In this context it should be remembered that those young people least able to identify the appropriate organisations to approach for support are also likely to be the young people with the most complex and severe needs. We believe that the local youth support service proposed earlier in the report could provide essential help for young people in engaging with the complex range of support available to them. Such a resource would ensure providers had a fuller picture of an individual, facilitating the provision of a package of support that would be both appropriate and effective. Finally, we have been struck in carrying out our work by the importance of leadership and staff development in service provision. Where good leaders exist, the difference in the ethos and effectiveness of the services they lead is striking.
Staff development is also a key issue in terms, again, of joint working.