‘relative experience’ project launch

‘Relative Experience’ Project Launch

Thursday 14th February 2013

Welcome from the Chair

Lyn BoydCEO, Mental Health North East

Introduction of the Relative Experience Project

Sam SmethersCEO, Grandparents Plus

What do children in kinship care need?

Jenny McKenna - Project Officer, Relative Experience Project

Pam Purvis- Kinship carer Stella Price- Kinship carer

Kinship carers and children in the North East of England

Sue Robson - Peer Researcher and Co-Founder of More than Grandparents

Lindsey Henderson-

Carers’ Drug and Alcohol Network Coordinator, First Contact Clinical

First Contact Clinical

Kinship Carers and children in the North East of England

Influencing Local Authority policies and improving service responses to their identified needs


Outline of presentation• Who we are• Where we started• More than grandparents Sunderland• Action research project• What we have found out • Where we are going and how you can join

us


Who we are• Sue Robson –Peer researcher and founder

member More than Grandparents with Kate Conqueror

• Lindsay Henderson – Carers’ Drug and Alcohol Network Coordinator First Contact Clinical


Sunderland action research pilot – Supported by Sunderland Carers Centre and DAAT


Where we started• Born out of peer support/ mentoring

relationship between two grandparents• Parallel experiences 14 years apart –

questioning what had changed?• No-one else should have our experience• Embarked upon a pilot action research –

led by and for kinship carers


Loss of self, isolation, fear,

uncertainty and feelings of powerlessness

Family

Health

CaringLack of support Lack of

knowledge

Economic

SocialThe vicious circle – difficulties faced by kinship carers in Sunderland


What we achieved• Partnership with Children’s Services to help

develop Friend and Family Care Policy and action plan to improve services

• Information leaflet for new kinship carers in Sunderland

• Funding from by DAAT, Greggs Charitable Trust and Christ’s Hospital in Sherburn


More than Grandparents (Sunderland)

Independent support and campaigning network with a focus upon grandparents who are caring for children as a result of parental drug and alcohol misuse.


What is important to us


Emotional support during meetings & support from other kinship carers

I am not alone any more, the support, the advice, the friendship have been a great source of help and encouragement for me

Meeting up with this group was a god send to me. I know I can pick up the phone and speak to someone


nOutings for children


Information sharing and awareness raising• The exchange of information and views was

very thought provoking…a feeling of friendship radiated the room.

• A great event and really showed the power of bringing kinship carers and professionals together to build better understanding


Fun?!!!


Future priorities• Advice on what to tell children about their

situation• Help with children’s emotional and

behavioural problems • Managing contact with parents• Looking after ourselves • Understanding tough love


Peer Based Research project

Funded by the Big Lottery and supported by:

•VONNE’s Policy and Representation Partnership•SOTW Carers’ Drug and Alcohol Network (CDAN)

Influencing Local Authority policies and improving service responses to Kinship carers’ identified

needs.


About the research• 1 year project till end June 2013• Focus upon grandparents who are in kinship

arrangements due to parental substance misuse or addiction

• Train carers from CDAN to carry out research using First Contact Clinical’s Peer Based Researcher training programme

• South of Tyne and Wear (SoTW) case study


Research questions• What is the extent of the kinship care?• What types of supports and services are

needed? • Does the LA policy and practice support

grandparents and children?• What support services and good practice

examples exist and where are the gaps?


What we want to happen• LAs recognise Kinship Carer needs and reflect

research findings in policy (SoTW)• Stronger partnership working developed• Research process recognised as good practice • Contribution to national lobbying• Support networks created in SoTW• CDAN carers gain research skills and confidence


Emerging findings


Local and national policy• Despite a statutory requirement 38% (5) of

local authorities in NE did not have a Family and Friends carers policy in place

• In NE the only robust consultation is within Sunderland (pilot action research) – this has national recognition

• Changing national policy landscape e.g. 26 week limit and Legal Aid limitations


Gaps in support• Kinship Carers in Northumberland, Tyneside

and parts of Teesside• Dearth of specialist support in South

Tyneside and Gateshead• No recognition in own right by Carers’

Centres locally or nationally• No consistency of financial support


Barriers and difficulties

• Difficult to make contact with kin-carers other than through existing networks

• 5 PBRs trained but impact of own caring roles affected availability

• No regional forum for collective approach to influence policy and practice


Quote from a research participant

“If all of us grandparents put all of the grandchildren on the doorsteps of social services, just for one day, they would not know what to do; they would be inundated with children. I don’t think they really know how many children are being looked after. There is not the emotional support there and there is not the financial support – there is definitely not.”


What can you do?• Put us in touch with SoTW kinship carers• Spread the word about the research• Share good practice• Come to events about the research findings• Do research to influence policy where you are• Partnerships to influence regionally & nationally• Galvanise, work with us and campaign!!!


To find out more• More than Grandparents

• Kate Conqueror - email: [email protected] - telephone 0191 5493768

• Peer Based Research Project• Sue Robson, email: [email protected],

telephone 0781310921• Lindsay Henderson - Tel: 0191 4274711, email

[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]



Supporting kinship carers: policies and practices of North Tyneside Council

Cath McEvoySafeguarding Operations Manager,

North Tyneside Council

Kinship Arrangements within

North Tyneside

Cath McEvoy

Safeguarding Operations Manager

North Tyneside Context

• Child Population 40,000

• Looked After Children: 260-290

• Child Protection: 140-160

• Child in Need: 500

North Tyneside EthosChildren & young people should, whenever possible be placed with family members or connected persons

• Children feel part of a family unit

• Children maintain a sense of identity

• Children feel loved and cared for

• Children able to maintain contact with family and friends

• Placement stability

Private Arrangements

• Informal agreements• No legal arrangements• Unknown situations• Private fostering

Formal Arrangements

• Residence Orders: 57 cases: 74 children

• Special Guardianship Order: 44 children

• Connected Person Foster Carers: 31 cases: 46 children

SGO figures2010-2011 47 screening assessments

19 orders granted

2011-2012 21 screening assessments12 orders granted

2012-2013 48 screening assessments14 orders granted

Connected Persons

2009-2010 24 approvals 43 screenings



2012 22 approvals 47 screenings

Process

• Policy• Assessment• Identification of support• Training

Examples of Support• Therapeutic input for grandparents• Building renovations• Nursery provision / child care• FGC• Transport costs• Advice / Guidance

Future Developments

• Review of policy• Life Story work• Feedback survey

Q&A and Discussion

Thank you!

Please fill in the feedback form.

‘relative experience’ project launch

Documents