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Looked After Children 2022

  • Thursday, 07 July 2022
  • Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce
  • 08:30 - 15:30
130+
Conference
Attendees
8
CPD
Credits
10
Expert Speakers
5
Sponsors & Supporters
  • Overview

Open Forum Events invites you to join us at the Looked After Children 2022 conference, which will provide a review of the current situation children within the care system and care leavers experience.  This conference will explore the issues impacting Looked After Children, such as, why they are more prone to suffer with addiction, be more likely to be involved in crime and more vulnerable of becoming homeless as a young adult. Open Forum Events offers delegates an insightful and informative conference experience, sharing perspectives from across the sector through plenary addresses, interactive sessions, and networking opportunities. The meeting aims to not only further educate, but to facilitate a discussion forum of opinion and experience, to help shape future support and seek out potential solutions.

Book you place today at the CPD accredited Looked After Children 2022 conference and be part of the conversation to improve the support needed by these children and young people to maximise their potential and promote life chances.

Special Offer

In partnership with Embrace Resilience we are offering all delegates a package of free e-learning courses worth £60 when you register for this event.

These courses are used widely across health, and care sectors. and meet CQC requirements for training and development. In addition to the courses, delegates will have free access to download a toolkit including planners and journals to help with their own personal resilience.

We will send a list of courses from which you can select your free 5 course package after you register.

 

  • Confirmed Speakers

Event Sponsors and Supporters

  • Event Programme

08:30

Registration and Coffee in the Networking Area

09:25

Chair's Opening Address

  • Jim Goddard, Chair, Board of Trustees, Care Leavers Association (confirmed)
09:35

Opening Keynote

  • Steve McCabe MP, Chair, All-Party Parliamentary Group for Looked After Children and Care Leavers (confirmed)
"APPG report and Spotlight Inquiry"
10:05
  • David Graham, National Director, Care Leavers' Association (confirmed)
"Mental Health within Looked After Children"

The mental health and wellbeing of care leavers is an area that is often neglected when it comes to providing support to care leavers. David will provide a brief overview of some of the key issues and highlight some possible interventions that could make a difference to the lives of care leavers. This will include data from The CLA 2018 DoH funded research and their current program supporting care leavers in Greater Manchester.

10:25

Questions & Answer Session

Jim Goddard, Chair (Confirmed)

Steve McCabe MP, Chair of the AAPG for Looked After Children (Confirmed)

David Graham, National Director, Care Leavers' Association (Confirmed)

10:40

Coffee in the Networking Area

11:15
  • Sarah Ashe, Designated Nurse Children Looked After and Care Leavers, NHS Somerset CCG (confirmed)
"NHS Somerset CCG approach"

Regulatory irregularities within the adoption process were identified in Somerset in April 2021 leading to a year long High Court case and two judgements with far reaching national consequences for both Health commissioners and providers.  This presentation looks at what went wrong in Somerset and how we have worked with commissioners, providers, the Local Authority and Regional Adoption Agency to address the issues and build a better service for our children as a result.

11:35
  • Harvey Gallagher, Chief Executive, Nationwide Association of Fostering Providers (confirmed)
"Is sufficiency of placements a problem? Why? What can we do about it?"

When we describe a problem with 'sufficiency', we are often saying that we 'can't find the right foster carer for a child, where they need them, when they need them'. Local authorities and fostering providers continue to try to address the problem, through carer recruitment (with greater or lesser success), commissioning and information systems. Is the aspiration of the 'most appropriate placement' for every child in care likely to ever be a reality in a wider environment of financial challenges, squeezed timescales, stretched services and increasing needs? What else can be done to improve sufficiency and at what level does this need to take place?

11:55

Case Study

  • Kyle Riding, Head of Programmes , Young Gamers and Gamblers Education Trust (confirmed)
"Gaming and Gambling Awareness and Harm Prevention: Supporting Looked After Children"

The presentation will look at why looked after children might game/gamble and the additional vulnerabilities they face. It will also highlight the correlation between gambling and other addictions that looked after children are more at risk to experiencing.

12:15

Questions & Answer Session

12:30

Lunch in the Networking Area

13:30

Chairs Afternoon Address

  • Jim Goddard, Chair, Board of Trustees, Care Leavers Association (confirmed)
13:35
"Why Do Care Leavers Constitute a Quarter of All Homeless People?"

Why do so many care leavers end up homeless? Research suggests that 25% of people who become homeless were at some point in the care system. There is clearly a stark link between a young person being looked after in care and an increased chance of becoming homeless.

Debbie Moreton, CEO of young person’s charity Step by Step, looks at the factors that might explain this link; the reasons why care leavers are so highly represented in homelessness statistics. These factors include issues with accessing stable and affordable accommodation, mental wellbeing challenges, diminished prospects, and the stigma often attached to those once in the care system.

Debbie and her colleague Kelly Headen, Head of Supported lodgings Services at Step by Step draw upon recent research and current statistics, as well as the first-hand accounts of young people who have accessed Step by Step’s services. Alongside their own considerable expertise in this field, Debbie and Kelly share the experiences of Step by Step front-line staff who every day witness the upward struggle facing young people post care.

As well as a review of the current landscape, Debbie suggests a way forward, using as example the ground-breaking work Step by Step is doing to counter these issues and to reinstate care leavers’ life chances.

13:55

Research by Internet Matters and its partners has shown that children who are vulnerable offline (including children in care) are more vulnerable online too. In this presentation, Simone will set out what we know about the particular online risks faced by looked after children, and the resources available to frontline practitioners to support children in maximising the benefits of digital technology while managing the risks. She will also review what Internet Matters is doing to secure better protections for vulnerable children at a policy level, including through its work with DCMS and Ofcom.

14:15

Questions & Answer Session

14:30
  • Carey-Ann Baisden, Emotional Health & Wellbeing Nurse, East London NHS Foundation Trust (confirmed)
"Post Care for Looked After Children "

Carey will be providing an overview of my role which is new to both East London’s Foundation Trust (ELFT) Looked After Children’s Team and London Borough of Newham’s Leavers from Care Team. The role that Carey does is an Emotional Health & Wellbeing Nurse who can support 17.5 – 25 year olds who are care leavers to Newham Children’s Services. Carey aims to work directly to provide short term 1:1 support to Care Leavers or professional consultation to professionals whom support the care leaver.

14:50
"Post-Care support for Care Leavers"

The Rees Foundation will be talking in more detail around the work they do supporting care experienced people of all ages across the country. The latest project for Rees has involved care records, and Sarah and Jackie will be talking about improving practice around this process.

15:10

Questions & Answer Session

15:25

Chairs Closing Address

  • Jim Goddard, Chair, Board of Trustees, Care Leavers Association (confirmed)
15:30

Conference Close

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  • Contact Details
  • News
  • Sponsors
  • Supporters
  • Venue
  • Featured Events
  • Downloads
  • Who will attend

Contact Details

News

  • Ann Coffey's Speech on Risks of Exploitation facing Looked After Children

    • Posted on 20 December 2019
    • by Ann Coffey

Sponsors

Supporters

Venue

Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce

Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce

Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce is the largest accredited Chamber of Commerce in the UK with approximately 4,500 members. Based in the heart of Manchester City Centre on Deansgate, the Chamber has a strong presence in Greater Manchester’s ten local authority areas. It is committed to providing businesses with a platform to connect with other businesses, communicate their message and create opportunities for a skilled workforce. With an ever growing network and a dedicated policy team, the Chamber is the recognised voice of business in Greater Manchester.

Featured Events

  • Mental Health: Delivering Improved, Integrated and Accessible Services

    • 27 February 2014
    • 08:30 - 16:30
    • Contact us for venue
  • Mental Health: The Five Year Plan

    • 23 September 2015
    • 08:30 - 16:20
    • America Square Conference Centre, London
  • Mental Health: Better, Faster and Earlier Help

    • 04 March 2015
    • 08:30 - 16:45
    • Pendulum Hotel & Manchester Conference Centre
  • Children and Young People’s Mental Health: Promoting Integration and Early Intervention

    • 08 December 2016
    • 08:30 - 16:30
    • Pendulum Hotel & Manchester Conference Centre
  • Mental Health: Forward Thinking – Delivering the Strategy

    • 15 September 2016
    • 08:30 - 16:45
    • America Square Conference Centre, London
  • Mental Health: Moving Forwards – The Five Year Plan

    • 10 March 2016
    • 08:30 - 16:30
    • Pendulum Hotel & Manchester Conference Centre
  • Mental Health: Making the Forward Plans a Reality

    • 27 September 2017
    • 08:30 - 16:45
    • America Square Conference Centre, London
  • Children and Young People’s Mental Health: Taking Early Action

    • 06 July 2017
    • 08:30 - 16:30
    • The Royal National Hotel, London
  • Mental Health: Forward Thinking – The Implementation Plan

    • 16 March 2017
    • 08:30 - 16:30
    • The Bridgewater Hall, Manchester
  • Children and Young People's Mental Health: Improving Care, Treatment and Support

    • 12 December 2017
    • 08:30 - 16:30
    • The Bridgewater Hall, Manchester
  • Improving Mental Health Outcomes: Integrating, Coordinating and Transforming Services

    • 25 April 2018
    • 08:30 - 16:30
    • The Bridgewater Hall, Manchester
  • Children and Young People's Mental Health: Providing Effective Support

    • 03 July 2018
    • 08:30 - 17:00
    • The Royal National Hotel, London
  • Meeting Mental Health Needs: Practical Interventions to Improve Services

    • 12 December 2018
    • 08:30 - 15:50
    • Mary Ward House Conference & Exhibition Centre, London
  • Children and Young People's Mental Health: From Early Intervention to Improved Services

    • 12 February 2019
    • 08:25 - 15:45
    • Mary Ward House Conference & Exhibition Centre, London
  • Improving Student Mental Health Outcomes

    • 16 May 2019
    • 10:00 - 16:05
    • Mary Ward House Conference & Exhibition Centre, London
  • Safeguarding Students: Addressing Mental Health Needs

    • 26 November 2019
    • 08:30 - 16:25
    • The Bridgewater Hall, Manchester
  • Looked After Children: Improving Life Chances

    • 05 December 2018
    • 08:30 - 16:30
    • Pendulum Hotel & Manchester Conference Centre
  • Looked After Children: Safeguarding Welfare-Fulfilling Aspirations

    • 03 December 2019
    • 08:30 - 16:30
    • The Studio, Manchester

Downloads & Resources

  • Open Forum Events Sponsorship Brochure
    Open Forum Events offer a number of partnership, sponsorship and exhibition opportunities that can meet your marketing and business development needs.
  • Looked After Children 2022 Slides.zip
    Looked After Children 2022 Slides.zip

who will attend

  • 14-19 Partnership Teams
  • Academics and Researchers
  • Director/Heads Adoption and Fostering Agencies
  • Anti-Social Behaviour Co-ordinators
  • Asylum and Immigration Officers
  • CAFCASS
  • Care Leavers Champions
  • Central Government Departments and Agencies
  • Child and Adolescent Mental Health Practitioners
  • Child and Educational Psychologists
  • Child Protection and Safeguarding Teams
  • Child Protection Officers
  • Children’s Health Service Professionals
  • Children’s Services Officers
  • Heads of Children’s Trusts and Children’s Centres
  • Commissioning Managers
  • Community and Voluntary Organisations
  • Community Development Managers
  • Director/Heads Connexions and Jobcentre Plus
  • Director/Heads Corporate Parenting Boards
  • Designated Nurses and Health Advisors for Children in Care
  • Director/Heads Local Education Authorities
  • Director/Heads Local Safeguarding Children’s Boards
  • Director/Heads Local, Regional and National Health Services
  • Director/Heads Looked After/Children in Care Teams
  • Director/Heads NEET Strategy Teams
  • Director/Heads Permanency Teams
  • Director/Heads Regional Adoption Agencies
  • Director/Heads Welfare Rights Organisations
  • Directors/Heads of Children and Young People’s Services
  • Domestic Violence Co-ordinators
  • Director/Heads Drug and Alcohol Action Teams
  • Early Years and Childcare Practitioners
  • Education and Welfare Officers
  • Education Providers
  • Director/Heads Employment and Training Services
  • Families Services Officers
  • Family Intervention Project Workers
  • Family Pathfinder Workers
  • Family Placement Teams
  • Family Support and Outreach Team Leads
  • Heads of Children’s Strategy
  • Members of Health and Wellbeing Boards
  • Director/Heads Homelessness Teams
  • Director/Heads Housing Service Providers
  • Local Authority Officers and Councillors
  • Looked-After Children Team Managers
  • Members of Police and Fire Service
  • Mental Health Practitioners
  • Post Adoption Support Services Leads
  • Psychotherapists
  • Residential Children’s Home Managers
  • School Nurses and Health Visitors
  • Schools, Colleges and Further Education Providers
  • Social Workers and Social Services Officers
  • Director/Heads Supported Housing Teams
  • Teachers and Special Educational Needs Co-ordinators
  • Teenage Pregnancy Co-ordinators
  • Third Sector Representatives
  • Youth Inclusion Teams
  • Youth Workers and Youth Offending Teams