Youth Advocacy has had three meetings recently. This gives all members a chance to attend meetings as they are held during the day and in the evening.

Lots of issues have been discussed. Here is the latest news on each one.....

Pocket money

Ged Crowther (Operations Manager) advised that pocket money has been increased by 10% this year

Netbooks

Ged advised that the allocations of the net book laptops were successful members said that the CYPS badge should not be on laptops, as their friends would see it and it was embarassing.

Internet access

Ged has stated that all children and young people in care should have internet access.dd>

Children in Care pledge

Ged advised that the children in care pledge has been provisionally agreed by the council

Contacting social workers

Members expressed concerns about contacting social workers and aftercare workers by telephone. Ged explained that he would be setting up a duty / emergency phone line and email service for young people to contact. Also all calls would be answered and the social worker or duty worker would contact the child or young person the same day.

Aftercare

Members expressed concerns about contacting the aftercare service. Ged explained that the aftercare service have recently experienced staffing issues and new workers will be starting shortly which will improve the overall service

Apprenticeships for young people in care

Mark explained that Care2Work group has beeen set up to look at all areas of careleavers getting good jobs and training

Choice of foster carers

The group feel that young people should have a choice of foster carers

Training for foster carers

Members have agreed to be involved in the training of new foster carers. members to go to the training day of the panel who choose foster carers. Members to give the Panel questions that children in care want to ask

Young people moving should be given their property immediately after being moved

Items are often lost, especially in unplanned moves.

Health packs

Health packs that the nurse (Sharon Beresford) provides should be automatically given to young people so they don’t have to ask for them.

Young women in care having babies

Members do not think it is fair when a young person remains in foster care after they have had a baby, that their child also becomes a child in care. Ged will send the group the legal arguments for which decisions are made concerning this matter.

Housing for care leavers

Ged noted that no young people are in b and b's but housing remains a problem due to Trafford not having enough stock.

Driving lessons

Members have suggested contracting a driving school to teach all eligible young people to drive. This should save somemoney.

Children in Care pack

Members have designed a new leaflet and have also recorded it so it can go on the CYPS website.dd>

More extra curricular activites

Members would like more information to be given to children and young people in care about activities they could get involved in.

Leaflets for Teachers

A draft leaflet to be given to teachers who work with children and young people in care has been devloped. This will be finished soon.

Staying over at friends

Some members thought a police check had to take place if they wanted to stay at someone's house. Stacy explained that this is not true. Members suggested that there should be a timescale (possibly 14 days) by which time the social worker should have visited the house of the person you want to stay with, if it is needed. Normally a carer can make this decision. dd>

Placement move pack

Members have discussed this idea. All members agreed it was a good idea to have a small pack with toothbrush, toothpaste etc. that a child or young person could be given when having to move placement quickly.

Annual questionnaire

Member suggested there should be questions about the child or young person themselves, not just about the service they are receiving. next one due out in November.

Advertising Youth Advocacy

Members have been discussing ways to get more people involved in Youth Advocacy. Ideas included bringing other children and young people they know to a meeting, using facebook (although Mark said not all children in care have facebook contact details), posters and leaflets, e-mail, printing information on the back of bus tickets or on the side of buses. Also could have hoodies with YA on them.

Complaints

Members are to be involved in rewriting the complaints procedure.

Review consultation papers

Members reviewed the review consultation documents. They said they were good questions and format but need updating as the graphics etc looked a bit tired. They thought even if they are not filled in they can help you think about issues you can raise at your review.

Corporate Parenting

Members are to be involved in rewriting the complaints procedure. they would like a quick response to their complaint to acknowledge it was being looked at, then an update after 5 days and a response within 10.

Page 1