About the West Sussex Children in Care Council
Hi, we are
West Sussex Children in Care Council (CiCC) and we are a group
made up of young people from across the county who come from a
looked after background, as well as care leavers. We meet monthly
at various locations throughout West Sussex to talk about issues
that matter to all children in care, and help to shape the services
that are available for us.
The issues that we discuss at meetings are reported to
the Corporate Parenting Panel (a group of managers who make
important decisions about young people in care). Sometimes people
who make these decisions, or run services for us, come and visit us
to talk about what they provide and we help inform and guide those
services, such as nurses, education workers and social workers.
Care Matters states that; "every local authority is
required to have a Children in Care Council (CiCC) to enable
children’s and young people’s views to influence service design and
delivery".
We work with our CiCC coordinator, Toby, to make sure
as many children and young people as possible have a say in issues
that affect them, so as well as the CiCC we also consult using
questionnaires and using e-panels.
We are also trained and supported to take part in
decision making processes such as interviewing staff, consultation
events, inspecting services for children and young people,
monitoring and evaluating policy and strategies such as the
Children and Young People’s Plan.
How the "Children in Care Council" represent
young people in care in West Sussex at a national
level
National Care Leavers Benchmarking
Forum - Two members from the Children in Care Council meet
with this national group of other care leavers. They work together
to improve the quality of services for young people leaving care
nationally, through benchamarking and shared learning.
South Regional Committee of Children in Care
Councils - A representative from the Children in Care
council attends the National meeting of Children in Care Council
Committees. The groups share good practice and discuss issues
brought forward by their individual Children in Care Councils. The
twice yearly meetings held at the Department of Education in
London, are organised by "A National Voice" and are regularly
attended by Dr Roger Morgan, Childrens Rights Director for
England.
All Party Parliamentary Group for Children in
Care and Care Leavers - Members of the Children in Care
Council regualrly atttend the meetings, on various topics affecting
young people in care. These meetings, held regularly at the Houses
of Parliament, are attended by members of the House of Commons and
the House of Lords, representatives of voluntary organisations,
childcare professionals and people who are currently in care or
have past personal experience of the care system.
Further information
What has been achieved? What is happening after
consulting with the
CICC
?
We’ve had a really busy time recently – here are some of the
things that we’ve been able to help make happen:
- Social Services Suitcases - No longer are your personal items
taken from placement to placement in black bin bags; West Sussex
now gives you your own suitcase.
- Change of social worker - You used to have to have a new social
worker when you reached 14. No longer; you can now choose to keep
the one you’re with.
- Web page - We’ve worked on our own web page dedicated to young
people in care.
- Newsletter - We produced the second edition of Through the
Looking Glass, a newsletter written by young
people in care, for young people in care, across
the county. – Aug 2011.
Consultations
We think its really important to let the voice of young people
in care heard, and the Children In Care Council take part in loads
of consultations to influence services for them, both in West
Sussex and nationally.
Here are some of the consultations we have been involved in
lately:
- November 2011 - Consultation with Care Leavers by Dr Roger
Morgan (Childrens Rights Director for England) for Children's
Rights Report commissioned by Ofsted.
- October 2011 - Children in Care Council took part in a
consultation in partnership with Young Minds looking at looked
after children and stigma around mental health. This consultation
will form part of Young Minds presentation to the All Party
Parliamentary Group for looked after children.
- September 2011 - "Tell Tim" - Consulation with Looked
after Children for Tim Laughton MP (Minister responsible for
Children in Care) into their views on the care system.
Contact information
We are always looking for keen, enthusiastic new members to join
our group so if you are interested get in touch.
Toby Wilson
CICC Youth Worker
Participation Team
Ferring Rifers Youth Club
Greystoke Road
Ferring
West Sussex
BN12 5JL
Phone: 01903 709440
Mobile: 07850 251372
Email: cicc@westsussex.gov.uk
You can also find him on Facebook!
Under the Related documents on this page are the meeting dates
of the West Sussex Children in Care Council, along with other
useful documents.
Minutes of meetings and features will be published on this page
at a later date.