Education and employment - standards of treatment in care, YP would like feedback on the council’s approach and to raise awareness
Minutes:
Representatives from Speaker Box introduced themselves to the meeting.
They presented a video about an organised residential trip to a farm with young people (under 13s) from Speaker box. They shared their experiences; some of them were apprehensive about going on the trip but eventually decided to go and thoroughly enjoyed their time at the farm.
The purpose of the residential trip was to raise awareness, build confidence, and team working, which would not have been possible without the support of the virtual school.
Summary of the presentation:
· Outlined information about the current levels of engagement
· Spoke about models of participation – voice not being heard even after completed surveys
· Share ideas – greater participation and being more involved
· Strategy – have a voice, engage, enable and deliver
· Our pillars – focused on how to best to tackle these topics
· Education and employment
· Standards and treatment in care
· Apprenticeships, training, help with mental health and wellbeing
· Growth in school – not to think it is a chore
· More emphasis on school life and
· School should be consistent for young people
· Continued work on a project called “mental ships” – in conjunction with the virtual school
· Standards and treatment in care
· Suitable, stable, quality homes – long term matching with fewer matches.
Main priorities:
The six areas identified that would be focussed on:
· Key areas – reduced placements/moves
· Improved quality of care and informed support
· Improved trauma – informed support.
Young people spoke about care leavers’ experiences of moving outside an area that they were not familiar with or particularly happy about.
Dr Mark Kerr spoke about the issue of commissioning and the chair made reference to the proposed children’s homes in the borough.
Councillor Batteson, cabinet member for Climate Emergency, Jobs and Business stated:
· That it would be helpful to hear the views of the young people in regard to employment and training in order to secure job opportunities
· Joined up services to ensure that this was done efficiently
· Trailblazers programme that was specifically for care leavers
· He agreed to speak separately about outcomes of meeting, relating to employment and training
· Local authorities to provide their views on job opportunities for young people to central government and to get a broader view on the issues
· Young people asked about training and education and whether there would be enough resources to address this
· According to data there is a 75% success rate with young people that had received employment opportunities.
Note: Cllr Batteson agreed to attend a future committee meeting.