New scheme to help communication for Peterborough children in care

In response to government guidance on social distancing, the participation teams launched their joint Covid-19 Participation Offer which is available to children in care, care leavers and other young people in similar situations.

The teams recognised that maintaining contact with young people in care was of particular importance at this time as many young people are worried by the Covid-19 outbreak and are at risk of feeling more lonely, anxious and bored due to isolation and social distancing.

The virtual Participation Offer was therefore devised, beginning with a ‘Keeping in Touch’ e-newsletter aimed at younger children (under 12 years) in care and soon expanded to cater for teens (13-17 year olds) and for care leavers (18–25 year olds).

These fortnightly e-newsletters are packed with helpful information, links, activities and competitions. They also provide participation-focussed activities to seek young people’s views in order to maintain an effective dialogue between young people with experience in care and the team.

Councillor Lynne Ayres, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Education, Skills and the University at Peterborough City Council, said: “It’s greatly encouraging to see our participation teams adapting to these extreme circumstances, all the while keeping the needs of our vulnerable young people in care at the forefront.”

Alison Bennett, assistant director for safeguarding and quality assurance, at both councils, said: “The team is working creatively to look out for our young people at this time when everyone is having to adapt to the lockdown, whilst still offering young people a voice to us, their corporate parents. The team are doing fantastic work casting out a virtual support network, and are getting an encouraging and positive response from our young people.”

Councillor Simon Bywater, Chairman of the Children and Young Peoples Committee at Cambridgeshire County Council, said: “Supporting our most vulnerable young people is always our highest priority, and the lockdown provided the team with a particular challenge for the service so it’s great to hear about the virtual support the team are providing. Many of our young people do not have much in the way of their own social support networks to begin with, so imposed isolation really can impact upon them.”

The Participation Offer has since expanded to include a ‘virtual drop-in’ service, giving young people the opportunity to contact a trusted adult for support and advice as well as tips for finding online resources and activities.

The drop-in service is open to all young people who have a social worker, including those on child protection or children in need plans and is open weekdays between 10am and 4pm. One-to-one calls are still available on request.

The Children in Care Councils (CICC) has also moved to virtual platforms and the participation officers are pro-actively reaching out to children and young people through telephone calls, emails and other digital platforms such as Microsoft Teams.