Young people have provided positive feedback about Oxfordshire County Council’s targeted youth support service as part of a peer review, published today, Tuesday, 27 May 2025.
The service works with children and young people at times of difficulty with the aim of preventing problems escalating to the point where police, social services or other authorities need to become involved.
The county council initiated a peer review, involving the National Youth Agency, representatives from the youth sector, as well as trained young reviewers, to ensure the service continues to meet the needs and aspirations of the young people it serves and supports. It was originally launched in 2021.
Councillor Sean Gaul, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: “Young people face many challenges, so it’s vital that they have trust and confidence in the help and support that’s available, otherwise they’ll shun it and risk getting into further difficulties.
“That’s why we regularly review our services to ensure they’re fit for purpose, and why it was important that young people themselves scrutinised this service, giving us independent, constructive feedback on what’s working well and how we can make things even better for them going forward.
“The review’s findings are encouraging; however, I will ensure we will never be complacent, particularly in any initiative designed to help and support at time of greatest need.”
The peer review found that the targeted youth support service has a clear sense of purpose that is widely understood throughout the council and by most of its partners, and valued by young people.
The targeted youth support service team is highly regarded by other practitioners and is delivering some high-quality youth work.
It was noted that the service has been purposefully developed through good recruitment, with a clear remit and a flexible approach to need. It was evident that there is a person-centred, strength-based approach to supporting individual young people’s needs and circumstances.
The reviewers observed that quality detached youth work is being delivered in some areas of the county, with youth workers clearly knowing their communities well and engaging with diverse and underrepresented groups. Some of the young people who contributed to the peer review are quoted in the final report:
Kemi Odeyemi, aged 18, said: “It was encouraging to see the significant effort being put into supporting young people in Oxfordshire.
“It’s clear that the council is deeply committed to making continuous improvements in the youth services available, and there’s a genuine focus on adapting provisions to meet the needs of young people.
“The positive impact of these efforts is evident, particularly in the range of services being offered and the dedication of staff across the sector.”
Ivan Bronsan, aged 18, commented: “It was a pleasure having the chance to see the fantastic work that is taking place across Oxfordshire to support young people. I was particularly impressed with the political support that exists for the youth service and the positive culture that exists within the organisation.
“The youth workers I spoke to knew the areas in which they worked well. I felt as if there were strong relationships with other services across the board.”
Andy Lloyd, National Youth Agency’s Head of Quality and Standards, said: “It was a pleasure to work alongside colleagues in Oxfordshire County Council and deliver the peer review for their targeted youth support service.
“The council are to be applauded for high-level senior leadership support and commitment to their youth service and a skilled and passionate workforce, achieving the very best outcomes for children, young people and families.
“Strong partnership arrangements have been fostered to ensure effective service delivery, which is wide-reaching and meeting the needs of diverse groups, including a particularly impressive special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) youth forum.”
The targeted youth support service offers group work and one-to-one help to any young person aged between 11 and 18 seeking support with social and emotional development.
The team works with communities to address wider issues relating to young people, such as antisocial behaviour, lack of local youth provision, and responding to violence in a community.
Support extends to anyone aged up to 25 with an education, health and care plan (EHCP) or who has been part of the council’s children we care for scheme, such as in foster care or adopted.
