The Youth Engagement and Participation Service (YEPS) provides the statutory Youth Service for Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council. This service is provided by a workforce of qualified staff made up of school based workers, community based youth workers, specialist youth work teams and skilled part time staff. The team is made up of;
Community and Schools Engagement Team
19 Youth Engagement Officers – 17 based in Each Secondary School and further 2 Community Based, to support young people with Additional Learning needs, and those educated other than at mainstream schools.
- Offer One to One support to young people in schools
- Support young people referred to YEPS to identify areas of need and develop an action plan to support these areas to increase resilience and young people’s wellbeing.
- Support young people to access other services (Barod, Sexual Health and other specialist agencies)
- Lunch Time Drop ins in school for advice, guidance and information
- After school activities
- Issues based projects
Youth Engagement and Progression Officers (YEPO)
Youth Engagement and Progression Officers provide one to one support for young people aged 16 to 25 including young people who attend special schools, colleges, PRU’s and those who are educated other than at school (EOTAS).
- 4 x community based officers
- Provide one to one support for young people aged 16 to 25
- Provide one to one support for young people who attend special schools throughout RCT
- Provide support to young people who are educated other than at school (EOTAS)
- Deliver issue based workshops and information, advice and guidance drop in sessions in colleges
- Support is provided in schools, colleges, community venues, street based and home visits
- Provide community based projects. Projects vary based on the needs of the community
- Deliver four local youth forums – Equality and Diversity, Community Safety, Mental Health and Environment and Sustainability
Community Youth Offer Coordinators (CYOC)
Each CYOC Takes responsibility for a designated area within Rhondda Cynon Taf and take a lead for the coordination of all of the YEPS programme of activity including:
- Youth Work Activities in schools
- Transition Programmes
- Community based youth work programmes
- Youth Club and Street based provision
- Club Fusion
- School Holiday Programme of activities and trips
- The Mobile Youth Van
Mental Health and Wellbeing Officers
- 5 x community based officers
- Provide one to one support for young people with mental health needs
- Support is provided in schools, community venues, street based and home visits
- Provide training to young people to educate them on mental health issues
- Provide community based projects. Projects vary based on the needs of the community
- Support local youth forums with mental health issues including training opportunities, project development
- Provide online information to support people
Transitional Support Workers (TSW)
Transitional Support Workers provide support to young people aged 16 to 25 years old to overcome the barriers they face in accessing education, employment and training opportunities or who are at risk of, or have disengaged from education, employment or training.
- 4 x community based officers
- Provide tailored support to young people aged 16 to 25 years who are at risk of, or have disengaged from education, employment or training
- Provide one to one and group support for travel training
- Provide pre-engagement information and guidance to raise levels of motivation, confidence and self esteem
- Deliver employability skill projects such as CV writing, interview techniques, team working, etc
- Provide support to young people to overcome the barriers they face in accessing education, employment and training opportunities
Youth Homelessness Officer
Youth Homelessness Officer provides one to one support for young people at risk of homelessness with this support provided in schools, community venues, street based and home visits. Support can include training to young people to educate them on homelessness issues and delivery of community and school based projects to improve young people’s independent living skills. Interventions through early targeted help include educating, providing information and advice for young people and their families and other agencies about the realities of youth homelessness.
Youth Homelessness Education Officer
Youth Homelessness Education Officer develops and delivers independent living skills packages of support to young people with the aim of enabling them to live independently. This support is for young people aged 16 - 25 who are at risk of homelessness and early intervention packages for young people with some risk factors. This includes:
- 1 x community based officer
- Provide one to one support for young people at risk of homelessness aged 16 – 25.
- Support is provided in schools, community venues, street based and home visits
- Provide training to young people to educate them on homelessness issues
- Provide community and school based projects to improve young people’s independent living skills
- Provide interventions through early targeted help including helping educate and provide information and advice for young people and their families and other agencies about the realities of youth homelessness
Digital Development Officer
The Digital Development Officer is responsible for the following areas for young people aged 11 – 25:
- Looks after YEPS’ website www.yeps.wales providing quality information to young people on a number of topics / online booking system for YEPS activities
- Looks after YEPS’ social media platforms – Facebook / Instagram / YouTube communicating all YEPS activities / opportunities to the public.
- Looks after YEPS’ app – coming soon!
- Looks at new creative opportunities to engage young people
- Works with partners to share key information for services for young people
Communication and Rights Officer
The Communication and Rights Officer is responsible for the following areas for young people aged 11 – 25:
- Runs our Youth Editors programme where young people are trained and capture footage of our local activities / youth offer. Promoting the positive work young people in RCT do
- Liaises with RCT / schools / community groups to run RCT’s County Youth Forum
- Supports the development of RCT’s Member of Youth Parliament
- Support the roll-out and findings of ‘Make Your Mark’ campaign
- Provides opportunities for young people to be aware of their rights
- Runs a youth inspector programme to ensure provision is approved / up to standard for young people / provide recommendations for change.
Engagement Support Officers (ESO’S)
Line managed by Ryan Strong, this role is delivered by team of part time staff working minimum of two evenings per week. They cover all areas across RCT supporting our full-time staff with delivery of YEPS provision including:
- Engage with young people aged 11-25
- Part time staff who usually work evenings
- Cover all areas across RCT.
- Support our Full-time staff on YEPS delivery
- Work within all sorts of provision including youth clubs, street-based sessions, trips, activities, and projects
- Can lead on issue-based sessions when identified young people
- Provide young people with information, advice and guidance during face to face work