You Said, We Did

Young people said…

Young people told us that they felt confused when changing from different teams in Childrens Services within the council, and didn’t always know what support they could get from what team when in care and leaving care.

We did – how has the service responded?

The Council arranged a “Care Fair” event where all teams in the council who support children in care could come and showcase the support that they offer and at what age a young person in care could access this support.

It was important that the Care Fair had a fun element to it, and that the whole family (including their birth families) were invited to aid better understanding (as mentioned from the feedback from young people).  

The event was so successful that the “Care Fair” has become an annual event that will take place in different areas of the county.

Feedback to young people – what differences will they see/feel?

Young people, their families and friends will have a better understanding of children in care services and what teams at what stages of their life will be supporting them.

The event provides a fun day out together for all of the different types of families that support children in care.

“I got to meet other young people and learn from their experiences around what helped them. It gave my sister a better understanding around my time in care.”

– Child whose in care

Young people said…

Our care experienced young people told us that they would have felt more supported on their first night in care, if there had been a pack that gave them more information and practical items that they may need for their first night.

We did – how has the service responded?

‘Coming into Care’ packs were co-produced with care experienced young people and now all young people in Suffolk that come into care receive a pack with a letter from a young person from the ‘Children in Care Council’

They also made a video about all of the different staff and teams they may be in contact with

Feedback to young people – what differences will they see/feel?

Young people said their first night in care was hard, so having a letter from another young person who knows what that first night feels like can help provide some reassurance and comfort.

They can also choose to join one of the Children in Care Councils. (Brighter Futures, C2C)

Young people said…

Care experienced young people told us they felt a stigma at school around being in care and this could lead to bullying.

We did – how has the service responded?

A film was made with those young people about what it felt like to feel stigmatised and to address some of the myths surrounding children and young people in care.

The film (below) is promoted to teacher’s with the offer of lived experience training for students and school staff.

Feedback to young people – what differences will they see/feel?

The film will be offered to schools as part of an assembly or workshop for young people and staff to take part in.
It will help address the misunderstandings around why young people come into care and help reduce stigma and bullying.

Young people said…

Young people in care told us that they do not want to receive all of the paperwork from their reviews, and that they would like a simplified version which summarises everything.

We did – how has the service responded?

Young people met with the Council’s Safeguarding Lead for children in care, and they are:

• Condensing the Social Workers report in the review.
  
• Changing the Independent Reviewing Officer’s (IRO’s) report to make it more accessible to young people.

Feedback to young people – what differences will they see/feel?

Young people will have an easy-to-read, accessible summary of their review.

Young people will easily be able to see the decisions made at their review, and who is responsible for them.

Young people said…

Young people have told us that their Social Workers change too often.

“I’ve had ten social workers in two years, there’s no point trying to get to know them

– Young person

We did – how has the service responded?

Young people created ‘Ten Top Tips for Social Workers’ and for the ‘Changing Social Worker’ guidance, which is to be included in social worker induction training and the council’s handbook for new apprentice social workers.

The top tips are also being used in development sessions with other professionals who work with children and young people (where appropriate)

Young people have taken these top ten tips and delivered them in lived experience workshops with social worker students at the University of East Anglia.

Feedback to young people – what differences will they see/feel?

Young people will see their social workers working in the same way with the help of their top ten tips and the guidance.

Young people will feel more able to build good relationships and trust with their social workers, and have guidance around when they are no longer going to work with a young person.

Young people said…

Young people in care told us that they felt Foster Carers could be very different (inconsistent) in their approach and training.

“I’ve had Foster Carers that were brilliant and made me feel really welcome by cooking my favourite meal and others who were much less engaged with me.”

– Young person

We did – how has the service responded?

Two training video’s were created with young people based on different age groups (a child and a young person) to capture their thoughts and opinions on – What makes a good Foster Carer?
The films are now shown in the Council’s ‘Skills to Foster’ training courses for new Foster Carers.

Feedback to young people – what differences will they see/feel?

Young people in care should see a more consistent approach with how Foster Carers welcome them, and Foster Carers can focus more on the things that are important to them.

New Foster Carers will be aware of the needs of young people in care, and this will support the Council’s Fostering Team to recruit good Foster Carers.

Young people said…

Young people wanted to be part of the recruitment and selection process when the Council recruits staff to work with young people in their Children and Young People’s Support Services.

“I think we should have a say in the people who work with us, we know what a good Social Worker looks like better than anyone.”

– Young person

We did – how has the service responded?

The Council now provides a young person’s interview panel whenever they have a staff vacancy within their Children and Young People’s Services. They have a training offer to young people who wish to take part in the panel, and a group of young people who sit on interview panels.

The young person’s panels now routinely assists the selection of newly qualified and Apprentice Social Workers.

Feedback to young people – what differences will they see/feel?

Young people use their lived experience to interview Council staff members who will be working with children and young People in Suffolk.

The young person’s interview panel’s now play an important role in the Council’s decision making around who they should offer jobs to, and the young people involved in the panels know that their voices are being heard.

Young people said…

Young people in care wanted a leaving care welcome pack for when they joined the Leaving Care Team with practical items to support independent living.

We did – how has the service responded?

A welcome pack has been developed and is now available to all young people joining the Leaving Care Teams

A cookbook “The Skinflints Cookbook” (below) was developed over a year with young people to aid children leaving care with cooking. It includes tips and easy recipe’s they can try, and money-saving ideas to help with their weekly food shop. The cookbook was produced specifically to go into the packs.

Feedback to young people – what differences will they see/feel?

Young people joining the Leaving Care Service will get a ‘Coming into the Leaving Care Service’ pack.

The pack will give young people who are leaving care the advice they need to start independent living and equip them with knowledge gathered from other young people who have leaving care experience.

Young people said…

Young people told us that they wanted a one-stop shop for finding information and support that children and young people in Suffolk needed to know about.

They felt that the previous (old) Source website was too busy and not easy to use.

We did – how has the service responded?

TheSource website (the site your on) has had a complete re-design and it’s content co-produced and re-developed with high school and college students. The site was relaunched to young people in Suffolk, and those that support them, in March 2023.

Feedback to young people – what differences will they see/feel?

“I’ve had a look…and it’s amazing!!! How very clever and engaging it is.
If I was a young person (those days are well gone!) I’d definitely want to engage with this. It is brilliant! Well done Suffolk County Council!”

– Communities Together

“Your website is fantastic!”

“We highlight TheSource website as a resource for students to go to for information about their health (mental and physical). As well as careers info. This is done through tutors, etc. But also when supporting students individually. I have always found the info you have available is persistent and correctly pitched. The students I have used resources with have always responded positively and so it is an immediate recommend.

– Teacher

“I love the new Source website, fab.”

– HealthWatch Suffolk

Young people said…

During the Covid lockdown period young people who were experiencing digital poverty were struggling to continue learning from home so the Council provided them with laptops via the Department of Education Government Scheme, at the time. Post Covid, young people and their workers told us that this was an on-going need.

We did – how has the service responded?

The Council have continued the scheme to provide laptops, issuing hundreds more, and have continued to provide support to young people with Internet Safety, Microsoft Office, and by providing a repair and replacement offer.

Feedback to young people – what differences will they see/feel?

Over 2100 laptops have been given to young people to support them with their schoolwork, with finding work, and to pursue the things they are interested in.