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GROWING EXPECTATIONS
The
Social Services North West Children’s Issues Conference Tuesday 24 September 2002 Platinum
Suite, Reebok Stadium, Bolton CONFERENCE REPORTSocial Services North West broke a new record when 100 delegates enrolled for this major conference. In opening the conference, Councillor Cliff Morris (Bolton), Chair of Social Services North West welcomed the strong representation from NHS organizations and the education sector, along with many members and officers from Social Services Departments across the North West. Acknowledging that children have fewer rights than others in our society, Councillor Morris said: "Increasingly their voices are being heard, and indeed young people are represented here today to share their views and concerns with you. This conference is designed to put children's best interests centre stage, acknowledging the 'growing expectation' that maximizing the quality of services provided encourages the healthy development of tomorrow's citizens." The keynote speech was given by Professor Al Aynsley-Green, Chair of the Children’s Taskforce and National Clinical Director for Children. Entitling his presentation The Children’s National Service Framework –A real opportunity to improve the lives of others, Professor Aynsley-Green stressed the need for partnership at every level to achieve benefit for children. He acknowledged that in children's services, there is a great deal that is very good, but said that the impact of poverty on children's health was a major challenge for us all. He examined key messages from the Kennedy Report, and stressed the need for Children's Champions as the key to getting change. He then described the work in progress on the National Service Framework for Children, which will set out some key standards. In the new local organisational structures, children should be a focus - now! Children need to be seen at the heart of local and national policy and practice - advocating for them is more necessary than ever. Click here to go to the transcription of Prof Aynsley-Green's presentation Click here to send an email to request the Powerpoint file: put 'AAG PPT' as the subject The next presentation was on Bolton’s integrated services short break care for children with physical disabilities. Jan Hutchinson, Director of Public Health, Bolton and Lynne Jones, Assistant Director Children and Families introduced the presentation, outlining Bolton's track record of effective partnership working for children. Children's Rights Officer Mandy Naylor described how she conducted the consultation with the children, their families and the staff. Members of the Parents Group Lynne Cowley and Joanne Gibbons shared their perspective on the services they and their children received, and on the Parent Advisory Group. Elizabeth Mannion, Principal Officer for Disabilities, Bolton Social Services described the model of integrated commissioning which is now being developed. Click here to go to the transcription of Bolton's presentation Click here to send an email to request the Powerpoint file: put 'Bolton PPT' as the subject Then Martin Hazlehurst, Assistant Director of First Key, the National Leaving Care Advisory organisation introduced a presentation on Young People Leaving Care by describing the role and activities of A National Voice. Its aim is to give young people a real voice in influencing how the care system treats them by creating opportunities for them to contribute to both the national and local debate about the care system. The major impact of this session came from a group of young people from A National Voice North West Regional Forum, who through a forceful drama and individual speeches, conveyed a strong message of what it felt like to be 'in care', and what their own hopes and aspirations were for the future. Click here to go to the transcription of the Young People Leaving Care presentation The enigmatic title Ducks don’t shop in Sainsbury’s was chosen by Ken Campbell, Implementation Team Advisor for the education of looked after children, Department for Education and Skills. Ken described his team's remit to assist local authorities to implement the Guidance on the Education of Young People in Public Care. He examined specific important elements of the Guidance and demonstrated how the work of the Implementation Team addresses these issues. Amie Proudman representing A National Voice made another powerful pitch about the need for education to be of high quality and relevant to the needs of young people looked after, and for young people to be valued and encouraged to progress to the limit of their potential. Then she read the poem which gave the session its title. Click here to go to the transcription of Ken and Aimee's presentation Click here to send an email to request the Powerpoint file: put 'KC PPT' as the subject In the final session, entitled Developing Children’s Services in the North West, Jean Daintith, Director of Social Services, Stockport, outlined the key issues for Directors of Social Services in the North West. She spoke about the major current developments at national level and then the work of the Quality Protects Regional Reference Group and the region’s development agenda for children’s services. The latter was being taken forward by four task groups: children in need/ social inclusion; commissioning; human rersources; and child protection. She finished by outlining the future challenges which must be addressed in terms of resources, structures and recruitment and retention of staff. Click here to go to the transcription of Jean Daintith's presentation Click here to send an email to request the Powerpoint file: put 'JD PPT' as the subject
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