Agenda item

Robert Johnson,  Project Manager for Investing in Children and Caitlyn and Luke of the Children in Care Council delivered a presentation which focused on recent activities by the Children in Care Council (for copy of presentation see file of minutes).  The update included:

·      a workshop was held during half term to create a mural for the Full Circle team’s new meeting room which is planned to be opened in July;

·      the young people are developing a brothers and sisters film to raise awareness of how being separated from siblings can have a long-term impact and how to increase opportunities for sibling groups that do not live together, to be together;

·      ten Education Fun Fund applications were successful during the period;

·      funding for an additional Artstop project has been secured;

·      a CiCC member had been a keynote speaker at a police event;

·      a foster care training review had taken place and it is hoped that Corporate Parenting Members will be invited to see how the young people deliver foster care training in the future;

·      The CiCC encouraged Members to gain an insight into the challenges faced by young people when their placement breaks down;

·      the young people shared a proud moment about a young person who had initially been reluctant to participate in meetings, however, they had grown in confidence and now take an active role in group sessions and they have met with law students from Newcastle University to discuss care proceedings.

The Panel congratulated the young people on their work and Councillor Gunn spoke of the value of the information that is provided by the young people from their direct, lived experiences of being cared for. 

She referred to the young people’s concerns regarding placement stability and the separation of siblings and how these issues become very real when they are raised by the young people themselves.  Referring to the successful Education Fun Fund applications she commented it was pleasing to see the young people’s input into how the funding is allocated.

Picking up on the challenges of placement stability, Laura Caunce, Strategic Manager for Looked After Children Resources informed Members that a deep-dive analysis is underway into the issue, which is due to complete in April.

Laura Armstrong, Professional Practice Manager, remarked that the young people were underestimating their achievements and she explained that in addition to all the work they had previously described, they had also assisted to organise five events for Care Day and spoken at the Foster Carer Awards ceremony.  The Professional Practice Manager took the opportunity to thank Members for their support at these events. 

The Project Manager for Investing in Children paid tribute to a young person who had experienced a turbulent time recently, however, despite this, the young person had found the strength to honour a commitment to speak at a conference and the Project Manager spoke of how proud he was of the way this young person had shown great empathy for others.

Councillor Walton referred to the foster carer training review and spoke highly of the training delivered by the young people of the Children in Care Council saying their training sends powerful messages and has an enormous impact.

Members commented that they would like to see the film the young people are developing to raise awareness of sibling groups, to learn more about how they can support the young people in these situations.

The Chair thanked Rob, Caitlyn and Luke for their valuable contribution to the meeting.