News from the LAC Network: November 2015
The Looked-After Children's Network meets regularly, usually in Coleg Powys in Newtown.
- The group is co-ordinated by Steve Elliott, of Prospects Care in Wrexham.
- Contact Steve (pictured below) for more information
Confidence in Care Programme:
At the last meeting of the Network (on November 5, 2015) a presentation was made by the Fostering Network (Wales) about this programme which is funded by the Big Lottery. It is a five-year programme to provide training to foster carers and residential child care practitioners. The training was originally developed for foster carers and a programme specifically for residential child care is currently being developed. The Network will be working closely with the Fostering Network to consider the most effective way to provide this training to practitioners in residential child care, particularly as the key is to ensure that the approach taken is sustainable. Please contact Steve Elliott for more information. The Network will continue to up-date members as this work develops.
Report Writing Programme:
This ongoing programme in partnership with Coleg Llandrillo has just seen the 10th programme successfully concluded. Feedback continues to be very positive and a full review is now planned for December 2 to consider how the programme can be developed further – including areas of additional learning – based on the feedback received over the past three years during the duration of the programme. Information on the planned programme for 2016 will be published in due course.
Cardiff University Research:
We have been working with Dr Rhiannon Evans, a researcher from Cardiff University, who is undertaking research on the issue of self harming and suicidal behaviour with looked after children. A number of providers in North Wales provided Rhiannon with access to staff teams who have experience of managing this behaviour to inform the research which will use the data to develop resource materials for practitioners.
Review of Residential Child Care:
David Cameron has recently announced a full review of residential child care in England led by Sir Martin Narey. The Network is intending to provide evidence to this review particularly on children and young people from Wales placed in England and vice versa. This coincides with the current review of looked after children being carried out by Welsh Government, chaired by Albert Heaney. The Network is not included in the English steering group but is maintaining a ‘watching brief’.
Launch of the Association of Fostering and Adoption:
This will take place at Cardiff University on December 3. Contact Steve Elliott for further information.
First Annual Report from Sally Holland Children’s Commissioner:
Sally Holland's first annual report has now been published and can be accessed via the Commissioner’s web site: www.chilcomwales.org.uk
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