Good News StoriesOur Looked After and Accommodated Children and Young People

BEST FOR YouO R G A N I C S C O M P A N Y

A Positive CARM experience

• Alcohol, drugs, school, mental health, family, conflict with the law

• Sense of hopelessness, giving up, couldn’t ask for help

• I didn’t understand it, support to make sense, coping, no judgement

• Back at school, great relationships, no alcohol/drugs, improved mental health

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BEST FOR YouO R G A N I C S C O M P A N Y

A Positive CARM experience

• I now understand the risks of drugs and alcohol most importantly and how I don’t need things like that to help me cope I am so happy they have helped me

• The carm has helped me speak about my mental health and find help without feeling bad about it, I can happily say me and my mum have been at our happiest now we finally have a relationship and can finally talk and understand each another

• Personalised budget

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BEST FOR YouO R G A N I C S C O M P A N Y

Horses

• Child living away from her family in our children’s house

• Very traumatised and distressed

• Struggling to cope: with school, relationships, care

• However……………

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BEST FOR YouO R G A N I C S C O M P A N Y

Horses

• Love and passion for horses, now involved in riding centre

• Able to trust the horses and has sense of love, respect, safety and empathy for them

• Asked to become a stablehand due to her hard work and enthusiastic attitude

• Fundraising for a horse charity

• Calm and therapeutic

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BEST FOR YouO R G A N I C S C O M P A N Y

Children’s Houses Practice Network

» Increase in reports of children missing from care > differing views

» Providing a forum to discuss, share ideas and disseminate good, consistent practice

» Quarterly, most recent 40 participants (providers, social work, police, health, Care Inspectorate)

» Extended invite to Vibrant Communities, housing, education psychology, Advocacy

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BEST FOR YouO R G A N I C S C O M P A N Y

Children’s Houses Practice Network

Feedback

» Support from peers across the sector

» Opportunity to discuss challenges and issues

» Provide solutions and better ways of working in East Ayrshire

» Supporting children at the centre

» Promoting agreed practice=consistency in care and support

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Foster Care and Covid-19

• Two children (16y and 2y)

• Trauma, bereavement, mental health, FASD

• The importance of relationships

• Advocacy, counselling, life story work, tutor. Nurture, Baking and Bonsai!

• Keeping connected, improved mental health, exam results, thriving