 By Ali Gunn, Communications and Campaigns Manager
In June, the Independent Children's Social Care Review published it's first report, the Case for Change. Together Trust has contributed to the Care Review in a number of ways:
We welcome the opportunity to respond to the Case for Change. Rather than answer every question posed we have given feedback where we have experience and knowledge as a charity working in children's social care. Read our full response. The purpose of children’s social care We believe the the Children’s Act 1989 is very clear on the purpose of children's social care but we call for the full implementation of the UNCRC in England to ensure children’s rights are respected and upheld. Strengthening communities We welcomed the Review’s acknowledgement of the power of strong community networks but believe there needs to be significant investment in a national campaign to challenge stigma. Family Help The Case for Change does not go far enough to forensically investigate the impact of austerity cuts on children’s social care budgets or the chronic underfunding of community-based services. Departments across government must have the shared resource and collective accountability to help families to thrive. Keeping families together The Case for Change fails to recognise that good residential care practice supports families, rather than break them. Wrap around and holistic offers of short breaks, therapeutic support and community outreach services for children and families experiencing potential family breakdowns, neglect and family dysfunction would undoubtably help avoid unnecessary care episodes. Transitions We want to see children in residential care have the same rights as children in foster care. We fully support the Every Child Leaving Care Matters campaign, and we would like to see staying close options extended to the age of 25. The Case for Change has failed to consider the integration with adult social care. If it does not, there is a considerable risk that disabled children and their families will experience challenging transitions. Unregulated Accomodation We are incredibly disappointed and disheartened by the Case for Change’s stance on unregulated accommodation. It fails to recognise the implications of formalising a two-tier care system. Care that is good enough for all our children We welcomed the Review’s recognition that children’s social care does not match up with family life in Britain today, this mirrors our own research. Good quality care needs to have the young person at the centre with agencies and professionals working to uphold their rights, meet their needs and champion their ambitions. Workforce The Review misses the mark on strengthening and supporting residential care support workers. We need to enhance the profile and standing of those roles to support the recruitment and retention of a sustainable workforce for our children. Right homes in the right places Children need to be part of their own communities unless it is not safe for them. Local authorities should have the resources to be responsive and take a place-based approach to end profit-making in children’s social care. Read our full response Source: https://www.togethertrust.org.uk  By Ali Gunn, Communications and Campaigns Manager
We, like Article 39, Become, the Care Leavers Association and many others are in disbelief that the clear evidence on the isolation and risk that young people face in unregulated accommodation is being ignored. Only last week an FOI Article 39 found that between April and September 2020 four young people aged 16 and 17 died whilst living in unregulated accommodation. But still, the government insist that this type of accommodation is satisfactory. The new standards that are being proposed will create a two-tier care system where 16- and 17-year-olds entering the system will be at risk of not receiving the care they deserved and are legally required to receive. We ask all parents and carers to consider if they are happy for their children not to have any care when they turn 16. If not, join us and stand up for the young people this disastrous policy decision will affect. We believe that every child in care should be guaranteed care up to the age of 18 but new government legislation will leave around 6000 children without care. We've joined Article39, Become, Just For Kids Law, The Care Leavers Association and many other organisations, professionals and care experienced people to reject the two tier children’s residential care system this legislation will create. Read more about the campaign Source: https://www.togethertrust.org.uk  Vernon Building Society and Imagine Radio announced back in November that they had chosen to support the Together Trust for the second year running with their Christmas Toy Appeal.
There was an amazing response to the appeal last year, with hundreds of presents donated at Vernon Building Society branches in the run up to Christmas. We were mindful that this year might not have the same response due to the pandemic however within 10 days we had exceeded expectations and raised over £1,600. Businesses supported the appeal donating the value of their secret Santa gifts, individuals donated after they heard the radio appeal and we were overwhelmed with the generosity of the local community. Vernon Building Society pledged to contribute an additional £5 for every £5 or more donated but they decided to boost their contribution to an extra £10 for every donation of £5 or more, to match the generosity shown by the local community in recent weeks. Together we raised an amazing £6,000 which meant we could provide over 300 children with gifts. Vernon’s marketing and brand manager, Alex Deakin, said: “We’ve been overwhelmed by the kindness of residents and businesses across Stockport and Greater Manchester yet again this year, so we thought it only right that we should boost our own contribution. “We’re thrilled to hit the £6,000 total to help make Christmas special for some very deserving families in what’s been such a tough year.” Lily, a Fundraiser from Together Trust said “It was quite emotional to see how kind people were. We want to say a huge thank you to everyone who listened and donated. In what has been such a hard year for so many people this has really brought a smile to everyone’s faces and shown us that even in the hardest times there is still such a strong community spirit and unbelievable kindness”. We would like to say a massive THANK YOU to everyone who donated, shared our social media posts and spread the word about the appeal over the last few months. We truly couldn’t have done it without you all. Source: www.togethertrust.org.uk  This year young people leaving care and families who have children with additional needs have been put under extra strain. Across the country, there has been a 107% rise in children receiving emergency food. With the additional impact of Covid and a second lockdown, we’re not sure what Christmas will look like for many of the people we support, but we want them to know that they are not alone.   "I was taken into care as a newborn baby because my mum had an abusive partner. I was put under special guardianship with family friends for a while. Then I lived with my mum again for seven years, until she passed away and I was taken into foster care. My transition into independence was really smooth thanks to the Together Trust. They helped me to get some furniture for my flat and things like a fridge, freezer and washing machine. I had a really close connection with everyone who works at the charity. After I left care they could have just turned their back on me, but they didn’t." " I know they are still there for me now and that makes a massive difference." *Anthony's name has been changed to protect his identity  We're raising money to fill hampers to distribute to families and young people who are living below the poverty line and there are lots of ways you can get involved:
Do you run a business and your company Christmas party been cancelled but you are looking to use the money for a good cause?
Is your community group looking for a local charity to support this Christmas?
Instead of buying Christmas cards this year would you consider donating the money for the cost of one hamper?
You can make a donation today. Or get in touch with our friendly fundraising team if your community group or company would like to get involved with our appeal by emailing fundraising@togethertrust.org.uk Source: www.togethertrust.org.uk  The Greater Manchester Health & Social Care Partnership has asked for art to brighten the walls of the new NHS Nightingale Hospital North West, at Manchester’s G-Mex Centre. And we at the Together Trust are responding. The children and young people in our schools and care settings, who in many cases have learning disabilities, complex needs, communications difficulties and autism, have been busy creating art in all shapes and sizes. Mark Lee, Chief Executive at the Together Trust said: “Art plays an important part in everything we do at the Together Trust, whether that’s in our schools, our residential homes or in our services in the community. In many cases the people we support have the kind of complex needs that mean they’ve often struggled to cope in other settings. “But at the Together Trust we use art to help our children and young people express themselves and I’m delighted to see them responding in this way to the call for art for the NHS Nightingale hospital in Manchester”. The Together Trust has a long association with the arts, and using art as therapy as a means by which children and young people can express themselves. Edward Gosling, known to all as Teddy, was just 2 years old when he was admitted to our Bethesda home for disabled children in 1900.
Born without any arms he was taught by the home to use his toes to complete everyday tasks. Teddy showed such artistic talent that arrangements were made for him to train at the Manchester Municipal School of Art, where he soon flourished. As well as being a talented painter he also created a number of wood-carvings and several war memorials, and one of his pictures was admired and purchased by the Queen of Norway. This year, as part of our 150th anniversary celebrations, we put on an exhibition at The Lowry Centre showcasing work created by children and young people supported by the charity, which celebrated the long history of the Together Trust and the work we do. And now many of our young people are showing their support for carers, staff and patients at the new NHS Nightingale hospital in Manchester. We hope you enjoy their work! Source: www.togethertrust.org.uk Member News: Stockport family run business William Turner raises £8,967.41 for the Together Trust10/3/2020
 Daniel Turner, Managing Director of Stockport business William Turner, came to our Cheadle site recently to present us with a cheque for £8,967.41 raised by the company and its employees during its one year charity partnership with the Together Trust.
The family run business, now in its third generation, has been supplying high quality handmade school and corporate wear through independent retailers for more than fifty years. The company’s products, including school accessories such as bags, are manufactured locally in its own factories in Nelson and Skipton. Daniel said: “In 2019 we celebrated 50 years in business. Reaching half a century is a real milestone for any business, but at William Turner we’ve also passionate about supporting our local communities. “Given the nature of our business we wanted to choose a local charity connected to education and as soon as one of our team mentioned the Together Trust I knew it was the one. We’ve all been so impressed with the work the charity does and the positive impact they have on the lives of so many local young people. It’s been a privilege to be involved in supporting that work. “We hadn’t partnered with a charity before and our experience of the team at the Together Trust has been extremely positive. They attended our events, invited us to theirs and gave us fundraising ideas and lots of material to help increase awareness in the company. “We’ll be keeping in touch with our friends at Together Trust and wish them continued success in all the good work they’re doing.” Alicen Thorn, Corporate Fundraiser at the Together Trust, said: “Everyone at William Turner has been so lovely and so generous with their time, throughout the year long partnership. “Because the company manufactures all its products here in the North West all its staff had a real interest in the work that we do for local children and families, especially in our schools. “We support individuals with diverse and complex needs. To do this we need support from corporate partners like William Turner. Donations like theirs help provide specialist equipment, extra activities, additional support from specialist staff and support for families. “We really do appreciate their generous donation and I’ll be keeping them updated on all the good that’s done with the money they’ve raised.” Source: www.togethertrust.org.uk  The Medicines Evaluation Unit (MEU) presented us with a cheque for £2,688.28, raised by the during its two year charity partnership with the Together Trust.
MEU, which is based on the Wythenshawe Hospital site in south Manchester, is one of the UK’s leading contract research organisations, possessing extensive pharmaceutical, scientific and clinical expertise. David Rogers, MEU Director of Operations, said: “We are committed to supporting local charities and as a Manchester-based business it’s important for us to give back to the local community and support worthy causes. “We select our dedicated charity every two years by inviting each member of staff to nominate, then vote for their chosen charity, and the Together Trust was selected for the two year period of 2018/2019. “We’ve been delighted to have supported the Together Trust over the past two years as we believe that the care, support and special education of children and adults, including those who need additional support such as those with autism, learning disabilities or complex health needs, is a truly worthwhile cause.” “As a company we also benefited from raising money for the Together Trust. Fundraising activities raised staff morale and brought different company departments together, in particular our Charity Christmas Market, where MEU staff and volunteers hosted their own stalls, selling a range of items including baked goods, handmade gifts and jewellery. “We also sold locally produced honey, as part of the Bee in the City/Sneezebee trail in July 2018 and donated all proceeds to the Together Trust. “We really enjoyed visiting the Together Trust’s Inscape House School and Cafe, where we saw first-hand the great work and attention given by staff in supporting and caring for children and young adults with autism. We’re delighted to celebrate the Together Trust’s 150th anniversary this year, which is such a great achievement for the charity.” Alicen Thorn, Corporate Fundraiser at the Together Trust, said: “I was really impressed by all the fundraising efforts at the MEU, they were so professional and so much fun at the same time. “Everyone at MEU was so approachable, friendly and clearly had the interests of the people we support at heart. We’re really grateful for all their hard work and commitment and we will certainly be putting their generous donation to good use. “We support individuals with diverse and complex needs. To do this we need support from corporate partners like MEU. Donations like theirs help provide specialist equipment, extra activities, additional support from specialist staff and support for families. “I’ll be keeping them updated on all the good that’s done with the money they’ve raised and we’re delighted that a team of MEU staff will take part in the Together Trust’s Hotel Football Tournament this June.” Source: www.togethertrust.org.uk  Location: Heaton Moor Salary: £20,516 - £24,242 (plus sleeps paid at an additional £62.64 per night.) About Us
At Together Trust we believe everybody deserves an equal chance in life. There are no exceptions. We provide a wide range of support services including fostering, residential, community and family support. We also provide specialist educational support through our schools and colleges. We have a number of specialist residential children’s homes which cater for young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties. These homes provide a nurturing, safe and secure environment for children who may have experienced trauma, abuse or neglect or who may require specialist support to enable them to move forward positively in their lives. We have current vacancy for a Senior Childrens Support Worker to join a great team in Heaton Moor, Stockport. *you must have your level 3 in children and young peoples workforce or equivalent to be successful for shortlisting* As our Senior Childrens Support Worker… You will support children aged 5 to 18 years of age, being a positive and supportive role model. You will encourage young people to develop confidence, self-esteem and essential life skills. As part of one of our incredible residential teams, you will work hard to empower our young people, help them break through barriers and experience happiness and hope. As a Senior Childrens Support Worker, you will plan activities, support our young people to attend therapy sessions, family contacts and healthcare appointments. You will be familiar with current legislation, complete reports and assessments for our young people, mentor other residential staff, liaise with local authorities regularly and act as an advocate. You will be responsible for key working young people and leading shifts. Most importantly, you will ensure that they are safeguarded at all times in what can be a challenging environment. About you You are caring and passionate about supporting children who have emotional and behavioural difficulties. Experience of working in residential environment is essential, as is the desire for a challenging and rewarding role and a genuine interest in developing your skills through the training that we offer. As our teams provide 24/7 support, you will need to be flexible and willing to work shifts over a 7 day week on a rota basis. It is essential to hold a level 3 qualification in caring for children and young people or equivalent. Full induction training is provided on commencement of your post and we are committed to offering career development. Due to the nature of this role, you will also be required to take part in a reasonable number of sleep in shifts, the time you are asleep is not included in the 37.5 hours but is paid at an additional £62.64 per night. You must be over 22 years of age to apply for this role due to the age range of the young people in the service. (These roles are exempt from the Employment Equality (Age) Regulation 2006). Full details and application documents here  Location: Great Moor, Stockport Salary: £16,879 - £19,867 Hours per Week: 37.5 About us...
At Together Trust we believe everybody deserves an equal chance in life. There are no exceptions. We provide a wide range of support services including fostering, residential, community and family support. We also provide specialist educational support through our schools and colleges. We follow a robust safer recruitment process and all successful applicants will go through recruitment checks. If you’re successful we’ll need you to have an enhanced DBS check. For all roles we’ll also need a minimum of three references. Depending on the role you apply for, we might also need to request references from each employer where you have worked with young people or vulnerable adults. We’ll also need to know about any breaks in your employment history with evidence from documents like birth certificates or passports. If you’re successful and have worked outside the UK for any longer than three months in the last five years, we’d also need to complete a foreign DBS or code of conduct check. Our supported tenancies in Stockport provide home living and community access support to vulnerable young adults who have a learning disability or autism. The aim of the service is to enable adults to live in their own home rather than residential homes where our staffing teams provide extensive care, specialist positive behaviour support and promote independence and inclusion within the local community. Through interest lead activities and support you will empower the young adults to take control of their own lives. As our Specialist Community Support Worker… You will provide practical and emotional support to the young adults in our care, giving them the confidence they need to be as independent as possible. You will offer assistance and guidance in all aspects of daily living, encourage and accompany them in activities and interests and ensure they are safeguarded at all times. You will take direction from your team leader, participate in team meetings and will help to ensure the young people we support have the best opportunities to access the local community, further education and any other interests. About You Experience is preferable but is not essential – what’s more important is the desire for a challenging and rewarding role and a genuine interest in developing your skills through the training that we offer. As the team offer 24/7 support, you will need to be flexible and willing to work shifts (to include earlies and lates) over a 7 day week. You must be committed to providing exceptional support and care to those who access our services. Benefits
Full details and application documents here  Head of Digital Location: Cheadle Salary: £48,232 - £53,119 Closing Date: 27/11/2019 The Together Trust is a charity that supports people with disabilities, complex needs and autism and their families. Our services include a range of care, community and special education services for people with behavioural challenges, learning difficulties, physical disabilities, complex health needs and autism. We will celebrate our 150th anniversary in 2020 having supported thousands of young people and families since we were formed to support destitute young people in the centre of Manchester in 1870.
Our central office is based in Cheadle, Stockport and our services are mostly in and around Greater Manchester and the surrounding areas. We accept referrals from all over the UK. We are looking for someone who has a successful track record in leading transformational change who can help us create mobile, accessible, digital services that people choose to use.Our aim is to broaden our impact through digital delivery, reaching and supporting more people than ever before in line with our 5 year plan. We’ve recently created a digital roadmap which is the concluding document of a consultation with our staff, parents, carers and commissioners. We were helped by Reason Digital to complete this work and they continue to support our transformational plans. Our values for transformation are:
The post holder will lead the transformation of our current systems to meet the needs of our internal and external stakeholders who include our workforce, commissioners, donors and the people we support.You will play a pivotal role in delivering excellent service, solving underlying problems and improving systems reliability and availability. We work in collaboration with the people we support. Providing evidence to help to influence policymakers and make lasting societal change. If you think you are the right applicant for this role then we’d encourage you to apply. Benefits:
For further details and application documents here |
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