Agenda item

Young people from LINX (Lancashire's Children in Care Council), April Rankin and Adam Riley, Participation Team, Child and Family Wellbeing Service, LCC

To receive an update on what the Participation Team have been doing with LINX and the Care Leavers Forum since the last Board meeting.

Young people from LINX (Lancashire's Children in Care Council), April Rankin and Adam Riley, Participation Team, Child and Family Wellbeing Service, Lancashire County Council provided an update from the Care Leaver Forum and LINX (Lancashire's Children in Care Council) on what young people had been doing since the last Corporate Parenting Board meeting in November 2022.

The Board noted that:

·  Young people have had the opportunity to continue to meet face-to-face in local areas across Lancashire.  They attend LINX (Lancashire's Children in Care Council) or Care Leavers Forum, which are places to share ideas, experiences, meet new people and meet other professionals.  The sessions have focus points and also allow young people to add in some games and fun elements.  They enjoy attending the sessions as they are informal, and it enables them to discuss and get involved with group activities and work together.  During face-to-face meetings guests are invited to speak to the groups about various topics and offer support and advice.

·  Young people have also taken part in youth interview panels bi-weekly and deliver the interviews using Zoom.  They have also been involved with interviews for Social Workers and for a Senior Manager for Child and Youth Justice Service. Young people feel they learn a lot from being involved in this process as it can help them to understand interviews for when they are being interviewed.

·  During November young people attended additional sessions and participated in a quiz night with Elected Members from County and District Councils.

·  Young people met with OFSTED Inspectors and reported that they felt they had a safe place to answer their questions and share experiences.  They were split into age groups so the questions and having their voice heard were suitable for each young person.

·  In December the young people from both LINX (Lancashire's Children in Care Council) and Care Leavers Forum all went bowling and had a Christmas meal.

·  Young people also met with other participation groups (Lancashire Youth Council and POWAR) to have a Christmas dinner with games and gifts.

·  In January, young people took part in additional interviews for Team Managers as well as the Social Worker Youth Panels.

·  Staff from Public Health gave a talk to young people on School Nurses and young people shared their experiences from schools and colleges about the School Nurse Service they had received along with advice and support that had been provided to them.

·  Two Care Leavers attended the Children, Families and Skills Scrutiny Committee. A point was raised at the meeting about mental health and access which led to young people creating a short questionnaire about "What are your feelings, fears, feeling what is missing around accessing mental health". This questionnaire was sent out to all Personal Advisor Team Managers in order for young people to get some feedback about other people's experiences.

·  Throughout February, young people have been involved in a number of sessions.  Staff members from the Virtual School and a Fostering Social worker visited a group session in Walton-le-Dale and discussions ensued around their roles, young people's roles and the workers were able to support a young person with a staying put issue they had and provided them with the relevant information they needed.

·  In February half-term, some young people attended two young inspector visits.  It was noted that they were made to feel very welcome at both visits and had interviewed some members of staff and some young people.  The reports are in the process of being completed. 

·  New members have joined LINX (Lancashire's Children in Care Council) and Lancashire Youth Council for the interview sessions and young inspector training.

·  Jaymie and Kia, representatives from the Care Leavers Forum and LINX (Lancashire's Children in Care Council) supported the Participation Strategy launch.

·  A number of care leavers took part in the care leaver walk around Brock Valley.

·  Representatives from the participation groups also took part in the shortlisting of nominations for the PROUD and Rise awards which they enjoyed as they got to read about the amazing work that is happening within Lancashire County Council with both staff and young people.

·  Planning is underway for the Corporate Parenting Board Takeover Meeting on 26 July 2023 and the Board noted that the young people would like to facilitate table top discussions on topics such as homes and moving out, employment and gaining different experiences.

·  One young person shared their experience following a trip to London, where they were one of three young people chosen to attend Parliament to petition free school meals for all children in primary schools. The petition had received over 32,000 signatures and they also enjoyed a private tour of Parliament and afternoon tea.  The young person had also been interviewed for TV and radio regarding the petition.

Finally Board members were asked if they could offer any support for the young people's summer programme and to give contact details and what they can support with, to April Pollitt, email: April.pollitt@lancashire.gov.uk or Adam Riley, email adam.riley@lancashire.gov.uk following the meeting.  Requests for support were around:

·  another budgeting session aimed more at cared experienced young people

·  something around sport and putting on another sports day style session

·  something creative – support around arts and craft skills

·  cooking/chef skills that could be shared with young people

·  support around budgeting

Resolved:  That the Board thanked the young people for their detailed presentation.