How do you
take a fresh approach to developing more responsive services for care leavers,
embed change and retain enthusiasm and commitment throughout the project? That
was the challenge facing the New Belongings Project team when planning a way
forward for 9 pilot local authorities after the national launch last September,
followed by all the local launches, organised individually by pilot
authorities, which took place between September and November 2013. They were
generally well attended by care leavers, local authority officials and
partners, supported by their chief executive and leader of the council.
All the pilots
have signed up to the principles of the Charter for Care Leavers designed by care leavers on the Ministerial Advisory Group, meeting regularly with
Tim Loughton MP (previous) and Edward Timpson MP (current) Children's Minister.
In
Step 1 all pilots were asked to conduct a simple local survey comprising
7 questions*, with the help of their own care leavers, to get an up to
date and immediate snapshot of local experience. They were encouraged to reach
out to unheard voices and to make sure a wide range of care leavers were included in the survey. Incorporating
their own local findings would be essential to inform planning for improved
leaving care services, thereby demonstrating a positive response to local
views. Nearly all pilots have completed their surveys. The
views expressed in the surveys, and subsequent discussions with care leavers in
the pilots, have sometimes been surprising to people who deliver services in
the pilot areas.
In Step 2 the
project team suggested that pilots explore thoroughly
the complex issue of entitlements from the care leavers' point of view.
We know there is a wide variation of experience, which can seem like a
labyrinth to negotiate for both care leavers and Personal Advisors working in
local authorities for their benefit. The position on entitlements which
have been granted in policy and legislation, needs to be consistent, fair, up
to date, communicated well and definitely not a battleground.
The
information provided through steps 1 and 2 is core to the
planning process in 2014 which is underway in all pilots. The findings of the surveys
are critical in setting the priorities for the pilots and the continuing
engagement of both the care leavers in the pilot area and the support of the
care leavers from the New Belongings panel is crucial in creating and
delivering the action plans for the pilots. Many pilots have submitted
in step 3, for review and comment, their first scoping of broad action
plans with milestones, which they will develop further during the year. The
project team is looking forward to seeing local innovation taking shape in
practice.
Key to local
change are step 4 – the role the Chief Executive will take in enabling
departments to work more closely together to join up services and step 5,
involvement of the Leader in engaging the wider community in each pilot area to
encourage lifelong care and support. We will keep you posted on progress after
our pilots all meet each other in March 2014.
*Survey
questions
·
The
three worst things about leaving care?
·
Three
ways in which you could have been better prepared for independence?
·
What
advice would you give to a fellow care leaver?
·
Three
things you would like to change right now for yourself on leaving care/having
left care?
·
Three
things all local authorities should change?
·
Is
there anything else you would like to say?
New Belongings Local Authorities: Herefordshire; Portsmouth; Walsall and Staffordshire; Sheffield; Trafford/Cheshire East/Stockport/Wirral
