Did you know that if you work for the local authority, Health, Police, Ayrshire College, Fire and Rescue and many more, you are a Corporate Parent to all children and young people that are care experienced in North Ayrshire?
Jenny Lewis recently joined the Corporate Parenting team as their Engagement and Participation lead, and each month she will be hosting monthly drop-in sessions and sharing updates via the new #KeepThePromise Column here on Staff News.
Read the latest update from the Corporate Parenting team and learn about what we can do below to ensure we are collectively fulfilling our statutory duties as Corporate Parents in North Ayrshire.
Welcome to The Promise (May) Staff Column | Written by Jenny Lewis CP Lead
Our Staff Column is relevant to all North Ayrshire Council employees as each one of you is a Corporate Parent with a responsibility for ensuring the best possible care and safeguarding for our Care Experienced children and young people.
The Corporate Parenting team are here to support you, your Team and the Council to #KeepThePromise.
Monthly drop-ins are the first step in ambitious plans for 2024
The Corporate Parenting team have been working enthusiastically to share our projects with Corporate Parents. Thank you to those who attended our latest drop-ins at both Stevenson Library at Brodick Hall on Arran. Colleagues enjoyed hearing about the Promise’s status and local opportunities. They also received copies of our young people’s Language Charter and Anti-Discrimination & Stigma Policy, explored our CE4U app, signed up to our tri-annual staff briefing and more.
We engaged in impactful conversations over a hot drink and biscuit. Staff even got some freebies to take away…
The next drop-in is on Thursday June, 27 at Kilbirnie Library 4pm – 5pm and then Wednesday, July 24 at Ardeer Community Centre from 10.30am until 11.30am. We encourage all Council employees to attend at least one drop-in throughout the year. Read more in the Latest News article.
The Promise Scotland is responsible for driving the work of change demanded by the findings of the Independent Care Review.
North Ayrshire is establishing a new Promise Champions Network to #KeepThePromise we have made to care experienced infants, children, young people, adults and their families – so that every child grows up loved, safe and respected, able to realise their full potential.
How you can play your part…
Time requirements from colleagues are minimal. If you do not yet have a Promise Champion representing your team, staff are encouraged to nominate one now. The team are also seeking best practice examples of what each team/Service/establishment are doing to #KeepThePromise – this feedback will then be used to inform future updates and events.
Email Jenny:jennylewis@north-ayrshire.gov.uk to get involved.
Annual Conference report coming soon
Our Annual Conference 2023 report entitled ‘You Said, You Do’ is now at the stage of being taken to our young people and frontline staff for review. We look forward to sharing this widely in the near future.
Bespoke training opportunity for Promise Champions
Our next Promise Champions staff network meetings are fast approaching. We are split in to sector specific meetings throughout June. Remember to elect a Promise Champion if you don’t already have one. The nominated champions will be able to take part in a bespoke training opportunity made available for them in October with the Each & Every Child initiative. Promise Champions will find out more in their June meetings.
Fully booked training sessions for HSCP staff
We are also pleased to report that two training sessions for HSCP staff – Corporate Parenting, The Promise & Supporting the Care Experienced Community on Wednesday, June 26, and Language, Discrimination & Stigma for the Care Experienced Community on Wednesday September, 4 – are now now both fully booked. We aim however to repeat these in the future. To add your name to our waiting list, please email: HSCPLearningDevelopment@north-ayrshire.gov.uk
Dance therapy in the spotlight during Mental Health Awareness Week
The CP team partnered with the Communications team during Mental Health Awareness Week to visit a local Dance Therapy group for Care Experienced children and young people. The Movement For Wellbeing Dance sessions are funded by the Children and Young People’s Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund and is held at Whitlees Community Centre in Ardrossan. See the social media highlight post here.
Lights, Camera, Action!
We’re excited to team up with colleagues soon on a small video project promoting our Care Experienced young people’s Language Charter and Anti-Discrimination and Stigma Policy. If you are a Care Experienced colleague and would like to be involved in this, please contact jennylewis@north-ayrshire.gov.uk.
Secondary schools host Champions Board groups
Finally, our first cycle of monthly Champions Board groups for Care Experienced young people ran throughout April across our Secondary Schools.
We are enjoying getting to know the young people. Some young people have already accessed opportunities such as being involved in the re-design of the Participation and Children’s Rights Strategy with Children’s Hearings Scotland. If you are or know a young person who would like to get involved, contact: corporateparenting@north-ayrshire.gov.uk to find out the dates, times and locations.
Send updates for Care Experienced young people app
We are currently seeking services to send any updates they would like added to our CE4U app for Care Experienced young people and/or to be shared in our upcoming Promise Champions meetings in June. Please send your updates to me directly: jennylewis@north-ayrshire.gov.uk.
I am looking forward to sharing frequent updates with you about what is happening in our Council and best practice examples via this Staff Column, Promise Champions staff network, drop-ins and Staff Briefings.
You can consult our Corporate Parenting 2023 – 2026 plan on the North Ayrshire Council website to learn more about our priorities.
Thank you for reading,
Jennifer Lewis, Corporate Parenting Engagement & Participation Lead
Share your #KeepThePromise case study
Jenny’s team are working towards collating case studies and examples of other important work ahead of this year’s Care Experienced Week. Email yours to: communications@north-ayrshire.gov.uk for your chance to be featured.