listening to you, working for you local college first transforming the lives of young adult...

Listening to you, working for you www.bexley.gov.uk

LOCAL COLLEGE FIRST

Transforming the lives of

young adult learners in Bexley

www.bexley.gov.ukListening to you, working for you www.bexley.gov.ukListening to you, working for you www.bexley.gov.ukListening to you, working for you www.bexley.gov.uk

Local College First• A Bexley prevention initiative transforming the

delivery of social, education and employment opportunities, and commissioning support, to young learners with learning disabilities


• Aim – to improve outcomes for young learners by supporting them in further education closer to home.

• To work with further education colleges to develop support locally to reduce the need to send young learners to costly out of borough Independent Specialist Provider (ISP’s)

• To ensure that resources are deployed to achieve best outcomes

Local College First


Local College First

Historical Context• Until 2013 many young adult learners were sent to

placements with ISP’s outside of their local area.• This often led to a significant weakening of links

with family, friends and their local community.• No local offer of further education for this group of

young learners


Local College First• High % of young learners sent to ISP’s• Bexley placed an average of 7 high needs students

per year at ISP• High % of young people going into residential care

when they returned.• 85% of learners returning from ISP moved to

residential care settings


Local College First• Poor outcomes for young people evidenced.• Intelligence suggested that many young learners

at ISP’s returned home in the holidays requiring lower levels of support and intervention than they did when away at college.


Local College FirstPoor outcomes include:•Weakening of family bonds and difficulties reintegrating the young person back into the family.•Significant loss of social networks.•Institutionalisation and difficulties transferring independence skills back to the local community, e.g., learnt travel skills.•Difficulties establishing relationships with other young learners who remained in the local community.•Many young people did not return to Bexley at the end of the ISP course as they were placed in out of borough residential accomodation


Local College FirstPoor outcomes lead to ………….

Exclusion

Of young learners from their mainstream local community


Local College FirstDrivers for change include:•Government priority to improve transition to adulthood for young learners with disabilities.•Changes in educational funding since 2013 meant that Councils have to ensure adequate provision for young learners with disabilities up to age 25.•Increased financial risks for Education and Adult Social Care resulting in significant budget pressures (LBB in excess of £2.3 million)


Local College First• Identification of disabled young people who live away from

their families at residential establishments as ….• “potentially the most vulnerable and least visible pupils in

the education system”

• (Audit Commission 2007-2008)


Local College First

The Journey………

We worked across council departments and in partnership with a range of stakeholders to develop personalised and innovative provision that tailors support to the needs of young learners.


Local College FirstStakeholders include....•CCG & Health providers•FE Colleges & Schools•Adult Social Care •Education•Children's Services•Employment•Transport•Prospects (Connexions)


And most critically……

Parents and young learners themselves

Local College First


Opportunities for Change helped by:

•Adult Social Care and Education being in the same Directorate and sharing common risks and interests.

•Governance through a Transitions Steering Board.

•Consensus that the status quo could not remain.

•Facilitated change recognised as being in everyone’s interests.

•Some parents not happy that local provision was not available

Local College First


A typical Local College First programme includes:•A three day accredited college course including independent life skills. •A trained personal assistant for up to 55 hours per week, including weekends, to support the young learner and enable the transference of skills.•A supported living placement with a focus on learning and maximizing independent living skills. •1 Day job club (Bexley 2Fold) or work experience.•1 Day adult education to undertake pre entry courses.

Local College First


• Support also includes….

• Independent travel training usually with the PA.

• Transport (including a taxi service)

• Health and therapies input, e.g., SALT.

Local College First


• Financial Modelling

• The following illustrates the cost comparisons that informed decision making.

Local College First


Local College FirstExpenditure Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 Year 6 Year 7

‘000 13/14 14/15 15/16 16/17 17/18 18/19 19/20

Costs during Learning

ISP 1430 1430 1540 1650 1650 1650 1650

LCF 1486 1556 1736 1860 1860 1860 1860

Costs post learning

ISP 530 1206 1882 2028

LCF 426 946 1466 1560

Total

ISP 1430 1430 1540 2180 2856 3532 3678

LCF 1486 1556 1736 2286 2806 3326 3420

LCF Net Cost 56 126 196 106 -50 -206 -258


Benefits•Year 1 – 10 young learners participated in LCF•Year 1 - 0 young learners went to ISP’s•Year 2 – 6 young learners participating in LCF•Year 2 – 4 young learners went to ISP’s (complex needs, agreed for 1 year and reviewed monthly)

Local College First


At the end of Year 1 we commissioned an independent evaluation led by an external service user.

Positive feedback received from all stakeholders included:

Local College First


• Parents and carers saying the young learners were happier and very engaged in the social element.

• Praise from tutors for the high calibre of the PA’s in facilitating young learners independence.

• High success rate of placing young learners in “job club” through Supported Employment (Bexley 2Fold).

• When interviewed, young learners indicated they were happier now than at the same time last year before LCF began.

Local College First


What did we learn?•More and better communication needed with parents and young learners from an early stage, of the benefits of local support.•Transport providers needed more detailed information regarding the needs of young learners•A longer lead in time for the PA’s to get to know the young learner.•Colleges to give parents regular progress updates to alleviate anxieties.

Local College First


Positive outcomes to date:

•80% reduction in the use of residential college placements.

•High satisfaction rates among young learners and parents.

•Immediate and recurrent cost savings.

Local College First


• Most importantly…..

The young learners experience

Inclusion

in their local communities

Local College First


Continuing to transform the lives of young learners by:•Educating and communicating from age 14 with parents and young learners.•Building on the existing support infrastructure, particularly with health providers.•More opportunities being identified to maximise independence, through supported and independent living (Council and independent providers)

Local College First


• Travel training for life on public transport.• Focus on education progress including

accredited and life skills.

We will continue to integrate as far as possible young learners into their local community.

Local College First


In conclusion:

We shall continue to improve, monitor and review the programme with all stakeholders, and seek to ensure positive social and educational outcomes with young learners and their parents.

Local College First

listening to you, working for you local college first transforming the lives of young adult...

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