Knowsley Young Advisors supported the development and promotion of The Knowsley Participation Standards, a performance framework for all Children's and Young People's Services to ensure the implementation of effective participatory practices.

Young advisors are trained assessors who will support services in achieving The Standards Criteria and receive a quality kite mark.

Achieving the Knowsley Participation Standards guarantees a level of quality when involving children & young people in the design, delivery and evaluation of services and allows the recognition of good practice.

The six Participation Standards are;
1) Decision Making
2) Having a Say/Being Listened To
3) Working Together
4) Response
5) Change
6) Training

The Knowsley Participation Standards Assessment Process is an integral part of the drive to promote Quality in the services they provide to children and young people. It provides public recognition that the criteria embodied in the Knowsley Participation Standards are being met this is further highlighted by Knowsley’s children and young people accessing these services.

The Young Advisors play a crucial part of the assessment process. The YA's team up with an adult assessor an work with services to support them in collating a portfolio of evidence, and will visit and consult with young people who are accessing the service being assessed. The Young Advisors then take each services Portfolio to SPARK, Our Children and Young People's Forum for them to decide whether the service meets the Six Participation Standards.

Knowsley have a variety of services who have completed the Participation Standards and achieved the Kitemark above - a flavour of these services are:


Youth Offending Service

Libraries

Children's Centres

Primary Schools

Youth Services

Teenage Health in Knowsley

Feedback Knowsley Young Advisors have recieved!

"Working with Knowsley Young Advisors is refreshing. The Young Advisors can offer a new outlook and approach to many pieces of work and are always up for a challenge. They adapt to different situations and are keen to listen, learn and build on their knowledge and skills base. I had had the privilege of working with the Young Advisors on a number of pieces of work and have always found their dedication and support invaluable, they manage their changing workload with ease and remain professional whilst adding new perspectives. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with the Knowsley Young Advisors and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future."

Elaine Jones, Knowsley Participation Standards Co-ordinator