Inspectors on the loose

Look out, look out — the Go Oldham Inspectors are about!

Go Oldham iInspectors is a programme running across Oldham for young people that aims to support them to influence services and assess the quality of youth work provision.

The programme is co-ordinated by Oldham Council’s central youth service team.

Involving young people in the design, delivery and inspection of services is central to youth work.

In the statutory guidance for local authorities on services and activities to improve young people’s wellbeing, launched by the Department for Education in June, 2012, the Government outlines that local authorities must have arrangements to enable young people to inspect and report at least annually on the quality and accessibility of provision.

Go Oldham Inspectors does this. It recruits young people with a range of life experiences to work as small teams and give their views and opinions on how specific services are working in their area.

The idea is that young people will assess how the service works and look at how it benefits young people. It focuses on looking at the quality of what is being delivered.

All inspectors received training before they carry out an inspection.

The first group of Inspectors undertook their training last week at the Castleshaw centre.
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