This group represents Knowsley’s Child in Care Council and brings together children from across the service to discuss matters that affect them, children who are cared for as well as children who are residents of Knowsley.
MADE meet twice a month to have meetings, work on team building and participate in activities. Group meeting agendas are organic and child-led with a youth focus to help create a relaxed and informal setting for those involved.
Staff members and the participation and engagement officer help to facilitate a positive, solution-focused, safe space for the children to join in, grow in confidence and esteem and become empowered to share their views and to socialise with other children within the setting.
Participation and engagement of children and young adults across CSC also include:
- Ensuring that children have a clear voice in their reviews, including supporting young people to chair their own reviews
- Ensuring children are communicated with clearly and effectively through the revision of documentation and ensuring the correct communication methods are used, i.e., interpreters and the revision of child focussed care plans, etc
- MADE Together shapes strategic planning through focus groups, proofreading, surveys and sharing direct experiences
- Participation standards self-assessments and actions are used by CSC teams through their participation champions to keep children and young adults’ participation and engagement high on the agenda
- Care experienced people co-delivering training, i.e., for commissioned services, across CSC and across university sites to social work students
- Partnership provision of free leisure passes for our cared-for children and cared experienced people (until the age of 21)
- Care experienced people sitting on planning groups for events and strategies to embed their voice in the planning of service opportunities and events
- Care experienced people sitting on interview panels for new staff wishing to work within children’s social care
- Adults who have experienced adoption and care experiences sit on the fostering panel to offer different perspectives to panel