Jump to content
Login / Register

Sign up here
Forgot Password?

Related content

Targeted youth support (TYS) redesigning services: Improving sexual health services for young people

Contact:
anthony.1.fielding@hants.gov.uk
Provider:
Training and Development Agency
Topics:
Targeted youth support
Type:
Emerging practice
Date:
December 2006
Region:
South East England

Issue

Hampshire's targeted youth support (TYS) pathfinder site has wards with the highest levels of teenage pregnancy in the authority. These wards generally have reasonable levels of employment, but wages are low. Sexual health has shared targets as part of the local area agreement (LAA).

Background

As part of the reorganisation in Hampshire PCT services, the school health service has struggled to provide comprehensive input to all of the 98 schools within the area. There is no universal school nursing service covering secondary schools. 

A public health needs assessment in Hampshire uncovered a number of characteristics shared by young mothers and their families. For example, teenage pregnancy is often a pattern carried through a number of generations, and teenage mothers commonly have low aspirations and low educational attainment.

Teenage pregnancy funding supports a drop-in clinic in the secondary school within the TYS pathfinder area. The local teenage pregnancy strategy group has a strategic manager and training manager, both have had some involvement in the pathfinder in each of its stages.

Actions prompted by TYS

A TYS change team has been set up to address the issue of teenage pregnancy and sexual health.

Unfortunately, the health lead is leaving soon to take up a post in another authority and, currently, there is no one to replace her. It's a huge challenge to replace such a key worker, but we are determined and hopeful that we can, with support from strategic mangers within the PCT, find the right person

Anthony Fielding, youth service manager and TYS project manager

A PCT health promotion lead is a member of the change team. The team lead is also trying to get the school nurse who runs the drop-in sessions (in the secondary school) into the team and is making links to health visiting services.

Benefits and results

The health promotion lead is able to provide training to the emerging multi disciplinary team on sexual health, substance misuse and alcohol and smoking cessation. This training and support could help workers in universal services to identify and provide early intervention for young people at risk of poor health outcomes and teenage pregnancy.

The health promotion lead has been integral to the success of this part of the TYS change process. She has made important links with other initiatives, motivated others and been a driver for getting things done.

The impact of the changes will be measured by the targets set by the LAA to reduce teenage pregnancy and the incidence of sexually transmitted diseases.

The LA

Hampshire is a large county authority. The TYS pathfinder is focusing on the Test Valley, which includes a rural area and an area of deprivation. Hampshire's statistical neighbours include:

Click for more case studies on redesigning services to help young people with particular needs.

Download the contents of this page: docas a Word Document

Last updated on 01/12/2006