Connecting members and supporting young people in the context of Coronavirus (COVID-19) - an update from Staf
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| Dear Friend
I know this email will reach you at a busy and challenging time. If you read no further, then please do read this: thank you for everything you do. The advice, guidance and support that you are providing to children and young people right now is invaluable. Read my full reflections on coronavirus here.
Of course, we held a successful Staf Summit at the beginning of March, a conference exploring relationship-based practice. Thank you to everyone who attended - I know you're keen to take forward your learning so we'll be in touch very soon with online events to support this work. We'll also be taking forward your key asks from the day, as it's never been more important to keep relationships on the agenda.
While our office may be closed, we are very much still here for you. Our team can still be reached on 0141 465 7511 and admin@staf.scot. Our member enquiry service remains available too, just send your policy and practice queries to enquiries@staf.scot.
We are continuing to creatively engage with the young people involved in our projects. We’ve sent self-care packs out, Youth Justice Voices are preparing for a digital exhibition of the Artivism artwork and Project Return has even put together their own music playlist. Based on the concerns and worries raised by the young people we’ve also created a Coronavirus Support and Signposting resource for young people.
We’re also connecting members online too, the Building Relationships Advisory Group is meeting online and we've held our first online Local Authority Members’ Forum. We’re also looking beyond the current situation so I’m delighted to confirm that our next National Conference will be held on 17th of November in Edinburgh. Make sure you save the date now – we’ll be back in touch with more details soon.
Over the next few months we’ll be working differently but we will continue to advocate for care-experienced young people and those who care for them. As well as keeping you informed on the Care Review, we’ll continue to engage with the Scottish Government on how we can help keep the momentum going.
It has never been more important that we do everything we can, as a country, to be a good parent to young people in and leaving care – Staf will support our members to continue to do so. One of our key strengths is our ability to connect members across the country and we will continue to do this virtually, remember we have our member enquiry service.
Working together, I know we will get through this.
Best wishes,
Jo |
| | | Scotland must work together to be a good parent through coronavirus situation
Staf CEO Jo Derrick blogs on how coronavirus (COVID-19) has created an unprecedented situation that is already having a profound impact on our daily lives - and why impact will be acutely felt by care leavers. Jo emphasises the importance of Scotland being a good parent to the care-experienced community. Read more here.
Given the current situation, we are also taking a number reasonable and responsible steps to protect our members and the young people we engage with. Find out more here.
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| | | Signposting - COVID-19 Guidance and Signposting
Staf has compiled information and resources regarding coronavirus (COVID-19) in Scotland particularly for care-experienced young people and those who support them.
We know that for young people with care-experience, who may not have strong support networks, this will be a potentially overwhelming, isolating and anxious time. To help, we've put together a collection of resources. Read more here. |
| | Youth Justice Voices: Update on the project and supporting young people during Covid-19In this blog, Youth Justice Participation Worker Ruth Kerracher provides an update on the work of Youth Justice Voices in the context of Covid-19.
Read below to find out all about Youth Just Us, digital participation, maintaining connections, and the launch date for the Artivism digital exhibition. Find out more.
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| | Building Relationships Advisory Group - Third Meeting Update
The Building Relationships Advisory Group has moved online! In its third meeting on the 19th of March, the group discussed how to continue the work during the lockdown.
In the latest Building Relationships blog you can find out more about the third meeting and next steps for the project. Read the blog here.
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| | | Project Return It's been 6 months since Project Return held its inaugural steering group meeting - since then, the group has designed a series of creative workshops, set up a choir, and much more.
In this blog Project Return Development Worker, Jenny Ferguson, reflects on the last 6 months of Project Return and provides an update on where is next for the project. Find out more. |
| | | | | Staf calls for changes to housing support for care leavers heeded by UK Government Following the publication of the UK budget for 2020-21, Staf CEO Jo Derrick has welcomed changes to housing support for care leavers living in the private rented sector.
The Chancellor has announced that care leavers aged up to 25 will be exempt from the Shared Accommodation Rate for Universal Credit, as called for by Staf in December, ahead of the General Election. Read more here.
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| | Care-experienced parents must not be forgotten in school closure plans
With most schools and nurseries now closed, Staf has called on local authorities to be mindful of the impact on care-experienced parents when devising their local school closure plans.
In the Scottish Government’s Programme for Government for 2020-21, it acknowledged the additional challenges faced by care-experienced parents, particularly as they are less likely to have a strong family network to support them. Read more here.
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| | Coronavirus (Scotland) Act introduces temporary changes to care system
The Scottish Parliament has today (April 1st) approved the Coronavirus (Scotland) Bill, which sets out emergency measures to help ‘protect the public, maintain essential public services and support the economy’ during the coronavirus pandemic. Read more here.
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| | The Promise explained: what does the Care Review mean for care leavers and for the workforce?
Scotland’s Independent Care Review has published its final conclusions. Five reports have been published and the main report ‘The Promise’ runs to 124 pages.
To keep our members informed, we will set out the conclusions in a series of brief summaries. Read the first two briefings here. |
| | | | | | Supported Lodgings, Supported Carers Focus Group
The Supported Lodgings, Supported Carers focus group provides a supportive forum to share good practice, local and national developments, and discuss issues around Care Inspectorate inspections.
This group is aimed at members and corporate parents who provide supported lodgings or supported carer services for care-experienced young people. Our second meeting of 2020 will take place virtually via Zoom on Tuesday 21st April. Book your place here.
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| | | Implications of Continuing Care Focus Group
Meeting since 2014, the Implications of Continuing Care focus group offers a safe place to discuss issues and practice arising from Part 11 of the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014. The recent work of this group has discussed commissioning placements, fostering fees and payments and shared good practice from across Scotland.
At the upcoming meeting, to be held via Zoom, there will be the usual opportunities to meet colleagues and share practice that supports service delivery. We will be focusing on the transition from continuing care to aftercare. Book your place here.
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| | | | Care Leavers into Employment Focus Group
Staf's Care Leavers into Employment focus group tackles the issues faced by young people in both accessing and sustaining employment. This group brings together workers from across the public and third sector to discuss and dissect current practice issues.
Recent focus group meetings have discussed the DWP's commitments to care leavers and the development of national policy to support care leavers into employment. Book your place here. Our next meeting on Wednesday 3rd June 2020 will take place virtually via Zoom. |
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| | In partnership with other organisations, we are hosting an International Child Trauma Conference - More than My Trauma - in 2020, featuring world-renowned trauma expert Dr Bruce Perry. Our partners for the event are Kibble, Children in Scotland, Clackmannanshire Educational Psychology Service, Aberlour and Seamab.
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| | | | Save the Date - Staf National Conference (17th November 2020) On the 17th November 2020 Staf will be hosting our latest national conference. Following the success of previous Staf conference on trauma, relationships, we are excited to be developing a new opportunity for practitioners, managers and young people to share, learn, and connect. More details to be announced soon. |
| | | | If you only have time to read, listen or watch one thing this week, make sure it's one of the below. |
| Read: This Barnardo's Scotland paper investigates the provision of Health Assessments for looked-after children. Specifically, the way in which local Health Boards are carrying them out and the data that is collected nationally. Co-authored by Staf Implications of Continuing Care focus group member Maddy Kirkman. Read the paper here. |
| Listen: Russell Brand is joined by Gabor Mate for an edition of Brand's podcast series titled: 'Pandemics & Infodemics - Wisdom In The Time Of Covid-19'. Brand and Mate discuss how to support people who have already experienced trauma through the pandemic. Listen here. |
| Watch: Friend of Staf Dr Karen Treisman shares a hand breathing relaxation and regulation technique which can support work with children and young people during this uncertain time. Watch here. |
| | | © 2020 Scottish Throughcare and Aftercare Forum, All Rights Reserved.
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