Autumn/Winter 2013 Quarterly newsletter for family based carers in Edinburgh Make someone’s day…Make someone’s life Head, Heart and Hands update p4 The secret foster carer p5 LAC Hibs ticket giveaway p6 WIN family passes to Camera Obscura www.edinburgh.gov.uk/fostering 2 Edinburgh Carers’ newsletter Tricia’s column STAFF MOVES FBC teams have been busy in the last couple of months moving lock, stock and barrel from Springwell House to their new working offices at Westfield House in Corstorphine. The recruitment and family support teams join the fostering teams at Westfield. Eventually all FBC teams will be located here. It’s back to school and goodbye summer. The Carer appreciation evening leaves have finally turned and we’re back from Yes folks, it’s coming up to that time of year again. Time to book the the October break. The time between the school babysitter, dust off the sequins and get ready for an evening of laughter and holidays always seems so busy for us. You too, I’m fun with your carer and Council colleagues and Grant Stott. sure. Support groups restart, we started running our carer preparation groups in September, the Please join us on Wednesday 30 October at the City Chambers from 7pm Care Inspectors visited from 17 October, and the til late. main event, our ‘Carer Celebratory Evening’ is on 30 October. I look forward to seeing you there. On your way into the Chambers take a look at the new wooden planters, full of sensory flowers. It is hoped that the introduction of these plants Two of our Family Based Care Teams have moved will enhance people’s experience when visiting the City Chambers through offices over the summer, from Springwell to Westfield fragrance, texture and colour. House. This was a major upheaval for staff, some of whom had been in Springwell for 20 years. Phones and space are at a premium at the moment, however, there are plans in hand to redesign Westfield within the next year, giving a more efficient use of space. Once this happens we hope Great news from the frontline to have all Family Based Care staff together in the Dedicated carers Anita and James Baggs have written to let us know about the same venue. You will, of course, be invited along for achievements of two of their foster children a coffee and viewing when the work is completed. They recently received a letter from the head teacher to inform them that Duncan Another summer event was the launch of the was selected for Head Boy and Ambassador for 2013/14 for Pilrig Park School. Fostering Network’s ‘Head, Heart, Hands’ project, Anita writes: ‘We are just delighted and can’t express how proud we are of held in the Scottish Parliament. The feedback from Duncan, especially when at one time he did not enjoy education. However, he now carers who have attended the Social Pedagogy embraces his learning. training is very positive so please speak with your ‘Another example is Jamie who had been expelled from school in his second year FBC SW if you would like to find out more about it. and is now excelling in education at the school he was moved to and is now I also have to mention the MELA. As usual our staying on past his leaving date into fifth year. He is now helping primary 6 and 7 carer recruitment team and colleagues were there into high school as a Sports Leader! giving out leaflets and talking to prospective ‘It should be recognised that team and partnership working with Carole, social carers. A great time was had by all – good food work and education has been crucial in the boys becoming confident individuals and good music – and we came away with lots of and wanting to succeed in life.’ positive interest in fostering. Two very happy carers Isn’t it amazing that our children are now receiving their book a month from Dolly Parton? Reading a Anita & James book with a child is one of life’s privileges. I just loved that quiet time when my boys were small. I’m sure our accommodated children will benefit hugely, and develop wonderful memories of favourite stories. Learning lunches I am hoping to meet up with some of you at In June we held two learning lunches. One focused on fun activities carers can do with support groups over the winter so if you would like young people along with looking at access to facilities and events during the summer, me to come along please just drop me an email: run by Edinburgh Leisure and targeted at young people. The other was delivered by [email protected] or ring me 0131 469 colleagues from Edinburgh Connect and the LAC Nursing team. This was titled ‘24 3012. hours in the life of a foster child’ and focused upon some of the challenges that foster carers encounter in their day to day care of children and young people. This session explored the opportunities that exist in day to day living to promote a sense of well- being and security. Tricia Rosa Team Manager Looked After and Accommodated Children Look out for information on full day health training in March 2014 and on future learning lunch events for later next year. [email protected] Edinburgh Carers’ newsletter 3 Fostering team wins the APSE Best Efficiency award New website goes live Foster Me Foster Us came out top in the finals of the APSE Awards Has anyone spotted our new website online yet? Our 2013 (Association of Public Services Excellence) in September. Tricia online presence has finally tied up with the look and feel Rosa, Team Manager and Sarah Duguid, Communications Officer of our advertising campaigns. represented us at the event at St Georges Hall in Liverpool. It’s been a couple of years in development and we’re pretty Our entry in the Best Efficiency Award was based on the success pleased with the results. Have a look for yourself at www. of our wide reaching and engaging foster care recruitment edinburgh.gov.uk/fostering. campaign, which saw a 55% increase in registering new carers. We carried out research and found that the public wanted The campaign’s unique style in telling a child’s story caught the more case studies, so they could see themselves in the judges’ attention. role. Many of our carers answered the call and we are now able to publish a wide range of carers’ stories. Huge thanks goes out to all our carers who have helped us in the development of the site. If you too would like to get involved, with feedback or your own case study, please get in touch with michelle. [email protected]. We’d be delighted to showcase your story and keep the website current and interesting. Carers’ participation strategy In July we launched our first ever family based care participation strategy with a carer survey and feedback form. Thanks to all carers who have completed and returned them to me. This is the first stage of the strategy and I will go on to work on ways of consulting with young people and children, parents, kinship carers and other professionals. We all make Liz McClarnon from Atomic Kitten meets real live celebrities judgements and decisions in our day to day work and care Tricia and Sarah and the participation strategy is a means of helping us take a step back and consider that simple and yet most challenging question ‘are we getting it right?’ So if you have ever thought ‘why don’t we?’, ‘if only we could!’ Staff benefits card or ‘we shouldn’t do that...’ now is a good time to tell me about it. Remember to use your Premium Benefits card – the current Spring/ Summer offers are valid right through to October when the Autumn Regards, /Winter offers brochure will be distributed. The easiest way to check Lovat offers is online at www.premiumbenefits.co.uk/ [email protected] Camera Obscura ticket giveaway Wondering how to entertain the family over the weekend? Why not drop us a line? We have four family tickets to give away to the wonderfully weird Camera Obscura. Situated on the Royal Mile, near the Castle, Camera Obscura is one of Edinburgh’s top visit attractions. It is open from 9.30 til late each day, with visits taking around two hours. Each family ticket will admit two adults and two children for free, a saving of up to £42. Not bad for a simple email or phone call! Drop me a line at michelle.donegan@ edinburgh.gov.uk or 0131 469 5226. The first four people to get in touch will get the tickets. 4 Edinburgh Carers’ newsletter BME campaign success Our latest BME campaign again centred around events at McDonald Road library and the Edinburgh MELA. The two week campaign, which included four drop in dates resulted in six enquiries from the library and eight from the Mela which we are following up!! Our poster boy Vincent and siblings Nasim and Aamina told their stories through posters, newspaper and radio ads and our successful lamp post wraps – even though we were competing with the festival for attention! Did you attend any of the events, or spot us at the MELA? Let us know what you thought. Feedback helps towards our planning for next year. Paula, recruitment team leader said of the MELA, that she noticed our bags and colouring pencils went down very well and a number of people mentioned that they had seen our posters, heard our radio ads and were aware of Waverley Court events! All good news! Social pedagogy progress In Edinburgh Social Pedagogy is growing from strength to strength.