Experts in Family Group Conferencing - · PDF filecommunity agencies to provide Family Group...

1

of 7 Autumn/Winter 2 0 1 2 Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

• Daybreak’s ‘Oscars’?

• Message from Marilyn

• Accredited Training

• Great News

• Coordinator Award

• Ask Charity

• Give as you live

• Elisabeth

• Sara Taylor

• New trustee

• European Network

• Up in the clouds

• Spreading the Daybreak message

• Guardian Charity of the year

Daybreak FGC works with statutory, voluntary and community agencies to provide Family Group Conferences for children, vulnerable adults and families.

Daybreak provides wide ranging and specialist training and consultancy about Family Group Conferences and domestic violence and abuse.

Daybreak’s ‘Oscars’? Everyone involved in Daybreak knows the work we do is award winning stuff! We may not have officially won any yet……or have we? Our very own Marilyn Taylor, CEO, was nominated and short listed as a finalist for the Wessex Charity 2012 awards as CEO of the year. Marilyn was unable to attend the event, hosted by David Gower, former England cricketer, as she was on her holidays, however, her son was prepared to act on her behalf and many more of us went along in support. We had a great evening of entertainment, food and drink, the only complaint was there just was not enough white wine for us all!!! Oh well, onto the red…! There was a lot of tough competition and unfortunately Marilyn didn’t win, and as disappointed as we are, we still feel that the nomination is recognition enough of the amazing work she does! But, all is not lost, because as if one nomination is not enough, Marilyn was also nominated as one the five finalists for the Guardian Public Servant of the Year Award 2012 too!

This was down to the members of the public to vote for their preferred winner.

I may as well throw in that Daybreak is a finalist in the Guardian Charity Awards 2012 too! See Catherine’s article on page 7

L-R clockwise Kate Cable, Becky Taylor, Tim Taylor, Helena, Lawrence Greenberg, Linda Tapper, Alison Powney, Cathrine Hasted, Lis Gohrisch, Zed Wolde-Lule

Newsletter Experts in Family Group Conferencing

2

of 7

The last few months have been an eventful time for Daybreak. I must first acknowledge and thank everyone for working so hard and being so committed to enabling Daybreak to both achieve savings and enhance our income. Our financial position is now much improved, and this could not have been achieved without the support of everyone involved with Daybreak. We need to continue on this course if we are to ensure our income matches our expenditure, but we are well on the way, thanks to your efforts.

I am delighted to say that this year’s students on our accredited coordinator training have all passed the course, and received their certificate from Max Bullough, deputy chair of our Board, at a celebration ceremony on 26th September. Two students on this course have flown down from Edinburgh for each unit, which seems to indicate how well our training is regarded. This training has incorporated our eighth and newest unit on vulnerable adults, which has evoked much interest nationally and internationally. Linda Tapper as the second trainer, and designer of this last unit, has been particularly involved this year. Thanks to Alison Powney, our lead trainer and to Linda for all their hard work and commitment to this course. Fingers crossed, all our FGC programmes are progressing well, and are likely to continue in 2012 – 2013, as far as we can predict at this time. Some of this has certainly been influenced by reduction in costs and/or expansion in provision. We have now implemented and expanded our Senior Practitioner post in the Wessex/Wiltshire programme (from 2 to 4 days), and are now about to recruit and appoint the 2 senior practitioner posts in Worcestershire (half time). These 3 posts are part of the agreed development of these programmes. The Worcestershire posts will all be advertised shortly and will be more widely promoted. You may have seen that we are revising our logo and all promotional material. Catherine has worked exceptionally hard on this. The revamped logo makes use of the “new ways to look at an old problem” picture of a girl hanging from a branch, and will standardise our promotion. Catherine has been asked by the Guardian to write a blog, which is very exciting, and reflects how skilled she is in developing the range of ways in which we get our message across about FGCs. I am very pleased with the way Daybreak is now positively involving volunteers in our work. At this time, this is mainly as advocates for children and young people, which will soon include vulnerable adults, but also some people are involved with administration, and with offers of help with fetching and carrying. Some volunteers have also helped coordinators at the beginning of a meeting, freeing the coordinator to concentrate on challenging issues at this point of the process. This inclusion of volunteers is very much in line with central government policy, and also how local authorities perceive the added value that Daybreak can provide. It certainly boosts our applications for funding and for tenders. Alison is now taking a lead in the management and support of this initiative.

A Message from Marilyn

3

of 7

Congratulations to our Trail Blazing Learners By Alison Powney

We have now completed the second course of Coordinatior Accreditation which included the additional Vulnerable Adult module which Linda (Tapper) worked hard to put together and get accredited in time for delivery. This was a great group to work with from January right through to July. The commitment to the learning and assignments was admirable and learner feedback about their experience of the course information and contents greatly received. It was great that Daybreak's Deputy Chair of our Board Max Bullough was able to take time out of his busy schooling day to attend and present the well earned certificates at the Presentation Lunch at Wells Place, Eastleigh on the 26th September. This presentation saw us Skyping two of our learners so although they could not be with us physically (Scotland is a long way to come from for a lunchtime event!!), they were still able to be virtually presented with their certificates - thanks to Mary Macleod and Lorraine McKillop for taking part with us. So once again, congratulations to all who successfully completed this course you worked hard and did brilliantly!! (In the picture L-R Dennis McGarthy; Chris Finlay, Alex Baldwin, Trisha Martin, Max Bullough;Karen Mason;Mary Read;Bob Finlay;Jane Reardon)

Great News!

We have got some 3 year funding in West Sussex to do a pilot project of using FGCs with young carers. We will do 15 referrals between now and the end of March ’13 and this will then increase during the following 2 years. The programme will be managed as an extension of the current child welfare programme. Exciting news for us all.

MARK AUSTIN Nominated by Richard Chalmers

Over the last couple of months Mark has responded to several urgent referrals which has involved a significant amount of travel and time away from his

home and Family.

Mark has dealt well with this challenge, ensuring that the Families referred are fully involved with the FGC process. He has also planned his visits very carefully in order to minimize the travel and accommodation costs, which has helped a great deal in ensuring that the programmes he is working for stay on track with their budgeting.

Well done and thank you Mark.

And the Outstanding Coordinator Award goes to:

4

of 7

If you haven’t heard already, you can go shopping and raise £5 for Daybreak! This is a great way to support Daybreak FGC at no extra cost to you! With Give as you Live, thousands of brands including Amazon, Play.com, John Lewis and Expedia have signed up to donate a percentage of every purchase you make online to us. All at no cost to you and no cost to us! The average shopper will raise £2.10 per month through what they already buy online. Simply visit: http://www.giveasyoulive.com/join/daybreak

and discover Give as you Live today. Just sign up to start spending! In addition to the £2.10 raised per month, Give as you Live will donate an additional £5 to us once you spend £10 or more through Give as you Live.

Give as you live

Have you seen our new Logo?Have you seen our new Logo?Have you seen our new Logo?Have you seen our new Logo? Daybreak has launched a new logo; although many of you may recognise its origins…it first appeared as an image in our 2011 Annual Review. People were so positive about the picture that we thought it would be a great starting point for a new, updated Daybreak logo, with the strapline ‘a new view on an old problem’. We will gradually phase in the new logo, replacing leaflets as we run out of them. If you want to use our new logo or you spot a document that we haven’t updated then please get in touch with our new ‘Logo Cop’ Julie!

Ask Charity From Catherine Hasted

Hi everyone

We have signed up to a media service called www.askcharity.org.uk. Editors and journalists from a range of publications, ranging from the Guardian to Heat Magazine, post stories that they want help with. If you come across any inspirational stories involving families who would be willing to share their experiences, without revealing their identities, please let me know. Our aim is to increase our profile nationally, so if you have any other ideas or contacts that will help us to achieve that, please get in touch.

Upcoming Training Dates Next FGC Accreditation Course: Starts 30th, 31st Jan, 1st Feb 2013 Next Volunteer Advocate training: Wiltshire (Salisbury) Postponed – new date in March

Worcester 18th & 19th Jan 2013 You can keep updated via our website for all the training and dates we offer: www.daybreakfgc.org.uk

5

of 7

Guten Tag, Elisabeth

For those who don’t know, Elisabeth Schwarzloos was a student with us in the Brighton area all the way from Germany. We are still very much in contact, and it is lovely to see how well she is doing since her time here: For me, things are going well. I still work for the same

organisation that provides help for families that have to deal

with mentally illnesses. It is a challenging task most of the

times, but though I enjoy it and have been able to learn a lot.

Currently the organisation deals with the question whether it would make sense and was possible to provide

FGCs for those kind of families.

The work is child-centred, which to me seems to be the difference to your work with vulnerable adults. In fact

the FGC would be for the wellbeing of the child - while the adult with mental health issues would be included

rather as a helper than as the centre of the FGC. Of course in this case dealing with the mental health issues

will necessarily be an important part of the plan, too.

Apart from that, I moved in with my boyfriend, which both of us enjoy a lot. Also we are now awaiting my

third nephew or nice! It’s so great to watch them grow! :)

Elisabeth

Sara Taylor From one student to the next! Currently we have got Sara Taylor, a social work student from Winchester University. She is on placement with us in Brighton. Sara will be with us until March 2013.

Trustee Recruitment Daybreak is very lucky to have such a strong team of committed Trustees to support us in every aspect of our work. We currently have five Trustees and it was agreed at the last Board meeting that we would recruit to fill two vacancies, to bring us to our full complement of 7. Our recruitment drive inspired 36 people to get in touch and find out more about our work and the roles available. The next step is to interview the five shortlisted candidates in December and January. We will keep you updated in the next newsletter.

If you or anyone you know has a twitter account then pleasIf you or anyone you know has a twitter account then pleasIf you or anyone you know has a twitter account then pleasIf you or anyone you know has a twitter account then please make sure you follow Daybreak’s e make sure you follow Daybreak’s e make sure you follow Daybreak’s e make sure you follow Daybreak’s twitter account. Even if you don’t have an account just type twitter account. Even if you don’t have an account just type twitter account. Even if you don’t have an account just type twitter account. Even if you don’t have an account just type https://twitter.com/DaybreakFGChttps://twitter.com/DaybreakFGChttps://twitter.com/DaybreakFGChttps://twitter.com/DaybreakFGC into into into into any search engine and you’ll see what we’re up to.any search engine and you’ll see what we’re up to.any search engine and you’ll see what we’re up to.any search engine and you’ll see what we’re up to.

2013 Roadshow dates Coordinators, please put these dates in your diaries now! Remember, attendance at one of these is part of your criteria for registration! Tuesday 22

nd January – East Roadshow

To be held in the Brighton/West Sussex area Thursday 21

st February – West Roadshow

Possibly to take place in the Salisbury area

Wednesday 20th

March 2013 – Central Roadshow To be held in the Winchester area We will notify you of venues nearer the time.

6

of 7

In October Daybreak attended the National Children and Adult Services Conference, for the first time. Directors of Adult and Children’s Services from across the UK come to hear from Ministers and to share best practice. A number of authorities were really keen to find out more about the work that we do and Managers have now arranged meetings across the UK to discuss new opportunities to deliver FGCs. Watch this space for further news!

Over the past few months I have been talking to staff and our customers about how we can improve our IT systems. I won’t bore you with the detail but the main issues we needed to tackle included helping staff access emails and files securely and quickly, wherever they are in the country. To make that happen we have now joined the ‘cloud’, through Microsoft 365. In practice what does that mean? Staff on our new system can now access their emails and files from their mobile phone, laptop or PC. At the moment Managers, Head Office staff and Senior Practitioners have access to the new system. We are also looking into how it might benefit FGC Coordinators, so I’d be really grateful for your thoughts. If you are a Coordinator, would you be interested in testing a new email system? Would it be quicker and easier for you to fill in a Form A online or do you hate all things PC related? Please let me know by phoning me on 02380696644 or emailing [email protected]

Spreading the Daybreak Message

Up in the Clouds By Catherine Hasted

European Network and Eurochild conference meetings 2012 By Marilyn Taylor

Lis and I enjoyed participation in both the European Network Meeting in Sofia, and the Eurochild Conference which followed it. We believe that the networking opportunities in both were worth the involvement. Daybreak will be leading the working group that evolved from the first to consider FGC training and programme support in Europe. I hope that this will put us in a good position to promote our training programme, and work collaboratively with others. The Eurochild Conference gave us an opportunity to learn about this body which promotes the welfare and safety of children in Europe, and consider if Daybreak should be a member, and have a voice in the development of European policy. Meanwhile, we were able to identify some funding opportunities that might be available next year. As you can see in the picture to the left, we are hard at work, Lis and I are right at the back. At the top, we are only pictured with the President of Bulgaria Rosen Asenov Plevneliev!!!

7

of 7

Daybreak Shortlisted for Guardian Charity of the Year! By Catherine Hasted

CONTACT US

Daybreak FGC West Lodge Leylands Farm Nobs Crook

Colden Common Hampshire SO21 1TH

02380696644 [email protected]

Many thanks to everyone who has contributed

to this edition of our Newsletter. If there is

anything you would like to feature in our next

edition or if you would like to let us know what

you think of our Newsletter (any feedback

would be greatly appreciated), then please

contact Kate Cable:

[email protected]

Our Managers & Programmes

Richard Chalmers – Child Welfare programmes in:

Kensington & Chelsea, Southampton, Wessex, Wiltshire and

Worcestershire

Lis Gohrisch – Child Welfare programmes in:

Brighton & Hove, Portsmouth and West Sussex

Alison Powney – Head of Training and Domestic Violence

programme in:

Basingstoke, North Hampshire

Linda Tapper – Vulnerable Adults programmes in:

Hampshire, Greenwich and Surrey

For more information on our programmes or to get in contact with a manager, please contact Head Office on 02380 696644

Don’t forget: Give as live : Pg 4 Upcoming training: Pg 4 Add us to twitter: Pg 5 Roadshow dates: Pg 5 Thought on the cloud: Pg 6

Yes, it’s true, not only has Marilyn been nominated Chief Executive of the Year and Guardian Public Servant of the Year…you have been nominated too! Earlier this month the Guardian announced Daybreak as one of 30 charities shortlisted for the Charity of the Year Award.

Prizes include;

• Funding

• A free iPad

• A tailored package of training and support

• A personalised package of

communications support

We find out if we’ve won on the day of our AGM, 4

December, so that’s another reason to come along!

You can see our name in lights at http://www.guardian.co.uk/charity-awards/shortlist-2012

Please send in nominations for the next Coodorinator Award to Marilyn: marilyntaylor@daybreak

fgc.org.uk

And a massive thank you to everyone involved with Daybreak for all your hard work this Year, we would like to wish everyone a lovely Christmas break and a Happy New year!

Experts in Family Group Conferencing - · PDF filecommunity agencies to provide Family Group...

Documents

Transcript of Experts in Family Group Conferencing - · PDF filecommunity agencies to provide Family Group...