The Department for Education has awarded St Christopher’s funding to continue Staying Close, a project to help young people maintain relationships with people they care about after they leave residential care. Staying Close is a pilot under the DfE’s Innovation Programme, which encourages new models of practice within children’s social care. Launching in 2017, the project has continued to evolve thanks to co-production with children and young people. Aims for 2022-23
The funding received so far will cover this next year; we are currently awaiting the outcome of an additional application that will extend the funding period. Chief Executive Jonathan Whalley said: “We are thrilled to continue our important Staying Close work, helping care leavers build life skills, reduce isolation and sustain relationships.” Source: www.stchris.org.uk Stigma: a set of negative and often unfair beliefs that a society or a group of people have about something. As care experienced people in one way or another we have all experienced forms of stigma and prejudice based on our lived experience. This can be through the attitudes that some people in our society have surrounding what it means to be a looked after child and the circumstances of what can lead a child to go into the care of children’s services. Often the negative portrayal of care experienced children and adults in popular culture, as well as the “real life” representation within the media, can feed into negative connotations and reinforce the stigma and prejudice against us. The lack of awareness, perception and education can limit a person’s understanding of our experiences and can often lead people to assume that theses false representation are the truth. Narratives like Tracy Beaker can lead to misconceptions of what our life in care is actually like. The English Independent Care Review is picking up on issues such as stigma, and there is a hope that policies can be implemented in order to make a positive transformation of the social care system, for those currently being cared for external to their birth parents, as well as those who may experience social care in the future. The review is looking at the issues faced through the perspective of children and families and the way we feel about the services around us, either positively or negatively. In October 2021 the English Care Review held a panel discussion with a number of experts, of which several were care experienced. The purpose of this was to create a discussion as to whether the revelation of care experiences has consequences and if “the stigma of care prevents care experienced people from having a fair chance to flourish?”. It was shown by each of the panel members that stigma is very present in in their lives, with a number of stereotypes being derived from this, including the view that “challenging” behavior of children and young people in care increases their potential for criminality. In comparison to this often when we succeed, we feel a sense of imposter syndrome and doubt our accomplishments, simply because it is not something that we see within the media, as this is not a thing that is focused on. This is an issue that relates to a discussion started by David Akinsanya, a panel member. David talked about the documentaries he has made, one in particular about his experiences of being in care where he had people ask him “how did you do that” and “how can we do that”, as these are ideas that many care experienced people don’t think are possible. A great deal of the discussion around stigma, but also the idea of being made to feel different came from the way in which professionals, like social workers interact with us and the way in which they go about their work. Another well respected professional and panel member, Professor Julie Selwyn, highlighted how around 10% of young people aged 11-17 stated that the professional adults in their lives, such as social works, embarrassed them and made them feel a sense of shame. These discussions felt extremely similar to experiences that I and many others have had in terms of the way professionals within children’s social care present. When you are in care often you feel different to those around you, as you regularly get pulled out of lessons for a variety of meetings, counselling sessions or even the most normal interaction of meeting with a social worker who attends your school wearing their lanyard. Sometimes as care experienced people we try to keep that part of ourselves hidden in order to protect ourselves from the fear that others might say hurtful things about our experiences. The Care Review is a key necessity in order to start thinking about making changes to children’s social care across England, yet other studies and reports are being develop which are extremely beneficial to the experiences of children and young people during their time in care. Language That Cares is a clear example of how children and young people feel about the language that is used within children’s social care and how we want it to change to reflect our feelings and preferred language around this. Language is something that can be difficult to change, especially in a setting like social services, as often this is what professionals have been taught is right. It is also known that psychologically we all use words that separate and protect us from certain situations, this factor alone makes this a difficult area to change fully. It feels hopeful that real discussions are taking place around stigma, as it helps us to see and understand that our voices and opinions as care experienced adults and young people are being heard. It is further hoped that these events may have an impact and that there is potential to make positive changes for those who are currently looked after by Local Authorities. Ashleigh Andrews TACT Connect Advisor Source: www.tactcare.org.uk TACT has been ranked the 4th best charity to work for in the UK by the ‘UK’s 100 Best Companies to Work For’ awards. TACT gained two star status, indicating “outstanding” levels of employee engagement, following an anonymous survey of staff conducted in October 2021. TACT also came 16th in the UK’s Best Mid-Sized Companies To Work For. TACT undertakes the survey each year to better understand how our employees are feeling and give them an opportunity to provide honest and valuable feedback. We use that feedback to make positive changes and create a happier working life, strong teams and excellent management. TACT CEO, Andy Elvin said: “At TACT we view employee engagement as the lifeblood of our organisation. We go further & seek to engage our foster carers , children, young people and care experienced adults in our engagement approaches. Best Companies provide us with an excellent feedback loop though the general and pulse surveys which help us understand how effective our engagement is and what adjustments we need to make.” Source: www.tactcare.org.uk St Christopher’s is delighted to welcome two care leavers, Nicola Lacey and Ethan Smith to our fostering panels in the Eastern Region and West Midlands. Ethan is a panel member for our Eastern Region fostering service. His ambition is to represent care leavers and looked after children at all levels through participating in local community groups and charity organisations. He has also been a member of Youth Parliament, sits in Corporate Parenting Forums and is an inspirational public speaker. Meanwhile, Nicola has joined our fostering panel in the West Midlands. She lived in foster homes and residential care, and has since worked in residential care too. Through these experiences, she has developed a passion for making sure all children in care can live in a positive environment to overcome their trauma and fulfil their potential. She sits on two other fostering panels in addition to St Christopher’s. Head of Fostering Annette Richards said: “Ethan and Nicola’s expertise is a valued addition to our two fostering panels, as their first-hand knowledge of the care system will help us ensure our homes and services are of the highest standard. We are delighted to have them on-board.” Attending fostering panel is the last stage of the application process to become a foster carer. The whole process takes around six months to complete, so get in touch with us today to learn more. Source: www.stchris.org.uk Choosing a fostering agency can be confusing. With so many agencies out there, what makes each agency different? In this blog we talk to Sal, Fostering Service Manager in the Southwest of England, about how fostering agencies work. Learn about the different agencies and what to expect from fostering with Action for Children. How are fostering agencies different to one another? There are three main types of fostering agencies. Local authority, private and not-for-profit. Both private and not-for-profit agencies are known as Independent Fostering Agencies (IFAs). Sal says, “There’s a lot of diversity within agencies. All the children we find families for come into care via the Local Authority. They’ll try to find and match children with suitable fostering families. But because there are so many children to find homes for, the local authority refers children to Independent Fostering Agencies, like ourselves.” "Action for Children is a charity and choose to support fostering" Sal Of the 12 million children living in England, over 80,000 of these children are in care.* “Action for Children is a charity and choose to support fostering not because we have to or because we profit from it. We do it because we want to provide really stable families to some of the most vulnerable children in the country.” Why are children placed into foster care? Children may have a different experience and journey when they go through care. For some children, the parent made the decision for them to be looked after. That could be for a short period of time or a longer period, depending on the circumstances. While the young person is settled, vital work can happen with the family. “Most children have been removed from their birth family because they’ve experienced abuse and neglect. Often these children are extremely traumatised. "Most children have been removed from their birth family because they’ve experienced abuse and neglect" Sal "Children may remain with their foster carers for the rest of their childhood, and sometimes beyond this age through a ‘staying put agreement.’ This means they can stay with the foster family up to the age of 25. “We provide long-term, stable homes for children who the local authority can't support internally through their foster carers. This could be because there is a capacity issue or because the children are harder to place. For example, they might be older children or sibling groups, and some may have complex needs.” What support do foster carers get? Foster carers receive exceptionally high levels of support from Action for Children. Sal says, “We provide high levels of support and training for foster carers which is tailored to them and the child they’re supporting. Our social workers get lots of training too, and caseloads are kept small enabling social workers more time with their foster carers. “Our goal is to give as much support as we can to families, so they feel supported by us. Giving children every chance to experience long-term stability. We’re there for the long haul.” All Action for Children foster carers receive:
Why foster with Action for Children? Many of our foster carers choose Action for Children because we’re a charity and always put children first. Sal says, “We put children at the center of every decision. Any money we make goes back into supporting the next child that needs it. Foster Carers often say we’re like a family." "From the beginning, fostering with Action for Children felt like a family and that we were part of something special" Foster carer Sal said, “We are often small services with social workers that stay for a long time. We’re all in it together, everyone has a voice, and we’re all in it to make a difference to children.” How do I decide on a fostering agency? Sal highlights the questions to ask when choosing the right agency for you. “If you’re interested in fostering, explore a range of agencies and their background. Know what support you’ll receive, the support needs of the children in care and ask about the teams. Talk to them about the types of children you’re looking to support.” Get in touch to learn more about fostering with a leading UK children's charity Source: www.actionforchildren.org.uk Member Job Opportunity: Team Fostering Independent Reviewing Officer (Yorkshire & East Midlands)14/3/2022
Team Fostering is an ethical not-for-profit fostering agency. We have a strong reputation and proven track record for providing high quality, value-for-money fostering placements for looked after children. We pride ourselves on our values and we expect our staff to commit to and demonstrate these values in their everyday work. We are looking for Independent Reviewing Officers based in the Yorkshire & East Midlands region. Our Independent Reviewing Officers contribute to the provision of a high quality fostering service for children by ensuring that every Team Fostering foster carer’s suitability to foster and terms of approval are reviewed at least once annually as required by the Fostering Regulations. Independent Reviewing Officers chair foster carer reviews and produce high quality reports for Team Fostering on a self-employed basis. As part of the preparation for a review they also conduct audits of the agency files to ensure a high standard of recording is maintained. Individuals will have the necessary social work and management skills and experience to undertake this task, to contribute to the maintenance of quality standards within the organisation. Team Fostering will provide regular supervision. Key Tasks:
This is a sessional role. Salary for the post is £32.25 per hour (each review and audit of carer’s file = 6 ½ hours) If you wish to discuss this role further please contact Sandra Kennedy on 07717 762125 Please note Team Fostering does not accept CV’s. Applicants are requested to complete an application form and equal opportunities form available above. All posts require an Enhanced DBS Disclosure Full details and application documents here The UK’s biggest children’s charity has announced Lynn Perry MBE as its new permanent CEO. Following a robust recruitment process, the Board of Trustees appointed Lynn to the role and is confident that she is an exceptional and inspirational leader with the values, commitment, skills and experience to drive the charity forward. Lynn has worked at the charity for 13 years, most recently as Interim Co-CEO, alongside Michelle Lee-Izu. She joined in 2008 as an Assistant Director of Children’s Services before being promoted to Regional Director North West in 2013. Since 2019 Lynn has served as the Corporate Director for Children’s Services with responsibility for around 800 services, reaching over 300,000 vulnerable children, young people and families across the UK. Prior to joining Barnardo’s, Lynn worked at The Children’s Society in children’s services operational and leadership roles, and in local authority roles including youth offending, education and youth services. In 2007 she received an MBE for services to youth justice in the North West of England, in recognition of her work. John Bartlett, Chair of Trustees at Barnardo’s said: “The Board is delighted to appoint Lynn to the role of permanent CEO of Barnardo’s, and we have full confidence in her exceptional, inspirational and values-led leadership. “During Lynn’s service at the charity she has demonstrated her phenomenal grasp of the issues affecting vulnerable children and families, as well as her capacity for innovation and creativity. “Lynn is deeply committed to driving forward the charity’s strategic direction, with a strong emphasis on culture and inclusion, and we believe the charity will continue to go from strength to strength in her immensely capable hands.” Lynn Perry MBE, CEO at Barnardo’s said: “As someone who has devoted my professional life to working with vulnerable children, it is an honour and a privilege to be appointed CEO of Barnardo’s. “Having served the charity for more than 13 years, in several different roles, I am incredibly proud of the difference we make to the children and families who need us most, and I have deep respect and admiration for the thousands of colleagues and volunteers who make our work possible. “Barnardo’s has achieved some amazing things over more than 150 years. Today, we know that children’s needs are growing and changing fast, exacerbated by the pandemic, and we must continue to innovate and adapt, so we can continue to respond to challenges like children’s mental health, new risks to their safety on- and offline, the growing number of children going into local authority care, and the specific needs of vulnerable and diverse groups, including refugees. “The work of Barnardo’s remains crucial to improving children’s lives and making sure their voice and experience is heard by decision makers. I look forward to working with my fantastic colleagues, our partners, donors, and supporters, to achieve this vital mission.” Source: www.barnardos.org.uk Location: Homeworking Salary: £29,700 p.a. + £1,500 p.a. (OOH rota) + £750 p.a. Homeworking Allowance + £3,613 p.a. (London Weighting, if applicable) Closing Date: 20/03/2022 Interview Date: 30/03/2022 Hours: 35 hours per week As a ‘not for profit’ organisation, TACT put the needs of our children and carers first and look to appoint individuals who are as passionate about this as we are. We know that we cannot provide this level of care without our staff which is why we are proactive in looking after the wellbeing of our employees. As a homeworking organisation, we pride ourselves on the flexibility this brings, along with our flexible working opportunities to enable you to have a healthy work / life balance. We also provide a full and active wellbeing calendar and activities, along with your input to ensure you get the most from it.
As a foster care charity, TACT invests all surplus income into services, staff, carers, and child development. This means that we have been able to invest unique projects like TACT Connect, our ground-breaking scheme for our TACT care experienced young people and adults, our expanding TACT Education Service and our new Health Service. It is not surprising that this had led to us gaining 'outstanding’ levels of employee engagement in a recent Best Companies Survey this year. Come and join us and be part of our amazing team of professionals who put young people at the heart of every decision. Our vision is to provide better lives for our children and young people. Find out more about our values here. The overall purpose of the Duty Social Worker is to Co-ordination of the placement service offered to Local Authorities. As a Duty Social Worker your main responsibilities will be to:
As a Duty Social Worker you will be required to have:
We accept applications from anyone registered with Social Work England regardless where they live. The areas which the Duty Social Worker will cover are: Wiltshire, Somerset, Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, Gloucestershire, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset. An Enhanced DBS disclosure is also required, and this will be requested for you by TACT. The successful candidate will participate on the out of hours’ rota and will receive an out of hours’ allowance payment of £1,500 per annum once participating in the rota. Working from Home TACT is a homebased workforce. We recognise the benefits that flexible home working creates for both the employer and the employee. You will be required to attend team meetings in the South West region. As a remote working organisation we are committed to work with our staff to enable consistent inclusion and engagement across the organisation to ensure the optimum standards of service for our carers and children. The Duty Social Worker will be eligible for TACT's excellent benefits package which includes:
For further information please see the Job Description and the Benefits Booklet in attachment. Closing: Sunday, 20th March 2022 (by midnight) Interviews: Wednesday, 30th March 2022 (via video-call) Safeguarding is everyone’s business and TACT believe that only the people with the right skills and values should work in social work. As part of TACT’s commitment to safeguarding, we properly examine the skills, experience, qualifications and values of potential staff in relation to our work with vulnerable young children. We use rigorous and consistent recruitment approaches to help safeguard TACT’s young people. All our staff are expected to work in line with TACT’s safeguarding policies. TACT does not accept unsolicited CVs from external recruitment agencies nor accept the fees associated with them. Previous applicants in last 6 months need not to apply. TACT reserve the right to close the vacancy once we have received sufficient applications, so we advise you to submit your application as early as possible to prevent disappointment. Full details and application documents here Location: Lincolnshire Leaving Care Service – Peterborough Contract type: Permanent Hours: 37 Salary: £18,278 - £24,984 (Full Time Equivalent) Closing Date: 8 April 2022 Interview Date: 20 April 2022 Barnardo's work in partnership with Lincolnshire County Council to deliver its Leaving Care Service for young people aged 16-25.
We have been inspected by Ofsted and have achieved an ‘Outstanding' grade for the service we provide. Following a recent re-commissioning of the service we are looking to recruit a Project Worker to work across the region with our teams based in Lincoln, Louth, Peterborough and Sleaford. We also have some Care Leavers based out of County. Initial Specific Responsibilities To carry out pathway plans, statutory visits and risk assessments for Lincolnshire care leavers. Within Lincolnshire the Signs of Safety model is used across County as an assessment tool. Supplementary Information
When completing your application please refer to your skills knowledge and experience in relation to the Person Specification, Job Description and Additional Information document (if applicable). This should be done with an understanding of the context of the service described. About Barnardo's At Barnardo's we believe in children – no matter who they are, what they have done or what they have been through. Please read about our basis and values following the link below. You will be asked questions relating to them as part of the recruitment process for this role. Barnardo's is committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce for staff and volunteers. We actively encourage applications from disabled, Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic and male candidates as they are under-represented within Barnardo's. Full details and application documents here Location: Brighton & Hove Link Plus Contract type: Permanent Hours: 37 Salary: £28,631 - £38,163 (Full Time Equivalent) Closing Date: 17 March 2022 Interview Date: 30 March 2022 TBC Plus On-call allowance
If you have answered YES to the above questions, you may just be the person we are looking for. You will be required to:
At Brighton & Hove Link Plus service, we are a supportive, committed experiences team and we are passionate about the work we do. We are a fully funded service, commissioned by Brighton & Hove City Council, to deliver an “Outstanding” Ofsted rated bespoke fostering and short-break service for disabled children and their families in the city If you would like to discuss this post, please do not hesitate to telephone Lisa Giles, Children's Services Manager on 07841 839983 or Vicky Lloyd, Team Leader on 07808 214847. This post will be partly based at Brighton Hove Link Plus service in Hove and partly some home-based working. No agencies please. We look forward to hearing from you. When completing your application please refer to your skills knowledge and experience in relation to the Person Specification, Job Description and Additional Information document (if applicable). This should be done with an understanding of the context of the service described. About Barnardo's At Barnardo's we believe in children – no matter who they are, what they have done or what they have been through. Please read about our basis and values following the link below. You will be asked questions relating to them as part of the recruitment process for this role. Barnardo's is committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce for staff and volunteers. We actively encourage applications from disabled, Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic and male candidates as they are under-represented within Barnardo's. Full details and application documents here |
News & JobsNews stories and job vacancies from our member agencies, the fostering sector and the world of child protection and safeguarding as a whole. Browse Categories
All
|