Tweet

@CareLeavers

More from @IDickson258

Ian Dickson

@IDickson258

25 Jan

1. I spoke to Josh McAlister today. He told me that the DfE terms of reference for Review, which only make a passing reference to supporting children leaving care and care leavers, were only guidance. He fully intends to include care experienced people of all ages in Review >

2. Josh McAlister said that he intends to issue much more detailed guidance once in post in March & will seek to reach out to care experienced people of all ages, wherever they are, in all their diversity. That's very reassuring indeed. Looking at ways now how this might be done.

3. Josh MacAlister accepted that the information on the web site about the interviews for Experts of Experience wasn't good enough. He was clear that he does not intend that care experienced people should be interviewed at all about their life in care.>

Read 10 tweets

Ian Dickson

@IDickson258

24 Nov 20

'Bad parent': children's watchdog to accuse state of care failings in England theguardian.com/society/2020/n…

"(Anne Longfield) will call for children to be more involved in the decisions made about their care, and will challenge politicians to do more than simply apply a sticking plaster to a system in crisis." At last!

"...there are children the system really struggles to accommodate. “It treats them as a risk to be managed, not a life to be lived. Despite the best efforts of some staff, these children can experience a system devoid of empathy, compassion and love.”

Read 4 tweets

Ian Dickson

@IDickson258

23 Nov 20

So many issues arising from this... Examining how the Care Review should work cypnow.co.uk/blogs/article/…

1. Of course professionals & care experienced people must work together towards a care review. Everybody would want that. But they must start from a position of respected equals, who have equal say, but equals who do not share the same priorities or necessarily ambition >

2. The Scottish care Review did not happen simply because Nicola Surgeon decided one day it would happen. The happened following relentless pressure over a long time from Scottish care experienced people & Who Cares? Scotland. They convinced Nicola as she will tell you herself>

Read 12 tweets

Ian Dickson

@IDickson258

20 Nov 20

1. A hobby horse of mine, but 'careleavers" are still often viewed as best represented by articulate professional (usually young) adults, often graduates, who have emerged from care to do well professionally, often in a health or social care profession. I was one of these too >

2. "Care" is usually viewed as foster care, particularly as most young people in care are fostered, with a nod of recognition that perhaps the less fortunate may be in children's homes. Representation of children in care on councils, etc tends to come from those in foster care>

3. Sometimes using children in foster care locally to represent children in care happens for practical reasons given these kids are not placed miles from home & are often the most willing to engage with professionals.The others often remain silent & unheard>

Read 13 tweets

Ian Dickson

@IDickson258

9 Nov 20

1. Another thread of my rambling reflections about the politics of the care experience going back to the 50's to the present day. >

2. As I have said, the 50's/60's were brutally savage with violence towards kids routine across care. No complaints procedures, no advocacy, no pressure groups. Stigma, discrimination, feelings of abandonment, homelessness, etc etc >

3. I was in the job throughout the 70's until I retired in the noughties. I've been around the care system for almost 70yrs & must have seen 100's of care settings & spoke to 1000's of care experienced people. I've watched or taken part in care leaver politics most of my life >

Read 11 tweets

Ian Dickson

@IDickson258

6 Nov 20

1. I find "co-production" an interesting term when trotted out by care professionals. It can translate as including 1 or 2 carefully selected & poorly informed young people in care in focus groups to validate decision making by professionals. This can also be called "tokenism">

2. "Co-production" must evolve from those with power introducing mechanisms to engage & consult the care experienced community of all ages in all their diversity in policy & decision making, & ensuring through transparent respectful education that the community is well informed >

3. We need to have healthy & clear mechanisms nationally & locally for decision makers to engage the care community as equal partners,, not just using a few selected kids in care or careleavers to validate corporate decision making. We've had that for years >

Read 6 tweets

Share this page!

Ian Dickson

Try unrolling a thread yourself!

More from @IDickson258

Ian Dickson

Ian Dickson

Ian Dickson

Ian Dickson

Ian Dickson

Ian Dickson

Did Thread Reader help you today?

Like this author's thread?