The Care Experience Debate is the culmination of a month-long public exhibition at The Corn Hall of the art, poetry and writings of Paul Yusuf McCormack.
The exhibition has attracted very wide interest and the purpose of the Care Experience Debate is to examine critically what needs to be done to ensure that children and young people who are experiencing, or leaving public care, are kept safe and continue to be supported.
The public exhibition of Paul Yusuf’s work, supported by the Norfolk Virtual School with contributions of artwork and poems from young people currently experiencing public care or its impact, was launched with an initial recital of music song and poetry reading to over 50 invited guests, including civic leaders.
The Care Experience Debate will be made up of:
i. Key note speaker: Chris Wild - author, care home consultant, government adviser, national youth adviser for young people, charity patron and passionate advocate and campaigner
ii. A panel of individuals with lived experience in care, as workers, trainers, managers
iii. Questions, challenges and practice examples with audience participation and examples.
The debate will draw out challenges, including professional practice, processes and systems, personal experience and the need for training, development and support – all directed towards ways of promoting positive progress and motivation for all those present.
We will debate key themes:
· What gets in the way of good practice · What works well · So what about me. What can I do · How will we know if we have made a difference
Parts of the event will be videoed. This will be available for anyone to use for individual team or staff engagement. It will promote positive experiences to improve practice while recognising that challenges need to be tackled and overcome. At the end of the debate all those present will be invited to summarise up to 4 of their own development goals or aspirations.
The role of the panel is not to give answers but will, from their own experiences, give breadth, depth and challenge to the discussion. A digest of the main issues discussed will be prepared for a national professional press release and news sheets. The exhibition material, the recital and the approach to the Care Experience Debate will be fine-tuned following this initial programme with a view to it being rolled out in various forms as a part of other national and regional workshops and seminars.
Panel Members
Sam Nash - Sam personally experienced living in care and knows exactly what leaving care really means. Sue Hobbs - Sue Hobbs is a qualified social worker with many years experience as a practitioner and manager. Sue has experience of national involvement working for government departments particularly in relation to young people leaving care. Sue was born in a Children's Home before being placed with an adoptive family.
Kate Dexter - Kate Dexter is the assistant director for care experienced children and young people for Norfolk County Council. She had over 20years experience of working with children and care leavers. She is passionate about their life opportunities and works to raise awareness to improve how young people can access services when they are most needed.
Christine Cocker - Dr Christine Cocker is a Professor in Social Work and Head of School at the University of East Anglia, Norwich, and a qualified social worker. Prior to academia Christine practiced in child and family social work. She continues to have strong links with practice as an independent member of a Local Authority Fostering Permanence Panel and as the Independent Chair for a Local Authority’s Children’s Academy. Her research and publications are in the area of social work with looked after children, LGBT+ issues in social work, and Transitional Safeguarding
Chris Wild – Main Speaker. Author of Damaged and The State of It The panel will be chaired by Ian Winter CBE, a former senior civil servant and Director of Social Services who grew up in the care system from the age of three.
CPD All those attending will be able to have a note of their attendance that they may use as part of their own CPD portfolio and personal development.
Kinder Shores Charity: Kinder Shores is a small charitable organisation that uses the arts to raise awareness of the real lives of children and young people in the care system and beyond into their adult lives.
https://www.kindershores.org/
If you have access issues, please contact the Box Office on 01379 652241 to complete your booking. This will enable us to ensure that your visit is as comfortable and safe as possible. For fire safety reasons we are limited on the number of wheelchairs we can accommodate at a performance. For this reason, wheelchair spaces should be reserved in advance to avoid disappointment.
