Agenda item

Our Care Ambassadors will provide an update to Board from the period December 2023- February 2024.

A report of the Voice and Influence Manager was presented to update the Members on activity during the period December 2023 to February 2024.

During December 2023 the care experienced young people held their Christmas party at the Riverside Stadium and also enjoyed a bowling event.  In January the group met and discussed ideas for activities in 2024 which included budgeting, cooking, creating an independence checklist and visiting a theatre.  A talk on personal finances and how to budget was also provided.  In February a session was held to inform young people how they could get involved in their Children Looked After Review and how this could be improved.  A guide for young people would be created as a result of the feedback from the session.

The older care experienced young people/adults had participated in the following:

·        Attended the 'We Matter' groups in December 2023 and January 2024.

·        The Care Ambassadors supported the Participation Team with the engagement sessions at the special schools in Middlesbrough.

·        Helped set up the room for the 'We Matter' Christmas party and made sure all the young people had a great time.

·        Joined the Youth Council for their Christmas meal.

·        24 January 2024 - Interviewed candidates for the Director of Children's Care post.

·        24 January 2024 - Five older care experienced young adults met with the Care Ambassadors to hear all about the wonderful work they do. The group decided they wanted to create another Forum so they and others could have a voice. The first meeting was held on the 13 February 2024.

·        30 January 2024 - The Care Ambassadors, the five young adults who were going to attend the new Forum and two older members of 'We Matter' met with their Corporate Parents to talk more about the Pledges that had been made. An action plan had been created to make sure decision makers acted on what they had said.

·        31 January 2024 - Helped deliver a slot during the Mandatory Children's Services Induction session, where they explained their roles as a Care Ambassadors.

Planned actions for the next few months included:

·        Continue meeting with Corporate Parents and monitor progress with the Pledges.

·        Continue to work with the 'We Matter' and put on events to engage with more Children Looked After.   Engage more with older care experienced young people through the Forum and encourage them to become Care Ambassadors.

·        Have all our care experienced young people/adults set up as volunteers.

            Create ASDAN awards to provide accreditation for their work and the young             people they work with Work with the Commissioning team to create 'Young             Commissioners'

·        Meet with more care experienced young people who live in residential care.

·        Involve 'We Matter' and the Care Ambassadors to take part in the Regional Children in Care Council work, attend the conference on the 3rd April and go on the residential 12-14 April.

The group requested that six key decision makers were identified to attend to Regional Children in Care Council Conference on 3 April 2024.

AGREED that the information provided was received and noted.