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Participation and Engagement of the Voice of Children and Young People
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Jane Herbert
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Document details
Participation and Engagement of the Voice of Children and Young People
Name
Version number
1
Status
New
Author
Jane Herbert
Lead Officer
Jane Herbert
Approved by
Justine Wilson-Darke
Scheduled review date
30/06/25
Version history
Version
Change
Date
Dissemination
V0.1
V0.2
1 | P a g e
Foreword
This Strategy is designed to improve the well-being of all children and young people living in the London Borough of Havering
and to ensure that their voices are heard in a meaningful way. It will therefore, seek to ensure the co-operation amongst the
wide r children’s services and partners, in order to ensure that we make a real impact on the lives of our children and young
people. It sets to articulate methods for creating opportunities for children and young people so that they can thrive. By
agreeing mechanisms to support improved working practices and outlining the key outcomes we wish to achieve, we are
taking the first step in making a real and lasting impact on the lives of children and young people. It will be a framework to
guide the organisation t o ensure it makes the most of resources and opportunities to benefit Havering’s children and young
people. A Participation Tool Kit will be created and co-produced alongside this document with children and young people.
Executive Summary
This Strategy is for all children and young people in the London Borough of Havering, and the professionals and volunteers
engaging with them. A key focus for this strategy is those children who are care experienced, including young people in care
and transitioning to the leaving care service, where they will receive ongoing support with their journey into adulthood. As a
council, we are committed to listening to children and young people about their experiences of the services that they receive
and the issues that are important to them; and work with them to deliver improvements that reflect their views.
Participation centres on promoting positive outcomes for children and young people, whilst taking a position that is trauma
informed and systemic. In order to meet this objective, participation activities should encompass a range of capacity-building
opportunities for children and young people including:
Positive activities and fun: Your Choice programme, Total Respect, Virtual School enrichment activities, Youth Clubs
and the Children in Care Council.
Confidence building and training: the opportunity to take part in bespoke training to support them to hone the skills
that will enable them to use their voice and influence (Total Respect).
The potential to enrich and influence decision making processes such as: development and implementation of The
Pledge; Corporate Parenting Takeover, Youth Management Team, Children in Care Council: Young Inspectors, being
part of interview panels for key positions; participation on the Safer Neighbourhood Board and Youth Justice Board;
the opportunity to be consulted on key issues of the day, such as stop and search, disproportionality, w omen’s rights
and safety, LGBTQ+ rights and safety; work experience opportunities for post 16 via the Virtual School and the
Leaving Care Service.
Accessing universal services such as the Havering Yout h Council, the UK Youth Parliament, All Girls’ Forum and the
London Youth Assembly. The opportunity to achieve skills and accredited outcomes.
The Independent Visitor Service offers befriending support to every Havering child or young person in care up to
the age of 25. An Independent Visitor is a volunteer who is independent of Children’s Social Care. They act as a
friend, listen, give advice and take part in activities with the young person. Visits take place every two – three
weeks and for 18 months or longer if needed. To receive a referral form or find out more information please email
earlyhelpvolunteer@havering.gov.uk or visit our website
2 | P a g e
The Advocacy Service provides representation at meetings and forums, making sure the voice of a child or young
person is heard when decisions are being made about their care. Havering children in care, care-experienced
young adults, children subject to Child Protection plans, and unaccompanied asylum seeking children can access
statutory advocacy.
As well as ensuring young people understand their rights and entitlements, an Advocate can also support young
people through the complaints process. To receive a referral form or find out more information please email
advocacy@havering.gov.uk or visit our website.
Our Vision
Substantial evidence points to the fact that participant-led youth and social work delivers more positive and meaningful
outcomes compared to a prescriptive delivery which has had little or no input from the young people it is designed to help.
Our vision is that the children and young people of the London Borough of Havering live healthy, happy and fulfilled lives;
and that services designed to work with children and young people act in their best interests, and take into account their
views, wishes and feelings.
The full participation, involvement and contribution of children who have received social care intervention, including young
people in care and leaving care, is crucial. As a council, we are committed to listening to children and young people about
their experiences of the services that they receive and the issues that are important to them; and work with them to deliver
improvements that reflect their views. As well as being the bedrock of good practice, involving children and young people in
the design and delivery of services that affect them, it is enshrined in law and policy:
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, in particular Article 12 that states:
"Every Child or young person has the right to express his or her views on all matters that affect them and their views should
be given due weight in accordance to their age and maturity."
Human Rights Act 1998: Article 8
You have the right to enjoy family relationships without interference from government. This includes the right to live with
your family and, where this is not possible, the right to regular contact .
National Care Standards 2001/2002
The overarching aims of the NCSC are to ensure the protection of people using health and social care services and to
improve the quality of service received.
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/235496/0630.pdf
The Children Act 1989: Right to Advocacy
What is the children Act right to advocacy?
3 | P a g e
The Children Act 1989 gives the right to looked after children to make representations and complaints to the Local
Authority regarding their care arrangements. 'Looked after children' means those who are in care by agreement of a
parent or under a court order.
The Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000
https://www.gov.uk/leaving-foster-or-local-authority-care
When developing their local offer, local authorities are required to consult with relevant persons, which means care
leavers and organisations or people that represent care leavers. Local authorities should consider how best to engage
and consult with as many of their care leavers as possible.
Children and Families Act 2014 (legislation.gov.uk)
In relation to children and young people who have SEND
The Children and Families Act 2014 (Part 3) ensures that high quality support is received by children with
special educational needs or disability (SEND) and their families. The Act improved upon the Children Act 1989 by
providing families with more control over the welfare of their own children
The UK has ratified the UN Convention, and as a council we are required by law to take seriously the wishes, views and feelings
of children and young people. Anyone working with children should see and speak to the child; listen to what they say; take
their views seriously; and work with them collaboratively when deciding how to support their needs. A child-centred
approach is supported by: The Children Act 1989 (as amended by Section 53 of the Children Act 2004).
All young people in Havering shall have their voices heard, have their views taken into account and the opportunity to co-
design service and co-produce their own positive outcomes. This document aims to outline the strategy for delivery and to
specifically articulate objectives that will support children who are care experienced, have experienced social care
intervention and those leaving care. It is imperative that this strategy links to the priorities outlined in the Havering Children
and Young People’s Pledge
4 | P a g e
What is Participation?
The ladder of Participation ( source: “Ladder of Children’s Participation, Hart, R: 1992 ) is a diagram to help bring a
critical perspective to children and young people’s participation and can be used to act as a reference and reflection
point for professionals. It enables us to re-think how we work with young people when it comes to participatory
activities, and to gain clarity around what we are asking them to do. It can be used as a way of motivating ourselves
to improve the quality of our engagement and to self- assess when we are being “manipulative or tokenistic”. It also
encourages us to consider that young people participate in different ways, and for some, just walking through the
door is a major step. Colleagues and young people can use the ladder as a tool to measure the degrees of participation,
and to reflect on ways that we may disempower children or employ methods that are tokenistic or manipulative.
5 | P a g e
Benefits of Participation
The table below sets out the benefits of participation for both young people and the organisation.
Benefits for young people
Benefits for organisations
Learn new skills for employment
Services become more responsive to
•
•
Develop self confidence
the needs of children and young
•
Opportunity to influence decisions
people
•
that affect their lives
Can begin to challenge presumptions
•
Opportunity to influence and
about the needs of children and
•
develop social networks
young people
Feel valued and empowered
Become more accessible to children
•
•
Opportunity to develop better
and young people
•
understanding of how organisations
Become more efficient as they are
•
operate and make decisions
providing a more effective service for
Build resilience and a greater
children and young people
•
understanding of effective
Creating a greater understanding of
•
communication.
the needs of children and young
Children and young people will
people from the view point of
•
benefit from services that are
children and young people.
improved and more responsive to
We are able to target our services
•
their needs. They will have a greater
and resources more effectively with
stake in services that are designed
the guiding insights and involvement
to support them.
of children and young people.
Children and young people will have
We are a learning organisation that
•
•
the opportunity develop a sense of
seeks to continuously improve its
their own rights and responsibilities
promotion of the best outcomes for
as 'citizens'
children; we believe this is best
achieved through asking for feedback
and acting upon it.
Young people's involvement brings
•
fresh perspectives and new ideas
into how services can be delivered.
•
6 | P a g e
Involving children and young people in consultations
Consultation is the process of listening to and gathering children and young people's views. If children and young people give
their free time for consultative purposes, such as: being part of an Interview Panel, contributing to Strategies or giving ideas
to improve practice, then they should be paid for their time and contributions.
Children and young people should not be unduly influenced, coerced or pressured in ways that might prevent them from
freely expressing their opinions or leave them feeling manipulated. It is the duty of the local authority and practitioners to
create creating the right environment where they can freely express themselves.
Our action plan
Our action plan for April 2023 to June 2026 is outlined in Appendix 1. This will also be reviewed yearly to ensure aims and
objectives have been met.
Monitoring actions and performance
Activity will be monitored using the following methods:
Through their allocated workers case file recordings i.e. during visits, phone calls, text messages
Utilisation of the “Mind of My Own” App.
Meeting notes with Independent Reviewing officer/ Conference Chair.
Interviews with parents and children/young people (where they are present at the Child Protection
Conference)
Service user feedback from children/ young people through the case file audit tool and Practice Weeks.
Feedback from families/ professionals after the Child Protection conference (surveys are run three times a
year)
Focus groups
Group work with Care Leavers
Children in Care meeting/group meeting (CiCC)
Activities with the Virtual school
Questionnaires/surveys with children and young people
Youth Council/Youth Parliament meetings/consultations
Complaints – Mind of My own Complaints or Problem Statements
Participation visits with Young People Advisor Pathway Coordinator and Social Workers to young people
Corporate Parenting Panel minutes and reports
Evaluation and Review
This is a three year strategy that will be reviewed will be reviewed annually, involving our stakeholders and young people led
by the Youth Voice and Influence
7 | P a g e
Corporate goal
Responsible
Impact on other Services
and
strategic
Strategy Objective
Project/Actions
Outcomes
Resources
Timescale
Officer(s)
and Organisation
outcome
Mind Of My
All frontline workers will
All frontline staff, including Early
All children and
Contract in place
100 % of Worker
Kim Hills
This objective requires
Own
introduce all children and
Help, Social Workers, Independent
young people have
with Mind of My
accounts set up as
Jane Herbert
significant input from other
young people to either Mind of
Reviewing Officers and Leaving
the
access
and
Own and London
soon as Induction
services and partnership
my Own One or Express (as
Care who are working to support
means
to
Borough of
completed for
Youth
organisations within
appropriate) to allow them to
young people will have their own
communicate with
Havering Council.
new staff.
Participation
Children Services and social
participate and have their
Worker account. Mind of my Own
Children’s Services
service will focus
care teams. Support from
voices heard. To aid the
will form part of induction for new
staff through a safe
100% of frontline
on driving, and
the Senior Leadership Team
practitioner to understand
staff when accounts will set up.
channel.
staff to use.
delivering the
is required to ensure that
young people better, save time
objective.
Mind of My Own is fully
and evidence their views. To
Through their social workers, EH
Training offered on
In line with
embedded I Practice.
respond quickly and effectively
workers, IRO’s Leaving Care i.e.
a regular basis to
practice
to the wishes and needs of the
during visits, phone calls, text
accommodate new
standards, Mind
child, in turn supporting early
messages Utilisation of the “ Mind
staff members and
of my Own
intervention, wellbeing and
of My Own ” App. Completed by
will continue to be
Introduced to
safeguarding.
Looked after Children and children
offered on agendas
child/young
subject to a Child Protection Plan,
throughout.
person at initial
CIN Plan or in Early Help, and the
meeting.
MASH Assessment process.
The Participation team will visit
teams regularly to offer training
and refresher courses.
To
increase
number
of
Through Family Practitioners who
Training offered
statements in order to widen
are undertaking direct work with
to teams on a
the participation of children and
children
drop in basis once
young people.
per month.
Meetings with Independent
To continue the training offer
Reviewing officer/ Conference
Champions
will
Regular visits to
for Mind of My Own - to raise
Chairs
update at team
team meetings as
awareness to continue to liaise
Through attending their
meetings and link
require.
with Mind of My Own account
conference/ review/meetings
with Kim Hills. They
Manager.
will offer training,
Through family meetings held with
provide
statistics
All Champions in
the Early Help Team
and support new
place by
Every team has a Mind of My
workers.
September 2023
Own Champion and all staff
Through an Advocate and
have worker accounts.
Independent Visitors
Increase use of Mind of My Own : to
plan and prepare for reviews.
To continue on
the trajectory of
To support discussions with
increasing the
parents and children/young people
number of
(where they are present at the
statements.
Regular audit undertaken for
Child Protection Conferences)
Every Practice
feedback loop.
Week for Team
Managers
9
To support the young person
Care leavers will be
Increase of 50%
Leaving
Care
leaving care to develop a strong
better prepared for
Staff resources
by September
Care Resources
Input and support from
offer:
sense of themselves and their
Increase participation of our young
adulthood and will
Partnership support
2023.
Team
partners: DWP, Education,
Raise
identity. To provide practical,
people using whole team approach
lead
a
healthy,
and time.
Dean Gordon
Health, Prospects,
aspirations for
social and emotional support;
in promoting events at the Cocoon
happy and fulfilled
Use of the facilities
with at least 90%
Participation team,
young adults
guiding them through education
with young people%
life.
in the Cocoon. Extra
of young people
Systemic team.
and job choices, and supporting
funding for annual
in EET
them to find the right
trip. An extension
accommodation up to the age
Support young people to engage in
of space at the
of 25.
EET.
Cocoon to enable
To accompany the young adults
sport/exercise
with transitions from care to the
sessions.
leaving care service through the
creation
of
co-produced
Arrange case discussions and
At least 5
pathway plans and a bespoke
meetings with EET Lead in LCT
referrals on case
support offer.
(regarding the 10% not in EET)
load by
September 2023.
Attend appointments where
necessary with young person and
Amy from DWP.
Bi monthly
inspirational
Refer young people to Future
speaker either at
Mentors scheme
the Cocoon or
Town Hall such as
we had with
champion boxer
and Shaun
10
Evidence in pathway plans the
Wallace ‘The
raising of young people’s
Chaser’
aspirations (all PP should evidence
this)
Continue to promote free leisure
Respond and challenge racism,
pass for Young Adults to encourage
inequality and discrimination.
improve health and wellbeing.
Every young adult who wishes to
have a leisure pass will be
supported to obtain one.
1 training session
Continue to run football sessions
per year.
on Tuesday evenings as well as
arrange matches against over
teams.
Attend training that will help all
team members to work in a way
that challenges and responds to
Asylum seeking
inequality, racism and
events held
discrimination.
monthly.
Promote workshops or activities at
the Cocoon that help young people
to express their identity needs e.g.
cultural cuisine, come dine with me
international.
Review Local offer
with young
11
Asylum seeking young people
people and revise
group.
by July 2023
Arrange annual
residential trip
Pathway plans to reflect systemic
social graces so issues of race,
gender, sexuality highlighted
acknowledged and supported
within the plans.
Evidence in Pathway Plans and case
notes
Support young person with
complaints process or compliments
Promotion of youth management
forum
Surveys and questionnaires to
improve offer to our young people
Embed systemic practice with young people, professionals and colleagues.
12
Systemic Lead to have systemic surgery at Cocoon when Pod is on duty (bring 1 case to discussion at least monthly) Case discussions, systemic workshops i.e. how to do genograms, asking systemic questions with young people. (demonstrate systemic in case recordings, pathway plans) Attend training available to enhance ability to use systemic practice. Embed systemic language in interactions with young people who visit the Cocoon and on home visits Role play with systemic therapist at Cocoon to improve systemic practice. To introduce an Independent Living Passport (ILP) for our young adults. To undertake an assessment of their independent living skills e.g. cooking a meal on a budget of say £5, using a washing machine, opening a bank account Young adult swill be evaluated by someone from the Cocoon and their allocated worker and receive a certificate and gift on completion. This will also be added as evidence to their Pathway Plan as evidence of learning. This will be added to the leaving care magazine with the
We would aim for every young person to have their ILP by the age of 20 and would use partner
agencies to support the
training of young people in some of the area's i.e. money management.
13
young person's consent to encourage other young people to gain an ILP and evidence their independent living skills.
Systemic Therapist to offer some Anger Management sessions. To include the use of non-contact boxing and counselling in order to support some of the young people who are reluctant to attend mental health sessions.
14
Undertaking of:
Consultation opportunities for
SHOUT survey tailored, with a quick
Designed to enable
Contract in place
Universal Survey
Ian Elliott
The SHOUT and BeeWell
young people to express
turnaround so received data can be
the service to
with Mind of My
completed
Lucy Goodfellow
surveys will inform practice
SHOUT Survey
opinions and views on issues
used to plan and respond to
understand and act
Own and London
December 2022
Jane Herbert
and policy and will form an
that affect them.
children and young people’s
upon what children
Borough of
and repeated
action plan. This will enable
concerns.
and young people
Havering Council.
June 2023.
us to gain a greater
are saying about
understanding of current
Designed to help you understand
their needs, and
Targeted Survey
issues and concerns for
and act upon what children and
their candid
completed April
children and young people
young people are saying about
evaluations of our
2023.
who are accessing services
their needs, and their candid
services. Chosen
Summer 2023: All
(i.e they have a worker) and
evaluations of your services.
from a bank of co-
findings collated,
those who access universal
produced questions
analysed. Action
services. Results reported
Young people from the Youth
on a range of topics
plan created to
to the Safeguarding Board
Council to co-produce and vet
including identity,
respond to
and Heads of Service.
questions. Directed at 2 age ranges.
wellbeing, safety,
information
education, service
received. To form
improvement.
part of the Service
Young People will
Plan in order to
be able to let us
meet identified
know about their
needs.
wellbeing.
Pathway Schools identified and
BeeWell has been
BeeWell Survey
BeeWell is a programme that
London Borough of
BeeWell
This initiative requires
Youth Steering Group will progress
designed to reflect
annually measures the
Havering have a
consultation
support and input from the
the formulation of the questions.
and respond to
wellbeing of young people and
contract in place
undertaken in
senior leadership team,
issues of interest
brings together a coalition of
with BeeWell.
April 2023
schools and the Policy and
and relevance to
Partners from across civil
Schools
Performance team.
15
society to deliver meaningful,
young people
Participation Team.
Results analysed
youth-centred actions as a
today, created
in summer term
result. To ensure that the
through a youth-
of 2023.
wellbeing of children and
centred partnership
young people is enhanced.
with pathfinder
schools. Outcomes
to have a greater
understanding or
mental health
concerns and
emotional
wellbeing for young
people. To respond
to this with a
coordinated action
plan to increase
wellbeing.
Corporate goal
Responsible
Impact on other Services
and
strategic
Strategy Objective
Project/Action
Outcomes
Resources
Timescale
Officer
and Organisation
outcome
Positive
To engage young people in
For young people to
Increased number
Staff, funding,
Every half term,
Lisa Kane and in
Joint partnership across
activities and
positive and participation
join/participate in the following
of young people
myplace,
Easter, Christmas
partnership with
children services
fun experiences
activities
groups: Your Choice, Virtual School
engaging with
equipment
and Summer
the virtual school
Positive
enrichment activities, Youth Clubs,
services.
breaks.
16
activities and
Say it Louder Children in Care
Awards to take
fun
Forum.
place twice per
year in the
Care experienced young people
Summer and
awards
Autumn.
Total Respect
6 young people and then to
Confidence building and training.
Through
Staff, members,
April 2023
Lisa Kane
Taking time for staff to be
cascade.
The opportunity to take part in
understanding of
young people
Jane Herbert
changed, implicating
bespoke training to support them
children rights, to
Kim Hills
change in children services
Care experience young people
to hone the skills that will enable
explore
from age 11 upwards
them to use their voice and
assumptions of
influence. The opportunity to
young people who
influence decision making with the
are care
appointment of staff.
experienced and
learning about how
to involving young
people with care
planning and policy
development.
Young people trained to form
October 2023
part of Interview Panels for
roles within Children’s Services.
YJS response to
Response to the over
To take a trauma informed position
Improved
Staff and
Ongoing
Steve Andrews
Jointly across partnerships
disproportional
representation of black boys in
when supporting children and
partnership
Practitioner.
and Sophia
and children services.
ity as part of
custody – in 2019/20 this was
young people from the global
arrangements with
Tonge.
Wider IASS, CSC and
ensuring that
71% for B A M E children from a
majority
global majority
Education colleagues,
young people
census population of 16%.
Practitioners to encourage and
groups in order to
B.A.M.E forum.
from the Black
support children and young people
17
and Global
to engage in activities delivered by
understand needs
Majority (BGM)
Youth and Participation team.
better.
have their
voices heard,
To fully recognise the “power of
Prioritising
and to hold a
the first utterance” and how initial
establishing a
“child first,
meetings/interventions set the
rapport with
offender
tone for the duration of the
children and young
second”
relationship.
prescribed youth
position .
engagement
To actively listen to what children
activities. Outcomes
and young people are telling us
will be improved
about their lived experiences. To
through excellent
use language that makes sense to
relationship based
them. Support children and young
practice and though
people to identify barriers that are
consideration of
preventing them desisting criminal
social graces.
activity.
Trusted adults to be
invited to
Take the lead from children and
collaborate in
young people as to how they want
intervention
to be worked with.
planning; offer
financial
To address and explore how BGM
assessment to
children experience services. To
understand the
analyse the impact and respond to
impact of poverty
findings.
and practical
support needs with
focus on promoting
safety and stability
18
Ensure that definitions of ethnicity
at home. Early
are consistent, specific and is
collaboration with
routinely recorded in all cases.
any CSC or EHS
intervention plan
Disproportionality is a standing
could be integral.
item on agendas.
To challenge and explore
misdiagnosis or lack of early
identification of SEN and additional
needs. To be aware of the link
between exclusions and
undiagnosed SEN. Not to use terms
like ‘bad behaviour’ or ‘behavioural
problems, but rather to understand
the root cause. To challenge
inappropriate and oppressive
language.
To support and listen to the
concerns of Parents worried about
their child attending a PRU or AP’s.
Awareness of links to criminal
activity.
To recognise the links to exclusions
/ punishments and how children
disengaging with school have more
19
unsupervised time in the
community.
Case
To better gather and record
To use clear and non-jargonistic
Children and young
Liquid Logic
Continually.
Tara Geere
Time needed to be
Recordings and
children and young people’s
language.
people will have a
database
Audits of cases to
Senior Leadership
allocated to write and
views to reflect their lived
better care
be undertaken
Team
record better notes.
experience, in their own words.
Imagine how you would feel if
experience if their
Pens, Paper,
twice per year to
To capture their views, wishes
someone was writing about your
recordings are
cameras
assess quality of
and feelings and to see through
life.
strength based,
recordings.
their lens. To actively avoid the
positive and
use of discriminatory
To ensure the voice of the child is
sensitive.
judgemental and deficit
loud and clear in all recordings.
language. To be constantly
Ensuring that their
mindful that when they are
To link recordings to Mind of My
voices are loud and
adults, they have a right to
Own.
clear strengthens
access their notes and to
the relationship
acknowledge the impact this
To use pictures, pen pictures,
between worker
can have – positive and
stories and letters created with
and child/young
negative.
children and young people. For
person.
example: “Dear John I came to visit
you today and was so glad to see
20
you and hear you were doing very
Article 12 of the
well in school”.
UNCRC states that:
Every child has the
To write recordings in the form of a
right to express
“letter”.
their views, feelings
and wishes in all
To locate problems as problems ,
matters affecting
not the child or young person as a
them and to have
problem.
their views
considered and
To be mindful and sensitive when
taken seriously .
describing events/actions that
involve parents and family
members.
To remember that this is the child
or young person’s story of events.
It may be the only memory and
bibliography a child has.
If possible include photographs as
part of life story work.
Always embed Unconditional
Positive Regard.
Challenging
To explore and respond to the
To collect and examine data
Children and young
All staff that work
All children and
All staff
All services and partners.
disproportional
London data stating that
collected regarding children from
people receive a
with children and
young people’s
Social Care
ity
Children of Mixed White and
the global majority who are
service that is anti-
young people are a
CP, CIN and
Academy
Black Caribbean ethnicity were
accessing services (who have a
discriminatory.
resource.
Pathway plans
21
Improve
around 30% more likely than
Child Protection Plan, or a Child in
acknowledge and
outcomes for
White British children to have a
Need Plan) in order to ascertain if
celebrate the
children and
child protection plan following
their experience is different from
ethnicity of the
young people
a referral.
their white counterparts. To
child/young
from the global
undertake regular case audits in
person. This is
majority.
Children from almost every
order to
reflected in case
other ethnic group were less
To continue to have robust
notes and other
likely to have a child protection
conversations about race and
recordings.
plan following a referral
ensure that there is regular training
compared to White British
to challenge unconscious bias. To
children. Children from Black
embed anti-discriminatory practice
ethnic groups were most likely
using systemic ideas of equality and
to have multiple periods as a
social graces .
looked-after child.
Race equality is addressed
Children and young people have
alongside other discrimination,
the opportunity to talk/write about
and there is a commitment to
their personal stories about race.
working towards being an anti-
racist organisation.
Disproportionality is a standing
All specific
All staff trained in the systemic
item on agendas.
A yearly audit
Participation
Participatory
social grace paradigm in order
undertaken by
Team.
Activities and
to critically explore social
Participation
Forums support
difference and privileges.
team to ensure
the
activities are
engagement of
attractive and
children and
welcoming to
young people
22
from the global
BGM young
majority.
people.
Increase and
To engage young people in
To develop real opportunities for
Young people have
Staff
Ongoing
Jane Herbert
Positive change, greater
improve the
positive and participation
co-production and co-evaluation
their voices heard
resources/Training
Anais Edwards
understanding of young
Participation
activities
leading to service improvement.
and can offer
Communication
Anita Sangha
people living in our
offer for
To work across services: Youth
challenge where
tools.
community who have SEND
children and
Services, CAD service (CAD social
required.
and to help support young
young people
care, Assessment and Placement
Use of advocates /
people to embed changes
with SEND an
and 5- 19 team’s) Special Needs
Police are taking
IV / mentors where
in our services. To ensure
additional
Schools and mainstream school s
the concerns of
appropriate.
their voices are heard.
needs.
that have ASD units to undertake
young people
and audit to ascertain what
seriously.
methods / communication tools
are currently being employed to
Underrepresented
enable the engagement of children
group have their
and young people in participatory
voices heard in
and co-production activities. Are
ways that are
voices being heard?
appropriate to
To create opportunities for
them.
children and young people to
express their views that are
Current services
creative and innovative, and
evidence
appropriate to their learning
improvements
styles and communication needs.
made by listening
to views.
To receive and then cascade
training on how to not
23
disempower SEND children and
To better capture
young people.
achievements of
young people who
To observe provisions and
are SEND.
programmes that are currently
being delivered in order to
A better informed
identify how improvements could
workforce.
be made to capture the views and
Y
voice of the child/young person.
To celebrate the successes of
SEND and neuro diverse children
and young people.
To work with the Youth Council to
improve the voice of SEND
children and young people in this
setting.
To source specific/tailor made
training.
Methods of engagement need to
be differentiated in order to ensure
cognisance and so as many children
and young people as possible can
take part in a meaningful way.
24
To create a specific action plan
based on these findings.
Advocacy and
10% of all LBH’s children in care
The Advocacy and Independent
10% more children
Trained Volunteers.
10% increase by
Rachel Lythe
A positive and lasting
Independent
population will have an
Visitor service to promote the offer
and young people
Coordination from
March 2024.
impact on the lives and
Visitors:
Independent Visitor to reflect
on a quarterly basis at all Youth
will have an
LBH Officer.
outcomes for children and
national standards.
Influence and Participation groups,
Independent
young people in our care.
so that young people understand
Visitor. To act as a
Children and young people
their rights and access to statutory
friend, listen, give
are aware of their rights
services.
advice and take
and have advocates to
part in activities
ensure their voices are
with the young
heard. Their care
person. Visits take
experienced is improved.
place every two –
three weeks and for
18 months or
longer if needed. To
contribute to the
child’s social,
emotional and
educational
development.
The Advocacy
Service provides
representation at
meetings and
forums, making
25
sure the voice of a
child or young
person is heard
when decisions are
being made about
their care.
The potential to
Development and
Corporate Parent Takeover, Youth
For young people
Staff, building,
Two Corporate
IASS, Wider
Positive change, greater
enrich and
implementation of The Pledge
Management Team, Children in
living in Havering to
equipment
Parent Takeovers
children services,
understanding of young
influence
and to offer the wider
Care Council: Say it Louder Forum,
have the
per year:
Petra Schmidt,
people living in our
decision making
community of young people of
Young Inspectors, being part of
opportunity to be
February and
Youth service and
community and to help
processes
Havering to shape our service
interview panels for key positions;
part of civic life.
November.
participation and
support young people to
and their voices to be heard
participation on the Safer
democratic
embed changes in our
and listen too. As outlined in
Neighbourhood Board and Youth
Introduction to
services
services.
‘Article 12’
Justice Board; the opportunity to
Systemic Practice
be consulted on key issues of the
delivered to
day, such as stop and search,
Members once
disproportionality, women’s rights
per year.
and safety, LGBTQI rights and
safety; work experience
Pledge to be
opportunities for post 16 via the
reviewed and
Virtual School and the Leaving Care
amended yearly.
Service
Increase
Increase contact and
Intel gathered from Policy and
Children and young
Participation team
Monthly catch
Jane Herbert
The organisation will be
contact and
opportunities with young
Performance team. Identify
people will feel
and CSC.
ups. Regional
Lisa Kane
fulfilling its duty to children
opportunities
people placed out of Borough,
cluster areas. To set up an online
better supported by
online sessions
and young people living
with young
with out of borough care
meeting initially to ascertain
LBH and have more
termly.
outside of the Borough.
people placed
experience young people
views, build relationships and
opportunities to
out of Borough
plan potential activities. To
engage.
26
encourage children and young
Every child and
people to use “ Mind of My Own
young person to
have a Mind of
my Own account
Liaise with Data analyst
by September
in order to identify
2023.
children and young
people.
Organise opportunities
to meet up, either in
person, by location, or
virtually.
To set up and “out of
borough” Care Council
Offer.
To support children and
young people to use
Mind of My Own.
Target – youth
To engage young people in
Havering Youth Council need to
The Youth Council
Participation team.
Number of young
Jane Herbert
A wider number of children
council cross
positive and participation
become more representative and
will have the
Education.
people from
Kim Hills
and young people will have
borough
activities. To widen
to engage the wider cohort of
opportunity to
targeted groups
the opportunity to engage
consultation.
participation.
children and young people. To
engage more young
increased by 30%
in civic life. This insight will
use the results of the “Make Your
people and gain
by September
help shape the
Increase
Mark” survey as a toll of
citizen insight in
2023.
organisation. der
contact and
engagement. To contact all
order to set
opportunities
Student Voice/School Councils as
priorities, plan work
with young
another way of gaining insight
and respond to
people by the
and engagement.
issues
Havering
27
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