Agenda item

The Project Manager for Investing in Children and Mason, representing young people of the Children in Care Council (CiCC), delivered a presentation on activity during the month (for copy of report and presentation see file of minutes). 

The presentation followed the exercise undertaken at the April Corporate Panel meeting at which the Panel discussed their interpretation of the words in the title of the government’s strategy for the reform of Children’s Social Care ‘Stable Homes Built on Love.’ At the meeting, the Panel requested that the same exercise be carried out by the Children in Care Council to identify whether the young people’s interpretations of the words differed to those of the Panel.

Mason described how the older CiCC group compiled a list of how they interpreted the words which were included in the report and he highlighted some of the words that particularly resonated with him. Mason explained that one of the main themes the young people felt was important was the element of respect in relationships and they recognised that mutual respect was essential for good relationships. 

Referring to home, Mason spoke of how the young people felt that home should always be a place where a young person can go back to and be supported, in any situation. When the young people discussed safety, they differentiated between feelings of physical and emotional safety and also how worry and stress can impact emotions. The young people also related feeling safe to being surrounded by people who care and who are there for the young person throughout good times and bad. That led the young people to discuss the importance of positive role models and mentors.

In terms of stability the young people felt that being kept informed played a role in feelings of stability and, regardless of whether circumstances were good or bad, the young people felt that being kept informed was important.  Mason also highlighted having routines and being occupied were also factors in stability.

The Project Manager for Investing in Children then presented themes identified by the older CiCC group for further discussion at a future joint CiCC/CPP meeting. The themes were emotional and physical wellbeing, feeling safe, positive people in life and being listened to.  

The Chair commented that the observations of the young people, in the main, mirrored those of the Panel, however, the young people discussed feelings of emotional safety as well as physical safety, whereas the Panel’s discussion focused on physical safety.

Councillor Hunt commented that the use of clear and understandable language applied to both young people and adults and she highlighted that many adults were not familiar with urban slang terms used by young people.