The Voices in Partnership (VIP) project engage with services to support them in developing a culture of participation within their service. We do this by;
The VIP project delivers a Quality Award to services working with young people based on their levels of participation. This will be done using the six standards below;
• Systems and Structures - Is there commitment throughout the organisation and are the necessary supports in place at all levels to facilitate the participation of young people?
• Rights and Responsibilities - Are young people aware of their rights to participate and the responsibilities that go with this? Are staff aware of young people’s rights to participate and the responsibilities that go with this?
• Valuing Diversity - Does the diversity of young people engaged in active involvement reflect the diversity of young people accessing the service, and are all young people, including those from vulnerable or marginalised groups, able to participate effectively?
• Staffing - Are young people the focus of and involved in the staff recruitment and selection process?
• Children and Young Peoples Satisfaction - Are young people satisfied with the levels of participation within the service?
• Change and Impact - Are the lives of young people, the delivery of services and the wider community being improved as a result of young people’s participation?
The Quality Award has been underpinned by Liverpool's Participation Standards and is written into the Children's and Young People’s Plan (CYPP) for Liverpool.
The VIP team will also be offering training to project staff undertaking the award; this training will be based on the six standards of the award and can be used as a form of evidence. This training will also provide the staff member with an accreditation.
We have a group of young people who are VIP assessors. They meet with young people from other services to gain insight to what participation goes on within that service; this will be done using the standards as a framework and will be used as a form of evidence for the award. The assessors will also be responsible for assessing the projects portfolios of evidence when submitted, and awarding them with the levels they feel the project is at.
The process for projects undertaking the award is shown below;
VIP Award Process Chart
• The VIP project works closely with Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). We are setting up two networks for parents and carers and children and young people, which will enable both groups to influence services they access under Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). These groups are one way CAMHS participation is being developed across the organisation. The diagram below shows how these groups will inform the decision making process within the CAMHS strategy. (Insert diagram)
• The VIP project are also developing a young person’s board within Merseyside Youth Association to allow young people using any of Merseyside Youth Association the projects to influence decision making.
• We are also involved in evaluating peer mentoring schemes.
Yes if you are;
A young person who would like to improve levels of participation within services both for yourself and other young people. This project can help you gain a range of skills and offers multiple opportunities for young people. Click here for information on how you can help.
• A parent or carer who has a young person accessing, has accessed or would like to access a Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) service.
• A service aimed at young people wanting to improve or be rewarded for the levels of participation within your service.
If you would like to be involved in any of the things going on within the project you can;
Email – participation@mya.org.uk or
Telephone - 0151 702 0700 and ask for a member of the participation team.
We are located at The Door, 65-67 Hanover Street, L1 3DY
CAMHS and Extended Schools
The VIP project aim to improve levels of participation across services aimed at young people.
We will achieve this aim by improving these services for the young people, the projects and the wider community.
Any train or bus into town we are on Hanover St not far from Central station and Liverpool One.
20th June
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