We are very excited about the variety of articles we have been able to assemble for this issue and we hope that you will find much to interest you in issue Number 8 of the goodenoughcaring Journal which is published online at http://www.goodenoughcaring.com/JournalIndex.aspx
In the fare provided, the young Londoner Alexander Nicolaou speaks about what becoming an award winning documentary film maker has meant to him. German social worker Harald Stoelting gives us his thoughts on becoming a residential child care worker in the United Kingdom. The author Hilary Mantel recalls her experience of being a social worker. Kevin Lalor and Rosaleen McElvaney of the Dublin Institute of Technology write about the nature and prevalence of child sexual abuse with reference to a new campaign by the Council of Europe to eliminate child abuse. Cynthia Cross thinks about the kind of children who might be helped by a therapeutic residential child care experience. Ariola Vishnja Zjarri talks about transference and counter-transference in her work with young people. Sheila Wilson, a residential child care worker in the south east of England discusses the critical significance of inter-disciplinary communication in child care work. Max Smart, the manager of a home for young people in Scotland writes about generosity in residential child care. John Stein asks if residential child care is really necessary. In an interview with Charles Sharpe, John Cross, the Executive Director of the Planned Environment Therapy Trust explores, among many other things, the troubled child’s need for a good enough fundamental experience, and gives thought to the kind of worker and the kind of environment needed to provide this. There are book reviews from Noel Howard and Mark Smith.
(First posted online on December 15th, 2010 on the goodenoughcaring website home page at http://www.goodenoughcaring.com/ ).
Thursday 23 December 2010
Monday 20 December 2010
Rumblings in the Hallways
Kathleen Mulvey writes
Rumblings in the hallways, debates in the classroom, chats and cuppas in units, homes and schools across the country 2010 saw the dawn of The Scottish Residential Childcare Workers Association (SRCCWA)
You might have heard or read about the inaugural meeting in Perth in May and your interest may have been peaked enough to consider attending the follow up meeting in Livingston in September. However are you yet to take the plunge because you’re still not sure if it’s for you, or what exactly it’s all about? Or maybe you’ve been following us on facebook, twitter, http://www.residentialchildcarenetwork.com/ or http://www.goodenoughcaring.com/ and just want to know more. That’s why we were grateful for this opportunity to share the more personal motivation of a one of our members who is eager to seize the day!
Neil Gray is a residential childcare practitioner for West Lothian Council.
Neil, What made you decide to attend a meeting of the SRCCWA?
I attended the inaugural meeting in Perth out of frustration at the lack of representation for residential practitioners and out of hope that things could be different. At that very first meeting I listened anxiously to Laura Steckley, Mark Smith and fellow practitioners from around Scotland and they all struck a chord with me in their initial address. It feels like the time is right for all residential practitioners to be at the forefront of any change in how we develop, train and go forward.
What do you want from the association?
The formation of the SRCCWA will give us strength in numbers, increased visibility, professional identity and status. What is our identity in 2010? Who will decide if we don’t? We need to frame our own experience and let this be the flag that flies high. I want an Association we can be proud of, take ownership of. One, which allows us to build trust and relationships with everyone who cares about our young people.
In what way do you think the association can achieve this?
We need a voice, a strong voice that is recognized as being representative of a professional workforce and is in constant contact with ministers, government departments and other influential bodies. I want to be part of an Association that is committed to keeping members in touch with what affects them and is at the forefront of residential childcare development.
I understand and recognize this is a challenging and exciting venture. Every journey begins with a single step. I believe Perth was that first step and I know we have some way to go towards full recognition, but together we will have the support and confidence for the journey to make positive changes. I believe it will be the combination of direct and indirect practitioners working in partnership through the association that will achieve this. We need to hear all those voices and rally collectively. This is a workers’ association but no man is an island; we value those practitioners no longer in direct work that are out there supporting the workforce through training, education etc. I know this probably makes people think that the scope of membership is really broad. I guess at this stage it’s about recognizing that, because of the need for increased training and education many of our colleagues have moved away from direct work but anyone who has worked in residential childcare knows that you might take the person out of ressie but you can’t take the ressie out of the person.
So on that lighthearted note I will say that I hope the association will boldly go where no one has gone before.
The SRCCWA will publish a newsletter in December which will be available on-line and in hard copy across the country this will let you all know plans for the coming year, in the meantime you can keep up to date through facebook, twitter and http://www.residentialchildcarenetwork/. Also keep an eye out for the new SIRCC website which will include a link to our electronic sign up for members. This will be the official way to join the association and get your membership number and allow the association to keep in direct contact with you.
Rumblings in the hallways, debates in the classroom, chats and cuppas in units, homes and schools across the country 2010 saw the dawn of The Scottish Residential Childcare Workers Association (SRCCWA)
You might have heard or read about the inaugural meeting in Perth in May and your interest may have been peaked enough to consider attending the follow up meeting in Livingston in September. However are you yet to take the plunge because you’re still not sure if it’s for you, or what exactly it’s all about? Or maybe you’ve been following us on facebook, twitter, http://www.residentialchildcarenetwork.com/ or http://www.goodenoughcaring.com/ and just want to know more. That’s why we were grateful for this opportunity to share the more personal motivation of a one of our members who is eager to seize the day!
Neil Gray is a residential childcare practitioner for West Lothian Council.
Neil, What made you decide to attend a meeting of the SRCCWA?
I attended the inaugural meeting in Perth out of frustration at the lack of representation for residential practitioners and out of hope that things could be different. At that very first meeting I listened anxiously to Laura Steckley, Mark Smith and fellow practitioners from around Scotland and they all struck a chord with me in their initial address. It feels like the time is right for all residential practitioners to be at the forefront of any change in how we develop, train and go forward.
What do you want from the association?
The formation of the SRCCWA will give us strength in numbers, increased visibility, professional identity and status. What is our identity in 2010? Who will decide if we don’t? We need to frame our own experience and let this be the flag that flies high. I want an Association we can be proud of, take ownership of. One, which allows us to build trust and relationships with everyone who cares about our young people.
In what way do you think the association can achieve this?
We need a voice, a strong voice that is recognized as being representative of a professional workforce and is in constant contact with ministers, government departments and other influential bodies. I want to be part of an Association that is committed to keeping members in touch with what affects them and is at the forefront of residential childcare development.
I understand and recognize this is a challenging and exciting venture. Every journey begins with a single step. I believe Perth was that first step and I know we have some way to go towards full recognition, but together we will have the support and confidence for the journey to make positive changes. I believe it will be the combination of direct and indirect practitioners working in partnership through the association that will achieve this. We need to hear all those voices and rally collectively. This is a workers’ association but no man is an island; we value those practitioners no longer in direct work that are out there supporting the workforce through training, education etc. I know this probably makes people think that the scope of membership is really broad. I guess at this stage it’s about recognizing that, because of the need for increased training and education many of our colleagues have moved away from direct work but anyone who has worked in residential childcare knows that you might take the person out of ressie but you can’t take the ressie out of the person.
So on that lighthearted note I will say that I hope the association will boldly go where no one has gone before.
The SRCCWA will publish a newsletter in December which will be available on-line and in hard copy across the country this will let you all know plans for the coming year, in the meantime you can keep up to date through facebook, twitter and http://www.residentialchildcarenetwork/. Also keep an eye out for the new SIRCC website which will include a link to our electronic sign up for members. This will be the official way to join the association and get your membership number and allow the association to keep in direct contact with you.
Sunday 5 December 2010
"Research into practice: Using the evidence to achieve excellence" a SIRCC research seminar on December 3rd, 2010
Jeremy Millar of the Scottish Institute for Residential Child Care has informed us that SIRCC is running a seminar on December 3rd, 2010. The theme of the event is
Research into Practice, focussing on residential child care, looked-after children and related policy and partnership working in areas such as health, mental health, and education.
The venue is the Merchant's Hall, Edinburgh EH2 2EP.
The aim of the seminar is to disseminate research into practice and to ensure that information is passed on to the field and to all those who have the opportunity to influence policy and/or implement practice. The focus of the seminar will be research carried out about residential child care, looked after children, and policy and partnership working in areas such as health, mental health and education.
Speakers include Dr. Jim Goddard and Moyra Hawthorne.
Specific sub-themes of the conference will include :
· Trauma and Behaviour
· Specialist and Therapeutic Interventions
· Improving Outcomes
· Social Pedagogy
· Disability
The seminar will be of interest to managers, practitioners, academics, students and policy makers involved with children who are looked after away from home.
A conference flier with further details is available at http://www.sircc.org.uk/sites/default/files/Research%20Seminar%20Flier.pdf or telephone SIRCC Events on 0141 950 3572
(First posted at http://www.goodenoughcaring.com/ on October 1st, 2010
Research into Practice, focussing on residential child care, looked-after children and related policy and partnership working in areas such as health, mental health, and education.
The venue is the Merchant's Hall, Edinburgh EH2 2EP.
The aim of the seminar is to disseminate research into practice and to ensure that information is passed on to the field and to all those who have the opportunity to influence policy and/or implement practice. The focus of the seminar will be research carried out about residential child care, looked after children, and policy and partnership working in areas such as health, mental health and education.
Speakers include Dr. Jim Goddard and Moyra Hawthorne.
Specific sub-themes of the conference will include :
· Trauma and Behaviour
· Specialist and Therapeutic Interventions
· Improving Outcomes
· Social Pedagogy
· Disability
The seminar will be of interest to managers, practitioners, academics, students and policy makers involved with children who are looked after away from home.
A conference flier with further details is available at http://www.sircc.org.uk/sites/default/files/Research%20Seminar%20Flier.pdf or telephone SIRCC Events on 0141 950 3572
(First posted at http://www.goodenoughcaring.com/ on October 1st, 2010
Thursday 11 November 2010
Programme details for The Child Care History Network Autumn Conference
"From Coalface to Facebook?: using new social media and technology to record, remember and share child care experience"
November 11th, 2010 Planned Environment Therapy Trust Conference Centre
Toddington, Gloucestershire GL54 5DQ
PROGRAMME
10.00 Welcome to the Planned Environment Therapy Trust: John Cross, Executive
Director/Rich Rollinson, Chair, Planned Environment Therapy Trust
Welcome to the CCHN and Conference: David Lane, Chair CCHN
10.45. Introduction to the issues, concerns, and objects of the day : Charles Sharpe, CCHN
Board Member, psychodynamic counsellor and psychotherapist, co-editor, The
goodenoughcaring Journal
11.15 The tools in question: The "new media": What is it, and what's on the horizon? What is possible? John Moorhouse, independent I.T. specialist and Trustee, Planned
Environment Therapy Trust
11.45 Coffee and biscuits
12.00 New technologies in life story work with adolescents in residential care, Simon
Hammond, PhD Researcher, University of East Anglia
12.45 Discussion: The morning session
1.00 Lunch
2.00 Case Studies: The new media in use: issues and actualities
2.00- 2.30 Dr. Jim Goddard, Secretary of the Care Leaver's Association and Senior Lecturer in
Social Sciences and Humanities, University of Bradford
2.30 - 3.00 Gudrun Limbrick, Oral Historian for the Birmingham Children's Home Oral History
project
3.00 - 3.30 Mark Twinberrow, project volunteer and former Bodenham Manor School student;
Gemma Geldart, project oral historian, Dr. Craig Fees, project director, "Therapeutic
Living With Other People's Children" project
3.30-4.00 Discussion: Where next ?
Places are still available for the conference. The cost is £75 for individuals / £90 for organisations, to include lunch, refreshments, and annual CCHN membership fees.
There is comfortable on-site accommodation for those wishing to stay the night of the 10th and/or of the 11th - please contact Joanna Jansen at the Planned Environment Therapy Trust for details,
on 01242 621200 or Trust@pettrust.org.uk.
To book a place at the conference please contact either Maureen or Joanna on 01242 621200 or Trust@pettrust.org.uk.
The Annual General Meeting of the Child Care History Network will take place at 9.30, immediately before the
conference.
For further information, please go to the Child Care History Network site at www.cchn.org.uk/
(First posted on the goodenoughcaring website on November 4th, 20100.
November 11th, 2010 Planned Environment Therapy Trust Conference Centre
Toddington, Gloucestershire GL54 5DQ
PROGRAMME
10.00 Welcome to the Planned Environment Therapy Trust: John Cross, Executive
Director/Rich Rollinson, Chair, Planned Environment Therapy Trust
Welcome to the CCHN and Conference: David Lane, Chair CCHN
10.45. Introduction to the issues, concerns, and objects of the day : Charles Sharpe, CCHN
Board Member, psychodynamic counsellor and psychotherapist, co-editor, The
goodenoughcaring Journal
11.15 The tools in question: The "new media": What is it, and what's on the horizon? What is possible? John Moorhouse, independent I.T. specialist and Trustee, Planned
Environment Therapy Trust
11.45 Coffee and biscuits
12.00 New technologies in life story work with adolescents in residential care, Simon
Hammond, PhD Researcher, University of East Anglia
12.45 Discussion: The morning session
1.00 Lunch
2.00 Case Studies: The new media in use: issues and actualities
2.00- 2.30 Dr. Jim Goddard, Secretary of the Care Leaver's Association and Senior Lecturer in
Social Sciences and Humanities, University of Bradford
2.30 - 3.00 Gudrun Limbrick, Oral Historian for the Birmingham Children's Home Oral History
project
3.00 - 3.30 Mark Twinberrow, project volunteer and former Bodenham Manor School student;
Gemma Geldart, project oral historian, Dr. Craig Fees, project director, "Therapeutic
Living With Other People's Children" project
3.30-4.00 Discussion: Where next ?
Places are still available for the conference. The cost is £75 for individuals / £90 for organisations, to include lunch, refreshments, and annual CCHN membership fees.
There is comfortable on-site accommodation for those wishing to stay the night of the 10th and/or of the 11th - please contact Joanna Jansen at the Planned Environment Therapy Trust for details,
on 01242 621200 or Trust@pettrust.org.uk.
To book a place at the conference please contact either Maureen or Joanna on 01242 621200 or Trust@pettrust.org.uk.
The Annual General Meeting of the Child Care History Network will take place at 9.30, immediately before the
conference.
For further information, please go to the Child Care History Network site at www.cchn.org.uk/
(First posted on the goodenoughcaring website on November 4th, 20100.
Tuesday 2 November 2010
National Care Leavers' Week : conference October 28th
Janet Rich of the National Care Leavers' Foundation informs us that there is still time to book a place on this year's National Care Leavers' Week conference in central London on Thursday 28th October.
Highlights include a keynote talk from Children’s Minster Tim Loughton setting out for the first time since the Comprehensive Spending Review the future of leaving care services and the Coalition vision for looked after children.
An opportunity to hear from NICE and SCIE about new guidance on Promoting the Quality of Life of Looked After Children
Plus a variety of sessions from professionals and care leavers on good practice in housing, mental health and other issues impacting on care leavers
Visit http://www.carematterspartnership.co.uk/conferences/details/14/ for more details or contact Maria Savage 020 7384 2365 bookings@carematterspartnership.co.uk
VISIT http://www.lifeaftercare.tv/ to see Children’s Minister Tim Loughton answer questions from care leavers about the future of leaving care services
see http://www.nationalcareleaversweek.org/ for full details of all events.
Highlights include a keynote talk from Children’s Minster Tim Loughton setting out for the first time since the Comprehensive Spending Review the future of leaving care services and the Coalition vision for looked after children.
An opportunity to hear from NICE and SCIE about new guidance on Promoting the Quality of Life of Looked After Children
Plus a variety of sessions from professionals and care leavers on good practice in housing, mental health and other issues impacting on care leavers
Visit http://www.carematterspartnership.co.uk/conferences/details/14/ for more details or contact Maria Savage 020 7384 2365 bookings@carematterspartnership.co.uk
VISIT http://www.lifeaftercare.tv/ to see Children’s Minister Tim Loughton answer questions from care leavers about the future of leaving care services
see http://www.nationalcareleaversweek.org/ for full details of all events.
Friday 29 October 2010
From Coalface to Facebook ? The Child Care History Network Autumn Conference
"From Coalface to Facebook ? Using new social media and technology to record, remember and share child care experience"
takes place on November 11th, 2010, from 10.30 to 4.00 at the Planned Environment Therapy Trust Conference Centre, Toddington, Gloucestershire GL54 5DQ
- What online communication networks and tools are available for children, child care
professionals, and former children in care to record and share their experiences? What is
being used? What is on the horizon? - Can we, should we, and how can we, embrace the new forms of communication? What is
gained if we do? What experiences and insights may be lost if we don't? - Can these new media and technologies be a help for children, child care professionals,
historians and archivists in remembering, recording, gathering and archiving child care
experience and history - and if so, how? - Or, is there a healthy resistance among child care professionals, former children in care and
others to embrace these new forms of communication, which should be listened to? - In a world of accelerating dependence on online communication and record keeping, what
choices do we really have? - What can we learn from projects and organisations which are already engaging with the new
media, such as the Birmingham Children's Homes oral history project, the Care Leavers
Association, or the "Therapeutic Living With Other People's Children" project? - How can and how will the history, experience and practice of child care be impacted by the
new online social networks and tools? What are the challenges? What are the opportunities?
The cost will be £75 for individuals / £90 for organisations, to include lunch, refreshments, and annual CCHN membership fees.
There is comfortable on-site accommodation for those wishing to stay the night of the 10th and/or of the 11th - please contact Joanna Jansen at the Planned Environment Therapy Trust for details,
on 01242 621200 or Trust@pettrust.org.uk.
To book a place at the conference please contact either Maureen or Joanna on 01242 621200 or Trust@pettrust.org.uk.
The Annual General Meeting of the Child Care History Network will take place at 9.30, immediately before the
conference.
For further information, please go to the Child Care History Network site at www.cchn.org.uk/
Tuesday 26 October 2010
Carpe Diem
An inaugural meeting of the Scottish Residential Child Care (Workers) Association was held in Perth on Monday 24th May 2010. With minimal organisation and advertising the event attracted almost 50 people from across Scotland with an interest in taking forward debate about residential child care. This was followed up with a second meeting held in West Lothian again at very short notice was very well supported by staff in direct and indirect practice. The impetus for such an association has grown over recent years, particularly among students on the MSc in Advanced Residential Child Care at the University of Strathclyde/Glasgow.
Residential child care is a complex and demanding field of practice. Yet residential child care workers lack a discrete ‘voice’. Policy decisions fail to reflect their experiences. The absence of a strong voice for residential child care and those who work in it has a negative effect on the status of the discipline. This in turn makes it difficult for residential child care workers to be the strong advocates that they need to be for the children and youth in their care. Membership of the association will be open to all those with an investment in supporting the development of residential child care in Scotland but particularly those in direct practice.
This is an important step towards improving the profile of all residential child care staff and potentially giving them an officially recognised voice. The establishment of the Residential Child Care (Workers) Association represents an important move towards social cohesion and integration. Those in attendance at the West Lothian meeting embraced the need for change and integral to this the development of a ‘voice’ for the profession. Carpe Diem comes to mind as we have never been presented with such an opportunity. In February 2008 Adam Ingram, government minister stated to the Scottish Parliament the commitment to make ‘residential care the first and best placement of choice for all those that need the service’ this government commitment coupled with the developing association present an ideal opportunity to seize the day and raise the status of residential care as a profession. The second meeting held in West Lothian made a commitment to build the association and hold a national launch event.
If any of this strikes a chord, please visit http://www.residentialchildcarenetwork/ and sign up for the group to keep up to date with developments or send an email to Scottishrcc@hotmail.co.uk
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Residential child care is a complex and demanding field of practice. Yet residential child care workers lack a discrete ‘voice’. Policy decisions fail to reflect their experiences. The absence of a strong voice for residential child care and those who work in it has a negative effect on the status of the discipline. This in turn makes it difficult for residential child care workers to be the strong advocates that they need to be for the children and youth in their care. Membership of the association will be open to all those with an investment in supporting the development of residential child care in Scotland but particularly those in direct practice.
This is an important step towards improving the profile of all residential child care staff and potentially giving them an officially recognised voice. The establishment of the Residential Child Care (Workers) Association represents an important move towards social cohesion and integration. Those in attendance at the West Lothian meeting embraced the need for change and integral to this the development of a ‘voice’ for the profession. Carpe Diem comes to mind as we have never been presented with such an opportunity. In February 2008 Adam Ingram, government minister stated to the Scottish Parliament the commitment to make ‘residential care the first and best placement of choice for all those that need the service’ this government commitment coupled with the developing association present an ideal opportunity to seize the day and raise the status of residential care as a profession. The second meeting held in West Lothian made a commitment to build the association and hold a national launch event.
If any of this strikes a chord, please visit http://www.residentialchildcarenetwork/ and sign up for the group to keep up to date with developments or send an email to Scottishrcc@hotmail.co.uk
________________________________________________________________________________________________
"Research into practice : using the evidence to achieve excellence" a SIRCC seminar on December 3rd, 2010
Jeremy Millar of the Scottish Institute for Residential Child Care has informed us that SIRCC is running a seminar on December 3rd, 2010. The venue has yet to be agreed. The aim of the seminar is to disseminate research into practice and to ensure that information is passed on to the field and to all those who have the opportunity to influence policy and/or implement practice. The focus of the seminar will be research carried out about residential child care, looked after children, and policy and partnership working in areas such as health, mental health and education.
Specific sub-themes of the conference will include
· Trauma and Behaviour
· Specialist and Therapeutic Interventions
· Improving Outcomes
· Social Pedagogy
· Disability
The seminar will be of interest to managers, practitioners, academics, students and policy makers involved with children who are looked after away from home.
Further details are available from : sirccevents@strath.ac.uk or telephone 0141 950 3572
Specific sub-themes of the conference will include
· Trauma and Behaviour
· Specialist and Therapeutic Interventions
· Improving Outcomes
· Social Pedagogy
· Disability
The seminar will be of interest to managers, practitioners, academics, students and policy makers involved with children who are looked after away from home.
Further details are available from : sirccevents@strath.ac.uk or telephone 0141 950 3572
Exploring a role for new technologies in life story work with adolescents in residential child care
Readers will be aware of the writing of Simon Hammond from his articles for the goodenoughcaring Journal about residential child care workers who were themselves in care as children and also about the use of new technology in residential child care and in particular its potential it offers for life story work. You can keep up to date with Simon’s University of East Anglia doctoral research on his website at
http://www.uea.ac.uk/swp/people/shammond
____________________________________________________________________________
http://www.uea.ac.uk/swp/people/shammond
____________________________________________________________________________
A website rich with resources for those interested in child care
We would draw your attention to John Whitwell's website at http://www.johnwhitwell.co.uk/ On his site John makes papers and other materials available which are born out of his work in child care. John has worked in the child care field since he graduated in 1969. The longest period and most formative years of his work was at the Cotswold Community from 1972 – 1999. John has worked with ISP – Integrated Services Programme – since 1999. John's website is now included in our links section on this page.
Where did we go right ? Positive aspects of residential child care
Now available on this site in Writings at http://www.goodenoughcaring.com/WritingsArticle.aspx?cpid=123 is the full text of Charles Sharpe’s presentation Where did we go right ? Positive aspects of residential child care to the Joint National Conference of the Irish Association of Care Workers, the Registered Managers Association and the Irish Association of Social Care Educators, respectively ASCW, RMA and IASCE at the Sheraton Hotel, Athlone on February 24th and 25th, 2010
Exploring a role for new technologies in life story work with adolescents in residential care : Simon Hammond’s website
Readers will be aware of the writing of Simon Hammond from his articles for the goodenoughcaring Journal about residential child care workers who were themselves in care as children and also about the use of new technology in residential child care and in particular its potential it offers for life story work. You can keep up to date with Simon’s University of East Anglia doctoral research on his website at
http://www.uea.ac.uk/swp/people/shammond
http://www.uea.ac.uk/swp/people/shammond
Tuesday 19 October 2010
Conference : Using high quality residential care to meet the real needs of children: from theory to practice
On Monday October 4th, 2010, in collaboration with the Tavistock & Portman NHS Foundation Trust and National Children’s Bureau Residential Child Care, the Northern School of Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy is holding a one day conference in Leeds which will chaired by Peter Wilson, former director of Young Minds. The conference will offer models of therapeutically-oriented care focused on addressing the emotional needs of children and young people. The day will encourage delegates to address a number of fundamental questions in relation to their own experience.
The conference will address a number of fundamental questions, including:
• how can residential care be better attuned to the social and emotional needs of the most damaged and troubled young people?
• what are the ‘key ingredients’ of high-quality therapeutic care?
• what practical steps can be implemented to plan for the everyday care of young people?
The speakers include Jonathan Stanley, John Whitwell, Sue Kegerreis, John Diamond, Stuart Hannah and Adrian Ward.
The venue is the Northern School of Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy, Bevan House, 34-36 Springwell Road, Leeds, LS12 1AW
Fee: £85
To receive the Leeds conference flyer and booking form email goodenoughcaring@dsl.pipex.com
The conference will address a number of fundamental questions, including:
• how can residential care be better attuned to the social and emotional needs of the most damaged and troubled young people?
• what are the ‘key ingredients’ of high-quality therapeutic care?
• what practical steps can be implemented to plan for the everyday care of young people?
The speakers include Jonathan Stanley, John Whitwell, Sue Kegerreis, John Diamond, Stuart Hannah and Adrian Ward.
The venue is the Northern School of Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy, Bevan House, 34-36 Springwell Road, Leeds, LS12 1AW
Fee: £85
To receive the Leeds conference flyer and booking form email goodenoughcaring@dsl.pipex.com
Saturday 16 October 2010
Conference : Using high quality residential care to meet the real needs of children: from theory to practice
On Monday October 4th, 2010, in collaboration with the Tavistock & Portman NHS Foundation Trust and National Children’s Bureau Residential Child Care, the Northern School of Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy is holding a one day conference in Leeds which will chaired by Peter Wilson, former director of Young Minds. The conference will offer models of therapeutically-oriented care focused on addressing the emotional needs of children and young people. The day will encourage delegates to address a number of fundamental questions in relation to their own experience.
The conference will address a number of fundamental questions, including:
• how can residential care be better attuned to the social and emotional needs of the most damaged and troubled young people?
• what are the ‘key ingredients’ of high-quality therapeutic care?
• what practical steps can be implemented to plan for the everyday care of young people?
The speakers include Jonathan Stanley, John Whitwell, Sue Kegerreis, John Diamond, Stuart Hannah and Adrian Ward.
The venue is the Northern School of Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy, Bevan House, 34-36 Springwell Road, Leeds, LS12 1AW
Fee: £85
To receive the Leeds conference flyer and booking form email goodenoughcaring@dsl.pipex.com
________________________________________________________________________________________________
The conference will address a number of fundamental questions, including:
• how can residential care be better attuned to the social and emotional needs of the most damaged and troubled young people?
• what are the ‘key ingredients’ of high-quality therapeutic care?
• what practical steps can be implemented to plan for the everyday care of young people?
The speakers include Jonathan Stanley, John Whitwell, Sue Kegerreis, John Diamond, Stuart Hannah and Adrian Ward.
The venue is the Northern School of Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy, Bevan House, 34-36 Springwell Road, Leeds, LS12 1AW
Fee: £85
To receive the Leeds conference flyer and booking form email goodenoughcaring@dsl.pipex.com
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Thursday 23 September 2010
Issue 7 of the goodenoughcaring Journal is now online.
This information item was first posted on the www.goodenoughcaring.com home page on June 15th, 2010
In the current issue of the Journal which was published on June 15th, 2010,
John Burton writes about the running and working of children’s homes. Tiffany Dawkins tells a short story about a girl, her boyfriend and her Harley Davidson. Thom Garfat explores emotional containment as he remembers an afternoon spent with “Jason”. David Lane catalogues the hisory of our changing concepts of child care and childhood. John Molloy makes a personal survey of the state of social care for children in Ireland. Jane Kenny describes her experience of keyworking in a residential setting, John Stein examines the meanings of “consequences” in the parenting and care of children. Kay Cook has written and illustrated her story "The Little Girl who was lost inside Her Armour." Jillian Viens counsels caution on the use of the phrase “I love you” when caring for other people’s children. Ted Woolvett writes about his childhood in the 1930s and 1940s and how his identity changed at the age of 63. In an interview with Charles Sharpe, Leon Fulcher and Thom Garfat talk about CYC-NET, training for child and youth care workers, foster carers and residential child care, reflective practice and supervision.
The next edition will be published on December 15th, 2010.
In the current issue of the Journal which was published on June 15th, 2010,
John Burton writes about the running and working of children’s homes. Tiffany Dawkins tells a short story about a girl, her boyfriend and her Harley Davidson. Thom Garfat explores emotional containment as he remembers an afternoon spent with “Jason”. David Lane catalogues the hisory of our changing concepts of child care and childhood. John Molloy makes a personal survey of the state of social care for children in Ireland. Jane Kenny describes her experience of keyworking in a residential setting, John Stein examines the meanings of “consequences” in the parenting and care of children. Kay Cook has written and illustrated her story "The Little Girl who was lost inside Her Armour." Jillian Viens counsels caution on the use of the phrase “I love you” when caring for other people’s children. Ted Woolvett writes about his childhood in the 1930s and 1940s and how his identity changed at the age of 63. In an interview with Charles Sharpe, Leon Fulcher and Thom Garfat talk about CYC-NET, training for child and youth care workers, foster carers and residential child care, reflective practice and supervision.
The next edition will be published on December 15th, 2010.
From NCERCC to NCBRCC
This news item was first posted on the www.goodenoughcaring.com website during July, 2010
Jonathan Stanley informs us that the National Children's Bureau has announced that it will be continuing its long-standing work supporting the residential child care sector to improve the expedriences and outcomes for children in their care, with a new service called NCB Residential Child Care (NCBRCC). Jonathan will kead the new service.
The former title ‘National Centre for Excellence in Residential Child Care’ may return in the future but to signal the difference in the service the title NCBRCC has been chosen.
The new service is in development and we are saddened to learn that the reduced funding has led to a loss of staffing and so NCBRCC it cannot yet do all that NCERCC was able to do. NCB has made the commitment to support development. However the range of NCBRCC services is directly linked to the funding it can attract. It is being funded entirely by the work it undertakes. NCBRCC is now able to undertake training, commissions, contracts, consultancies and project work. This work will be undertaken by Jonathan Stanley along with the comprehensive list of Associates developed during the time of NCERCC. We hope that the new service will develop, and eventually build upon, the outstanding work of its predecessor. For more information go to :
http://www.ncb.org.uk/default.aspx?page=3715
Jonathan Stanley informs us that the National Children's Bureau has announced that it will be continuing its long-standing work supporting the residential child care sector to improve the expedriences and outcomes for children in their care, with a new service called NCB Residential Child Care (NCBRCC). Jonathan will kead the new service.
The former title ‘National Centre for Excellence in Residential Child Care’ may return in the future but to signal the difference in the service the title NCBRCC has been chosen.
The new service is in development and we are saddened to learn that the reduced funding has led to a loss of staffing and so NCBRCC it cannot yet do all that NCERCC was able to do. NCB has made the commitment to support development. However the range of NCBRCC services is directly linked to the funding it can attract. It is being funded entirely by the work it undertakes. NCBRCC is now able to undertake training, commissions, contracts, consultancies and project work. This work will be undertaken by Jonathan Stanley along with the comprehensive list of Associates developed during the time of NCERCC. We hope that the new service will develop, and eventually build upon, the outstanding work of its predecessor. For more information go to :
http://www.ncb.org.uk/default.aspx?page=3715
Sunday 12 September 2010
Exploring a role for new technologies in life story work with adolescents in residential care : Simon Hammond’s website
This information item was first posted on the http://www.goodenoughcaring.com/ website on July 19th, 2010
Readers will be aware of the writing of Simon Hammond from his articles for the goodenoughcaring Journal about residential child care workers who were themselves in care as children and also about the use of new technology in residential child care and in particular its potential it offers for life story work. You can keep up to date with Simon’s University of East Anglia doctoral research on his website at
http://www.uea.ac.uk/swp/people/shammond
Simon's goodenoughcaring Journal articles, "A penny for your thoughts Jen : surviving and thriving in residential care homes" and " Updating life story work with a technologically profound generation : a review" can be found respectively at http://www.goodenoughcaring.com/JournalArticle.aspx?cpid=75
and
http://www.goodenoughcaring.com/JournalArticle.aspx?cpid=100
Readers will be aware of the writing of Simon Hammond from his articles for the goodenoughcaring Journal about residential child care workers who were themselves in care as children and also about the use of new technology in residential child care and in particular its potential it offers for life story work. You can keep up to date with Simon’s University of East Anglia doctoral research on his website at
http://www.uea.ac.uk/swp/people/shammond
Simon's goodenoughcaring Journal articles, "A penny for your thoughts Jen : surviving and thriving in residential care homes" and " Updating life story work with a technologically profound generation : a review" can be found respectively at http://www.goodenoughcaring.com/JournalArticle.aspx?cpid=75
and
http://www.goodenoughcaring.com/JournalArticle.aspx?cpid=100
A National Conference for Social Care in Ireland
This notice of an event was first posted at the http://www.goodenoughcaring.com home page on December 15th, 2009
Social Care Under the Spotlight : Moving Forward Together
This conference is to be held on February 24th and 25th at the Sheraton Hotel, Athlone and it marks the first combined conference presented by the three representative bodies of the social care field in Ireland, The Irish Association of Social Care Workers, the Residential Managers Association and the Irish Association of Social Care Educators.
The theme of the conference is focused on the recognition of the current difficult economic and social climate for social care and promotes the importance of continued integration of social care education, practice and policy to ensure delivery of quality care services in Ireland. A range of topics are being presented at the conference which will be of benefit to those involved in all aspects of the social care field.
Further information about the conference is available at the IASCW website at www.iascw.ie and bookings can be made by emailing info@hotel-solutions.ie
Linked article : The text of Charles Sharpe's presentation to this conference "Where did it go right ? positive aspects of residential child care" can be found at http://www.goodenoughcaring.com/WritingsArticle.aspx?cpid=123
Social Care Under the Spotlight : Moving Forward Together
This conference is to be held on February 24th and 25th at the Sheraton Hotel, Athlone and it marks the first combined conference presented by the three representative bodies of the social care field in Ireland, The Irish Association of Social Care Workers, the Residential Managers Association and the Irish Association of Social Care Educators.
The theme of the conference is focused on the recognition of the current difficult economic and social climate for social care and promotes the importance of continued integration of social care education, practice and policy to ensure delivery of quality care services in Ireland. A range of topics are being presented at the conference which will be of benefit to those involved in all aspects of the social care field.
Further information about the conference is available at the IASCW website at www.iascw.ie and bookings can be made by emailing info@hotel-solutions.ie
Linked article : The text of Charles Sharpe's presentation to this conference "Where did it go right ? positive aspects of residential child care" can be found at http://www.goodenoughcaring.com/WritingsArticle.aspx?cpid=123
Developing Relationships and Reflective Practice : Dundee pilots a new training method for residential child care staff
This item was first posted on the http://www.goodenoughcaring.com home page on March 10th 2009
Visitors to our site will be aware of the significance we place on training residential child care workers and other professionals to become able to build relationships with the children and young people they look after. We believe this can only be done through experience and study underpinned by considered reflection and insightful supervision and so it is exciting to learn of the start of new pilot training course which has been initiated by the City of Dundee Social Work Department (Children's Services). The course, “The Art of Effective Communications – Developing Relationships with Young People” which is lead by Calum Strathie and Sandra Deuchars, uses an approach which is called Video Interactive Guidance (VIG) to help residential child care staff enhance their day-to-day interactions with the young people in their care. The aim is to activate the thinking of practitioners by using a method called Video Enhanced Reflective Practice (VERP) to help them learn from their own and their colleagues' practice.
The course is taking place in a Young People's Unit in Dundee. It is believed that the training will be the first of its kind to be undertaken in a residential child care resource in the United Kingdom. All fifteen staff including the cook and the handyman will participate in the course. The young people's permission to have their conversations with staff filmed was sought and was given. The young people have been both helpful and vocal about the project.
The project will be evaluated after 4 sessions. Early indications are that the staff are positive and enthusiastic about the project, having overcome a natural trepidation about having their engagement with young people video recorded for use in future reflective practice workshops. The goodenoughcaring Journal hopes to publish an article* about the pilot project when it has been completed .
* This article can be found at http://www.goodenoughcaring.com/JournalArticle.aspx?cpid=111
Visitors to our site will be aware of the significance we place on training residential child care workers and other professionals to become able to build relationships with the children and young people they look after. We believe this can only be done through experience and study underpinned by considered reflection and insightful supervision and so it is exciting to learn of the start of new pilot training course which has been initiated by the City of Dundee Social Work Department (Children's Services). The course, “The Art of Effective Communications – Developing Relationships with Young People” which is lead by Calum Strathie and Sandra Deuchars, uses an approach which is called Video Interactive Guidance (VIG) to help residential child care staff enhance their day-to-day interactions with the young people in their care. The aim is to activate the thinking of practitioners by using a method called Video Enhanced Reflective Practice (VERP) to help them learn from their own and their colleagues' practice.
The course is taking place in a Young People's Unit in Dundee. It is believed that the training will be the first of its kind to be undertaken in a residential child care resource in the United Kingdom. All fifteen staff including the cook and the handyman will participate in the course. The young people's permission to have their conversations with staff filmed was sought and was given. The young people have been both helpful and vocal about the project.
The project will be evaluated after 4 sessions. Early indications are that the staff are positive and enthusiastic about the project, having overcome a natural trepidation about having their engagement with young people video recorded for use in future reflective practice workshops. The goodenoughcaring Journal hopes to publish an article* about the pilot project when it has been completed .
* This article can be found at http://www.goodenoughcaring.com/JournalArticle.aspx?cpid=111
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