Career and education mentoring, young people’s vision and standards of care within the fostering service.
Minutes:
Speakerbox provided an update to committee on key work and priorities. Advised that out of the eight pillars of priorities and the focus that has been directed towards the following two areas:
Education and employment
Summary of key issues:
· Have requested mentorship before exams and a meeting planned with head of service, permanence and resources
· Work of the young inspectors with colleagues who undertake training and their involvement in the process
· A representative of Speakerbox spoke of the work undertaken with the parks service in Southwark and their involvement of children and young people
· Voices in education and special needs.
Standards and treatment in care
· Spearkerbox representative explained work being undertaken with foster care training and their involvement.
Discussion summary
· It was explained that young people used to come for an element of the foster training and which has always been very well received. Young people eager to attend and be a greater part of the programme.
· Councillors thanked Speakerbox for sharing their experiences and considered these children and young people best placed to be involved in the training and recruitment of foster carers
· Confirmed young inspectors to have quarterly meetings to discuss suggestions for improvements
· Issue of care leavers in supported accommodation having access to the gym and information to be provided to enable
· Noted planned meetings with the virtual school and head of service, permanence and resources to discuss mentoring in education.
· Mark Kerr referred to the Lifelong Improvement for looked-after children) project, which is a pioneering initiative, originally developed by the care-leaver group A National Voice (ANV), that trains care-experienced young people to become inspectors of local authority care services. Acknowledgement that each child has a different journey.