Agenda item

Update from Investing in Children

Theme – Introduction to Corporate Parenting Panel

Minutes:

The Head of Children’s Social Care circulated a poem and illustration by two young people in care which had been entered into a national competition. Members were impressed at the high standard of their work.

 

The young people of the Children in Care Council provided the following update:

 

·      A celebration event for Care Day took place on 21 February at the Sjovoll Centre, and the young people were instrumental in organising the event.  Approximately 40 young people attended the event.  Care experienced rapper RicFlo, attended the event and worked with the young people on a music project which the young people are hoping to develop further.  The young people commented on how much they enjoyed the event which received very positive feedback and they thanked Members for their attendance.  Councillor Tucker, applauded the young people saying it had been a good venue and a very well organised event, and, in encouraging Members to attend the event in the future, she expressed how inspired she had been. 

 

·      A project, ‘Dream Tree’ is being developed, to encourage young people to explore and share their dreams, aspirations and successes. 

 

·      The young people met with the senior leadership team to discuss how contact sessions can be made more comfortable for young people, including tailoring the use of language and the sessions, to meet the needs of the individual young person.  

 

·      Work is taking place with senior leaders in Durham County Council to develop a Young Inspectors project, based on a similar theme to Regulation 44 Inspections.  It is proposed that the young people will visit residential homes and meet staff and young people to share their own thoughts and experiences around any changes and improvements.  The Young Inspectors will develop a range of transferrable skills including:

 

o   Interview skills and techniques

o   Training other young people

o   Report writing

o   Undertaking inspections

 

The young people will also receive references from their involvement in the project. Regular progress updates will be shared with the Panel.

 

·      Representatives from Investing in Children were interviewed on BBC Radio Newcastle where they talked about hopes, dreams and aspirations.  The interview went very well and it was agreed that a link to the interview would be circulated to Members, if possible to do so.

 

·      The young people met with colleagues from Durham County Council’s legal team to look at legal forms and orders to see how these could be made more young people friendly.  This is a difficult process as there needs to be a balance between the literature being user friendly and retaining the necessary use of legal terminology, whilst enabling children and young people to understand what it means.

 

Councillor H Smith, Councillor T Tucker, and, the Senior Partnership Officer Jayne Watson took up the Care Leavers’ Challenge which required living on a budget of £57.90 for a week.  The participants shared their experiences with the Panel.

 

Councillor Smith commented on how difficult the challenge was, especially during winter, which resulted in having to make choices between eating or heating her home.  Councillor Smith observed that those young people lacking the skills to cook on a low budget would find the challenge particularly difficult.  Councillor Smith identified that there is more work to be done to improve transport issues especially in rural parts of the county, and she calculated that by the end of the week, most of her budget would have been spent on travel costs. 

 

Councillor Tucker said the challenge had been one of the most difficult things she had done, adding that she felt her health suffered during the week.  Observing the high cost of toiletries, Councillor Tucker commented that those with allergies / medical conditions that may need to use specialist products, are at a particular disadvantage as these products were expensive. The challenge had led her to make enquiries with British Gas with regard to assistance with heating costs and she found that, as most young people have no credit history, this makes it difficult for them to set up direct debits.  Councillor Tucker suggested that more work should be done to lobby utility companies with a view to providing assistance to care leavers.  

 

The Senior Partnership Officer reported finding the experience much more of a challenge than she expected and that the demands of constantly having to make financial choices was both physically and emotionally draining.  The Senior Partnership Officer suggested that there may be more work that could be done within communities and with the voluntary sector to improve the local offer.

 

In thanking the participants and acknowledging that living on a low budget is a problem that is not exclusive to care leavers, the young people encouraged more Members to take-up the challenge in the future.  The young people thanked Durham County Council for the assistance provided to care leavers and the valuable support provided by their Young People’s Advisers.  They echoed the comments that transport is a particular issue, saying this can prevent them from living their lives in the same way as young people in the general population. 

 

The Chairman thanked all those who had attended the Care Day event, participated in the challenge, and, shared their experiences.  He referred to the important role these activities play in raising awareness and identifying areas for action.  Members commented that this is a clear example of how important it is that young people in care are made aware of how to contact their local members for assistance.  The Head of Children’s Social Care advised that Members’ details are available on both  the Investing in Children and Durham County Council’s websites. 

Members suggested that these issues link with partnership working already in place to support those on low incomes such as that the Child Poverty Working Group, and, advice and support is also accessible through the early help programme.