Dear Friend

Welcome to the latest Staf newsletter. We hope this finds you well.

As we approach the end of the Promise Plan 21:24 you will no doubt be aware that the sector is taking some time to reflect on the past 3 years but also look ahead to what comes next.

Our National Conference, which I’m delighted to say is now on sale, will be looking at how Plan 21:24 has been implemented in relation to young people transitioning out of care, highlighting best practice and also focusing on the next steps alongside a continued focus on relationships, friendships and learning. Early bird tickets for Staf members and non-members are now on sale and with last year’s Conference selling out we’d suggest booking soon to avoid disappointment.

At our Conference you will also be hearing from our new team member, Thomas Carlton who is on secondment from the Promise Scotland. Thomas and the team at Staf will be working to ensure that the promise is delivered for care leavers and as part of this will soon be engaging in a 100 Days of Listening which aims to speak to care experienced people and the workforce. The ambition is to generate a wish list of wants for those transitioning from care which will then be used to inform national and local government action. We are hoping that all of you with Moving On expertise will sign up to have your voice and the voices of those you support heard. You can register your interest here.

Hopefully you will have seen the survey Fiona Duncan circulated seeking feedback on what follows on from Plan 21:24 in the wider context. Staf has collated themes and feedback from our workforce forums and focus groups in our response. But if you’ve missed the survey there’s still time to feed this back as part of our ongoing conversations with Fiona and the Promise Scotland. If you’d like us to raise any issues on your behalf please email info@staf.scot

We’re delighted to have welcomed Pamela Graham back to Staf this month as our Head of Operations and I know she’s looking forward to engaging with our members and allies. This month we were also delighted to welcome two new board members who will be using their lived experience of care to shape and inform our work. Next month we also say a fond farewell to Shaun Docherty as he starts university but with the knowledge that he will always be part of the Staf family and no doubt working with us during holiday periods.

We have a couple of vacancies that will be advertised shortly so please consider applying/sharing our vacancies within your networks. One part time post will be to support the Learning Partner work we are undertaking as part of an independent evaluation of the Scottish Mentoring & Leadership Programme (replacing Shaun’s role as he moves onto university) and the other will be a full-time post to support the Learning & Development elements of our Supportive Workforce (Promise funded) project.

As our team expands so too does the scope of our work. To help keep you and your team up to speed on what we’re working on we have set up some free, online Staf information Sessions which are open to all and a great way to find out what we’re doing and how you can get involved. You can sign up for our October meeting here.

I'm also delighted to share that we are currently working alongside the Why Not? Trust, Early Years Scotland and the Promise Scotland to explore if a charter for care experienced parents could work in Scotland, following the successful introduction of one in Wales. People with care experience are being invited to informal workshops in September to share their views, including one in the Staf participation space in Glasgow. Please do signpost this participation opportunity to any care experienced people you know. You can find out more about this in our Policy and Practice section below.

There’s still time to sign up for the Cross-Party Group on Care Leavers which is meeting on Wed 13 Sep 6pm – 8pm to look at overcoming stigma and supporting care experiencing students in further and higher education. To join us online or in person at the Scottish Parliament, simply complete our registration form.

We’re also inviting care experienced people and their networks to join us at Project Return’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Hubs on Tue 24 & Thu 26 October, during Care Experienced Week, where we will be showcasing mental wellbeing services and activities.

Finally, following a break for summer, our workforce focus groups and forums are back and we’d love to see some new faces alongside our regular attendees. You can sign up to all our forthcoming events and forums at www.staf.scot/events.

We look forward to engaging with you soon.

 
Jo Derrick
Staf CEO