signed ………………………………………………
Cabinet Member for ……………………………….
Date …………………………………………………
NOTE: If you do not wish to approve the recommendations, or wish to make
an alternative decision, it is important that you consult the report author, the
Director of Legal and Administrative Services , the Director of Finance and, if
there are staffing implications, the Head of Personnel (or their
representatives) so that (1) you can be made aware of any further relevant
considerations that you should take into account before making the decision
and (2) your reasons for the decision can be properly identified and recorded,
as required by law.
Note to Cabinet Member: The decision will now be published and
copied to the Members of the relevant Overview & Scrutiny Committee
and may not be implemented until five working days have elapsed from
publication to allow the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to decide
whether it wishes to call it in.