Location: East of England Salary: £55,000 - £59,000 per annum (with performance related pay) Contract Type: Permanent / Full Time Closing Date: Sunday 22 January 2023 Location – Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire – HQ in Norwich
About the role: This is an exciting and rare opportunity to join the Executive and Leadership Team at our charity, delivering children’s services regionally while driving innovation and change for children and young people in and around the care system nationally. You will be ambitious and outcome driven for the young people Break supports using your leadership, management and people skills to ensure the high-performance of the care leadership team continues as well as helping shape the wider strategy of the whole organisation as part of the Executive in this new role. It is a great time to join Break as we are one year into our three-year care strategy informed by our staff, management teams and, most importantly, the children young people we support. It focuses in on four key areas: staying local to communities, being ambitious for our young people, staff and services, delivering high quality services and using our charitable income to add value. In return for your hard work and commitment you will have the opportunity to develop your skills, innovate in an agile environment and have access to learning and development opportunities focused on your individual needs. If you are an outstanding candidate who can evidence your impact in a similar role or are successful in your current role and ready to progress your career to the next level, then please apply, we want to hear from you! About Break: Break is a charity working across East Anglia to make life better for children and young people on the edge of care, in care and leaving care. We have a wide range of services encompassing leaving care, residential care, foster care, short breaks and residential care for disabled children and a parent and family assessment centre. 100% of our services are rated good by Ofsted and our workforce are committed to delivering high quality outcomes for the young people we support. Whilst we deliver services regionally, we have a national voice, with our pioneering leaving care service setting national standards for others to follow. Our approach is unique. Our services are trauma-informed and co-production is at the very heart of everything we do. Our charitable status means we are able to offer wraparound support which goes above and beyond to the young people we care for. This wraparound support doesn’t stop once they’ve left our service, it’s a lifelong offer meaning that we keep our connections with young adults as they turn 18 and are available to them for as long as they need us. In your role, you’ll have access to the following benefits:
Full details of the role, including a job description and person specification can be found within the ‘documents’ section. Closing date: 22/01/2022 Interview date: 27/01/2022 (Safe Care) and 30/01/2022 (Formal) The first interview will be a Safe Care/ Warner style interview. If successful after the first interview, candidates will then be expected to attend a formal interview which will include a young people’s panel and presentation. For more information on this job opportunity, please initially email or call our Director of Care Services, Rachel Leslie, via Rachel.leslie@break-charity.org or call 07931 561256. Break operate services for vulnerable children and families and we need to ensure that we take steps to protect both them and our staff teams from the transmission of the Covid 19 virus. It is therefore a requirement for all staff unless they provide evidence of an appropriate medical exemption to be able to meet at least two of the following three requirements 1) Maintain a full vaccination status (including any recommend booster injections) 2) Undertake LFT / PCR or other approved Covid tests as required 3) Wear PPE including e.g. face masks when requested. To comply with the Immigration Asylum & Nationality Act 2006 and additional amendments, and UK Visa's and Immigration (UKVI) requirements, all prospective employees will be asked to supply evidence of eligibility to work in the UK. We will ask to see and take a copy of an appropriate official document as set out in the UKVI guidelines. Do not send anything now, further information will be sent to you should you be invited to interview. We are committed to equality of opportunity. Your current immigration status will not be taken into account when assessing your application against the selection criteria for the post. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. This job is also known as: Director, Assistant Director, Deputy Director of Care, Leadership, Children, Children in Care, Children’s Care Services, Care Director, Assistant Care Director, Deputy Care Director, Head of Care, Care, Children’s Social Care. Full details and application documents here Location: East Anglia Salary: £27,428 increasing to £28,980 per annum following successful completion of your probation period Contract Type: Permanent / Full Time Closing Date: Tuesday 31 January 2023 Deputy Manager – Mobile Team
Salary: The starting salary is £27,428 increasing to £28,980 per annum following successful completion of your probation period. Maximum job rate potential is £31,130 which is performance related. Please note, we operate a 24/7 service therefore the candidate will be required to undertake one sleep in on a weekly basis. Nobody chooses the family or circumstances they are born into. At Break we firmly believe that with the right care, there is no limit to what can be achieved. We work across East Anglia with children and young people on the edge of care, in care and leaving care. Whether you’re interested in working in our residential homes and short breaks for children with disabilities, our pioneering Staying Close Staying Connected project or vital essentials like our family assessment centre and wraparound care offer, one thing is universal: you’ll be joining a team of passionate and dedicated individuals who want the very best for the young people they care for. At Break we invest in the future of our staff just as we do for the young people in our services. We strive to provide the highest quality of care, so whether you’re just starting your career in children’s social care or are already qualified, you’ll be supported, recognised and rewarded for your essential part in our vital work. We are looking for a Deputy Manager who can demonstrate effective leadership and people management skills at all times whilst prioritising the care of our young people and developing these crucial relationships. This is a unique role to Break as it will be based in our Mobile Team. Our Mobile Team support all of our Care services and are called upon to cover holiday, absence or just when times are busy! This role will fulfil the role of Deputy Manager within these services depending on where the need is greatest. This means the ability to work as part of a team is crucial as well as developing effective relationships quickly. Key skills include:
In your role, you’ll have access to the following benefits:
Full details of the role, including a job description and person specification can be found within the ‘documents’ section. Closing date: 31/01/2023 Interview date: We will shortlist and interview suitable candidates as they apply. This means the role may close at short notice and without prior warning. The first interview will be a Safe Care/ Warner style interview. If successful after the first interview, candidates will then be expected to attend a formal interview. Break operate services for vulnerable children and families and we need to ensure that we take steps to protect both them and our staff teams from the transmission of the Covid 19 virus. It is therefore a requirement for all staff unless they provide evidence of an appropriate medical exemption to be able to meet at least two of the following three requirements 1) Maintain a full vaccination status (including any recommend booster injections) 2) Undertake LFT / PCR or other approved Covid tests as required 3) Wear PPE including e.g. face masks when requested. To comply with the Immigration Asylum & Nationality Act 2006 and additional amendments, and UK Visa's and Immigration (UKVI) requirements, all prospective employees will be asked to supply evidence of eligibility to work in the UK. We will ask to see and take a copy of an appropriate official document as set out in the UKVI guidelines. Do not send anything now, further information will be sent to you should you be invited to interview. We are committed to equality of opportunity. Your current immigration status will not be taken into account when assessing your application against the selection criteria for the post. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. For more information on this job opportunity, please initially email or call the HR Team via the contact details found on our website. This job is also known as: Manager, Deputy Manager, Care Deputy Manager, Care Home Manager, Care Home Deputy Manager, Children, Children Care, Care Services, Care Worker, Care Assistant Manager. Full details and application documents here Location: Peterborough and Cambridgeshire Salary: £10.89 - £11.44 per hour Contract Type: Permanent / Full Time Closing Date: Tuesday 31 January 2023 Salary – The starting salary will be £10.89 - £11.44 per hour (£21,536 - £22,613 per annum) (maximum job rate, which is performance related, is £23,689 per annum)
Hours – Full Time (38 hours per week) About Break: Nobody chooses the family or circumstances they are born into. At Break we firmly believe that with the right care, there is no limit to what can be achieved. We work across East Anglia with children and young people on the edge of care, in care and leaving care. Whether you’re interested in working in our residential homes and short breaks for children with disabilities, our pioneering Staying Close Staying Connected project or vital essentials like our family assessment centre and wraparound care offer, one thing is universal: you’ll be joining a team of passionate and dedicated individuals who want the very best for the young people they care for. At Break we invest in the future of our staff just as we do for the young people in our services. We strive to provide the highest quality of care, so whether you’re just starting your career in children’s social care or are already qualified, you’ll be supported, recognised and rewarded for your essential part in our vital work. This role will work in our Staying Close Staying Connected project, Staying Close Staying Connected, one of eight pilot models for leaving care being funded by the Department of Education. For children in care, turning 18 can mean finding themselves on a cliff-edge of support. This service is truly leading the way nationally in terms of leaving care provision. About the Role: We are looking for a dynamic and enthusiastic individual who wants to make a difference to the lives of disadvantaged young people. As a Break Transition Support Worker, you’ll be working closely with young people who have recently left their children’s residential care home and are taking their first steps into independence. Success in this role will very much hinge on the strong, trusting relationship you’ll build with the group of young people you’re working with. You’ll make regular visits to their home and support them to increase their independent living skills. Whether that means teaching them one of your signature dishes (talk to Transition Worker Matt in Cambridgeshire for his Weetabix burger recipe), helping them to pay bills, applying for benefits or filling in a job application the role you will play in young people’s lives will be fundamental in supporting mental health, wellbeing and their future. You will help them break down the barriers they might feel as a young person leaving care, and be the best possible version of themselves as they enter independence. You’ll work flexibly and have a can do attitude, be able to adapt your working to suit the individuals or professionals you’re working with, be calm under pressure and be resilient enough to cope with challenging emotions and behaviours. To be successful in the role you’ll be patient, a good team player, and a problem solver. In your role, you’ll have access to the following benefits:
Full details of the role, including a job description and person specification can be found within the ‘documents’ section. Closing date: 31.01.2023 (We reserve the right to close this vacancy, without prior warning, as and when suitable candidates apply and are interviewed) The first interview will be a Safe Care/ Warner style interview. If successful after the first interview, candidates will then be expected to attend a formal interview. To comply with the Immigration Asylum & Nationality Act 2006 and additional amendments, and UK Visa’s and Immigrations (UKVI) requirements, all prospective employees will be asked to supply evidence of eligibility to work in the UK. We will ask to see and take a copy of an appropriate official document as set out in the UKVI guidelines. Do not send anything now, further information will be sent to you should you be invited to interview. We are committed to equality of opportunity. Your current immigration status will not be taken into account when assessing your application against the selection criteria for the post. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. For more information on this job opportunity, please initially email or call the HR Team via the contact details found on our website. This job is also known as: Support Worker, Care, Children, Care Worker, Care Assistant, Children Support Worker, Youth Worker Full details and application documents here Location: Lowestoft Salary: £31,516 - £33,092 per annum (depending on qualifications and experience) Contract Type: Permanent / Full Time Closing Date: Tuesday 31 January 2023 Social Worker (Assessment Lead)
Nobody chooses the family or circumstances they are born into. At Break we firmly believe that with the right care, there is no limit to what can be achieved. We work across East Anglia with children and young people on the edge of care, in care and leaving care. Whether you’re interested in working in our residential homes and short breaks for children with disabilities, our pioneering Staying Close Staying Connected project or vital essentials like our family assessment centre and wraparound care offer, one thing is universal: you’ll be joining a team of passionate and dedicated individuals who want the very best for the young people they care for. At Break we invest in the future of our staff just as we do for the young people in our services. We strive to provide the highest quality of care, so whether you’re just starting your career in children’s social care or are already qualified, you’ll be supported, recognised and rewarded for your essential part in our vital work. About the role: We are seeking a full-time Social Worker, ideally with a Social Work qualification, to take a lead role planning work with vulnerable families in placement and completing parenting assessments at our Residential Family Assessment Centre in Lowestoft, Suffolk. Our ideal candidate will have a background in Social Work, applications are invited from SWE registered Social Workers although we will consider anyone who has a relevant degree and significant experience of working with children and families. This vacancy is open to men and women as we aim to provide a gender balance in working with our young families. The ability to work a 38 hour rota including evenings and weekends is an essential requirement for this position. We require candidates to show flexibility to cover varied shifts this will also include working from home days. Note: An additional £56.92 is paid for each sleep-in duty. Likely shift pattern will be; 4 shifts per week including every other weekend with 4 days off across a 2 week period this may include some sleep ins. This role will also include working from home days that are allocated across each rota, depending on the needs of the service some working from home days will need to shifts allocated. Shifts are as follows:
In your role, you’ll have access to the following benefits:
For more information regarding this position please contact Salome Thompson, Manager on 01502 560344, Salome.thompson@break-charity.org. Closing date: 31.01.2023 Interviews: We will shortlist and interview suitable candidates as they apply. This means the role may close at short notice and without prior warning. The first interview will be a Safe Care/ Warner style interview. If successful after the first interview, candidates will then be expected to attend a formal interview. Break operate services for vulnerable children and families and we need to ensure that we take steps to protect both them and our staff teams from the transmission of the Covid 19 virus. It is therefore a requirement for all staff unless they provide evidence of an appropriate medical exemption to be able to meet at least two of the following three requirements 1) Maintain a full vaccination status (including any recommend booster injections) 2) Undertake LFT / PCR or other approved Covid tests as required 3) Wear PPE including e.g. face masks when requested. To comply with the Immigration Asylum & Nationality Act 2006 and additional amendments, and UK Visa's and Immigration (UKVI) requirements, all prospective employees will be asked to supply evidence of eligibility to work in the UK. We will ask to see and take a copy of an appropriate official document as set out in the UKVI guidelines. Do not send anything now, further information will be sent to you should you be invited to interview. We are committed to equality of opportunity. Your current immigration status will not be taken into account when assessing your application against the selection criteria for the post. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. For more information on this job opportunity, please initially email or call the HR Team via the contact details found on our website. Full details and application details here Location: Lowestoft Salary: £31,516 - £33,092 per annum (depending on qualifications and experience) Contract Type: Permanent / Full Time Hours – 38 hours per week Closing Date: Saturday 07 January 2023 About us:
Nobody chooses the family or circumstances they are born into. At Break we firmly believe that with the right care, there is no limit to what can be achieved. We work across East Anglia with children and young people on the edge of care, in care and leaving care. Whether you’re interested in working in our residential homes and short breaks for children with disabilities, our pioneering Staying Close Staying Connected project or vital essentials like our family assessment centre and wraparound care offer, one thing is universal: you’ll be joining a team of passionate and dedicated individuals who want the very best for the young people they care for. At Break we invest in the future of our staff just as we do for the young people in our services. We strive to provide the highest quality of care, so whether you’re just starting your career in children’s social care or are already qualified, you’ll be supported, recognised and rewarded for your essential part in our vital work. About the role: We are seeking a full-time Social Worker, ideally with a Social Work qualification, to take a lead role planning work with vulnerable families in placement and completing parenting assessments at our Residential Family Assessment Centre in Lowestoft, Suffolk. Our ideal candidate will have a background in Social Work, applications are invited from SWE registered Social Workers although we will consider anyone who has a relevant degree and significant experience of working with children and families. This vacancy is open to men and women as we aim to provide a gender balance in working with our young families. The ability to work a 38 hour rota including evenings and weekends is an essential requirement for this position. We require candidates to show flexibility to cover varied shifts this will also include working from home days. Note: An additional £56.92 is paid for each sleep-in duty. Likely shift pattern will be;
In your role, you’ll have access to the following benefits:
For more information regarding this position please contact Salome Thompson, Manager on 01502 560344, Salome.thompson@break-charity.org. Closing date: 07.01.2023 Interviews: We will shortlist and interview suitable candidates as they apply. This means the role may close at short notice and without prior warning. The first interview will be a Safe Care/ Warner style interview. If successful after the first interview, candidates will then be expected to attend a formal interview. Break operate services for vulnerable children and families and we need to ensure that we take steps to protect both them and our staff teams from the transmission of the Covid 19 virus. It is therefore a requirement for all staff unless they provide evidence of an appropriate medical exemption to be able to meet at least two of the following three requirements 1) Maintain a full vaccination status (including any recommend booster injections) 2) Undertake LFT / PCR or other approved Covid tests as required 3) Wear PPE including e.g. face masks when requested. To comply with the Immigration Asylum & Nationality Act 2006 and additional amendments, and UK Visa's and Immigration (UKVI) requirements, all prospective employees will be asked to supply evidence of eligibility to work in the UK. We will ask to see and take a copy of an appropriate official document as set out in the UKVI guidelines. Do not send anything now, further information will be sent to you should you be invited to interview. We are committed to equality of opportunity. Your current immigration status will not be taken into account when assessing your application against the selection criteria for the post. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. For more information on this job opportunity, please initially email or call the HR Team via the contact details found on our website. This role is also known as: Care Worker, Assessment Lead, Family Assessment, Family Support, Social Care, Social Work. Full details and application documents here Member News: Break helps inspire the future generation of social care workers from local college.30/11/2022
A team from Break, East Anglia’s leading charity supporting young people in care and beyond, spent the day with social care students at City College Norwich to show the different aspects to a career in supporting those with lived care experience. Bringing their roles to life, four representatives from Break spent the day with over 100 first-and second-year students, all studying towards a potential career in social work. Together they explored what care is, why a child may end up in care and the impact this can have on a young person and talked about their own their own career journeys before looking at the different services the charity offers young people to help them build a better future. “A career in social care can be very rewarding and we’re excited to have the opportunity to share with the students how we work with young people with care experience,”explains Break Recruitment Advisor Lisa Hennings. “Working in children’s social care can be a lifelong career and there are a wide variety of roles that such as supporting children in residential homes or helping them find new opportunities through activities and experiences, to being a transitional worker with those leaving care, helping them to navigate their first steps into adult life –all which can make a big difference to a young person’s future.” During the day, students were encouraged to think about why they wanted a career in care and what benefits there might be in working for a charity like Break, both for themselves and the young people they would support and created inspiring posters to showcase their learnings from the presentations. "This was a fantastic opportunity for our students to hear from professionals working in a range of interesting, challenging and rewarding roles in care,"comments Allison Crowe Tutorial Supervisor at Norwich City College. "They learnt about the critical job Break undertakes in supporting vulnerable young people, and children with disabilities, and the variety of settings they work within. It has inspired a number of students to continue in their ambitions towards Social Work and Social Care, as well as inspiring others to consider opportunities to develop their experience and skills directly with 'Break', and the fact that one of the speakers was a Childcare student at City College Norwich showed the career progression that is possible for our students." Read about Break's Opportunities and Employment Pathways Source: break-charity.org Created by eight young care leavers, who all write, present and edit the show together, Take a Break with Break, aims to raise awareness of what it’s like being in care with each episode focusing on a different topic. The first talks about the common misconceptions that surrounds those with care experience, with the next looking at gender identity and what it can be like coming out in while in care. “We want to show people that we are all capable and not just the ‘care kids’ with no future,” explains Mari-Ann, one of the young people involved in the project. “We have dreams and career goals that we want to make happen, and we are able to live independently. It’s just that for some the support isn’t always there which can make it much harder when you leave care, but that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t be given the same opportunities as others who haven’t been in care. Through Break, we’ve been lucky to have that lifelong commitment from the charity and we know that there will always be someone to help us. It’s just like having a family and more care leavers need that kind of support.” Around 45,000 young people left the care system in England in 2021 but leavers aged between 19-21 are four times more likely to find themselves not in employment, education or training than young adults who haven’t experienced care - this can lead to homelessness and high rates of loneliness and depression.
However, services such as Break’s Staying Close, Staying Connected, an innovative project launched in 2018 to help young adults make the transition to independent living, is aiming to combat these issues. It’s one of eight Staying Close projects across the UK, funded by the Department for Education Innovation Programme, and provides care leavers with housing and a transition worker giving practical and emotional support, helping them to gain confidence and independence. “Our young people are at the heart of what we do. I know how talented they are and our role is to ensure they have the opportunities to shine, and this podcast is just one example,” comments Break CEO Rachel Cowdry. “They are capable of so much and it’s wonderful to hear them talking about their experience in this way, while gaining new skills by writing, editing, and producing the content. Adult life is not easy for care leavers and all too often many experience that cliff edge, finding it difficult to navigate the complexities of living independently. Staying Close and our life long offer bridges that gap, enabling us to give them a helping hand towards a brighter future, safe in the knowledge that we will always be there for them.” National Care Leavers week takes place between 24 – 28 October 2022 and celebrates care leavers across the UK. This year the topic is #EndTheCareCliff with organisations being asked to share the experiences of young care leavers and asking them what needs to change to make the system better. Listen to the Podcast Source: https://break-charity.org This year saw the second independent evaluation, undertaken by the University of East Anglia (UEA), of Staying Close, Staying Connected (SCSC), Break’s innovative service for young people leaving care. Launched in 2018, SCSC provides supported accommodation together with personalised practical and holistic support for care leavers - helping them to gain confidence and independence. It was one of eight Staying Close projects across the UK, funded by the Department for Education Innovation Programme, and is a partnership between Norfolk County Council, Cambridgeshire County Council and Peterborough City Councils. Based on the views of the young people who have experienced the service, and staff from SCSC and the local authorities, along with data collected throughout the project, the evaluation shows how positively the service has been received, whilst also evolving to meet young people’s needs - working closely with them to shape the service. There are limited choices available to care leavers and the Ministry for Housing, Communities & Local Government estimates that 26% of the homeless population have care experience. However, the evaluation found that SCSC had been seen as successful in helping care leavers avoid the ‘cliff edge’ scenario that many can face. In 2021 there were 32,500 care leavers aged between 19- 21, 41% of which were not in employment, training or further education but those supported by SCSC commented positively about the help they have been given in accessing opportunities to increase their confidence and readiness for employment. There was ample evidence to suggest that SCSC is successfully delivering a wraparound service, with holistic individual support, which has helped young people to develop social networks and build resilience, with positive outcomes for wellbeing and mental health. The report also found strong improvements for young people in financial and housing stability, and security, whilst potentially risky behaviours such as drug use and alcohol consumption were lower than national comparisons. “We are really proud of the findings of the UEA’s evaluation of Staying Close, Staying Connected,” comments SCSC Project Manager Stephen Hulme. “We see day to day that the support we give makes a difference but it is fantastic to have this backed up by an independent evaluation that demonstrates that not only do we improve outcomes for young people leaving care, but we save the system money too. Evaluations like this one are influencing national policy with the Government expanding Staying Close across the country and it features as a recommended entitlement to all care leavers in the recent Care Review.” Download Executive Summary Download Full Report Source: https://break-charity.org This year saw the second independent evaluation, undertaken by the University of East Anglia (UEA), of Staying Close, Staying Connected (SCSC), Break’s innovative service for young people leaving care. Launched in 2018, SCSC provides supported accommodation together with personalised practical and holistic support for care leavers - helping them to gain confidence and independence. It was one of eight Staying Close projects across the UK, funded by the Department for Education Innovation Programme, and is a partnership between Norfolk County Council, Cambridgeshire County Council and Peterborough City Councils. Based on the views of the young people who have experienced the service, and staff from SCSC and the local authorities, along with data collected throughout the project, the evaluation shows how positively the service has been received, whilst also evolving to meet young people’s needs - working closely with them to shape the service. There are limited choices available to care leavers and the Ministry for Housing, Communities & Local Government estimates that 26% of the homeless population have care experience. However, the evaluation found that SCSC had been seen as successful in helping care leavers avoid the ‘cliff edge’ scenario that many can face. In 2021 there were 32,500 care leavers aged between 19- 21, 41% of which were not in employment, training or further education but those supported by SCSC commented positively about the help they have been given in accessing opportunities to increase their confidence and readiness for employment. There was ample evidence to suggest that SCSC is successfully delivering a wraparound service, with holistic individual support, which has helped young people to develop social networks and build resilience, with positive outcomes for wellbeing and mental health. The report also found strong improvements for young people in financial and housing stability, and security, whilst potentially risky behaviours such as drug use and alcohol consumption were lower than national comparisons. “We are really proud of the findings of the UEA’s evaluation of Staying Close, Staying Connected,” comments SCSC Project Manager Stephen Hulme. “We see day to day that the support we give makes a difference but it is fantastic to have this backed up by an independent evaluation that demonstrates that not only do we improve outcomes for young people leaving care, but we save the system money too. Evaluations like this one are influencing national policy with the Government expanding Staying Close across the country and it features as a recommended entitlement to all care leavers in the recent Care Review.” Download Exectutive Summary Download Full Report Source: https://break-charity.org Member News: Break - Don't Wait for Care Experience to be Made a Protected Characteristic13/10/2022
Earlier this year the Independent Review of Children's Social Care recommended that care experience should be made a Protected Characteristic in law, sitting beside other protected characteristics such as age, disability, race, religion under the Equality Act 2010. Many care leavers face a range of disadvantages, often finding it challenging to access further support, especially those with complex needs. Just under half aged between the ages of 19-21 are not in education, training or employment and a quarter of homeless people in England have spent time in care. The Governments response to this recommendation is yet to be published, however in September 2022 Ashfield District Council voluntarily added care experience to the other nine protected characteristics in their district, with Manchester City Council following suit in October noting that it should be in all of their Equality Impact Assessments. Break CEO Rachel Cowdry shares her thoughts on this decision: “It has been really interesting to see the development in debates around the Care Review Recommendations. Both Ashfield and Manchester’s pledge to make care experience a “protected characteristic” attempts to level the playing field in recognition of the disadvantage faced by those who are brought up in care. At Break we have always worked hard to give those with care experience an equal footing so this isn't a new concept to us. We have integrated it into our practice quietly, knowing that it was the right thing to do. It's common sense. It's being fair and human. "We know our care leavers need that extra step up, the hand-held, to ensure that their next stride is made in the safest possible way. We committed a long time ago to guarantee them life-long support, to encourage them, and to offer work experience and confidence building opportunities so that they can succeed in their aspiration to have a job. We walk alongside them as the makers of their own destinies and see them succeed. It is in our values, it is at the heart of everything we do. Our challenge now, alongside Ashfield and Manchester, is to convince everyone else that there is no need to wait to put this into practice. For us, it makes complete sense.” Published in May 2022, the Independent Review of Children’s Care proposes a radical change to the care system for children. As well as bringing family support back into communities, making it a more accessible, connected and caring system with lifelong support, it argues that by recommending that care experience is made a Protected Characteristic under equalities legislation, outcomes for care leavers will drastically improve. Source: break-charity.org |
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
|