County Durham Local Teenage Pregnancy Strategy - Full Document

5) Developing sex and relationship education policies in the youth
services, residential homes etc.
• Community Education Service is at present reviewing the current draft of
the Sex and Relationship Education Policy and guidelines through an
established Review Group, which will plan the progress and report on the
review and recommendations.
• Sex and relationship education is to become an integral part of the
Community Education Service Youth Work Curriculum.
The review of this curriculum will ensure that sex and relationship
education will be prioritised in the statement guidelines by 2002.
• There is a need for the establishment of a Sexual Health Worker post, to
train and support the staff through the development of training
programmes, 2002-2003, depending on funding available.
• There is a need to broaden the range of learning opportunities around sex
and relationship education, using the expertise of other professionals.
• Work to continue with young people in the community using drama,
community art workers, and community education workers and sexual
health outreach workers.
Future
• It is important to have and develop training link with foster carers and
residential social workers, regarding sex and relationship education.
• Links can be developed between sexual health outreach workers and
looked after networks.
• It is crucial to have continued funding for End House, the Young Peoples
Centre.
• All of this work will help to ensure that young people are less likely to be at
risk of social exclusion.
6) Using young people / parents and carers as educators
• Peer education and peer mentoring is underway in schools and Youth
Services at present.
• Involve parents and carers in discussion around sex and relationship
education offering local supported mini-courses if requested.
• Develop an accredited course for young people, peer led, as suggested in
TROCNII/III guidelines, this is underway.
This work is currently being discussed by several organisations and
individuals, and could be undertaken by joint working with Health Promotion
and Community Education.
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