1. ‘Relative Experience’ Project Launch Thursday 14 th February 2013

2. Welcome from the Chair Lyn Boyd CEO, Mental Health North East

3. Introduction of the Relative Experience Project Sam Smethers CEO, Grandparents Plus

4. What do children in kinship care need? Jenny McKenna -Project Officer, Relative Experience Project Pam Purvis-Kinship carer Stella Price-Kinship carer

5. Kinship carers and children in the North East of England Sue Robson -Peer Researcher and Co-Founder of More than Grandparents Lindsey Henderson- Carers’ Drug and Alcohol Network Coordinator, First Contact Clinical

6. Kinship Carers and children in the North East of England Influencing Local Authority policies and improving service responses to their identified needs

7. First Contact Clinical Outline of presentation Who we are Where we started More than grandparents Sunderland Action research project What we have found out Where we are going and how you can join us

8. First Contact Clinical Who we are Sue Robson –Peer researcher and founder member More than Grandparents with Kate Conqueror Lindsay Henderson – Carers’ Drug and Alcohol Network Coordinator First Contact Clinical

9. First Contact Clinical Sunderland action research pilot – Supported by Sunderland Carers Centre and DAAT

10. First Contact Clinical Where we started Born out of peer support/ mentoring relationship between two grandparents Parallel experiences 14 years apart – questioning what had changed? No-one else should have our experience Embarked upon a pilot action research – led by and for kinship carers

11. First Contact Clinical Loss of self, isolation, fear, uncertainty and feelings of powerlessness Family Health CaringLack of support Lack of knowledge Economic Social The vicious circle – difficulties faced by kinship carers in Sunderland

12. First Contact Clinical What we achieved Partnership with Children’s Services to help develop Friend and Family Care Policy and action plan to improve services Information leaflet for new kinship carers in Sunderland Funding from by DAAT, Greggs Charitable Trust and Christ’s Hospital in Sherburn

13. First Contact Clinical More than Grandparents (Sunderland) Independent support and campaigning network with a focus upon grandparents who are caring for children as a result of parental drug and alcohol misuse.

14. First Contact Clinical What is important to us

15. First Contact Clinical Emotional support during meetings & support from other kinship carers I am not alone any more, the support, the advice, the friendship have been a great source of help and encouragement for me Meeting up with this group was a god send to me. I know I can pick up the phone and speak to someone

16. First Contact Clinical n Outings for children

17. First Contact Clinical Information sharing and awareness raising The exchange of information and views was very thought provoking…a feeling of friendship radiated the room. A great event and really showed the power of bringing kinship carers and professionals together to build better understanding

18. First Contact Clinical Fun?!!!

19. First Contact Clinical Future priorities Advice on what to tell children about their situation Help with children’s emotional and behavioural problems Managing contact with parents Looking after ourselves Understanding tough love

20. First Contact Clinical Peer Based Research project Funded by the Big Lottery and supported by: VONNE’s Policy and Representation Partnership SOTW Carers’ Drug and Alcohol Network (CDAN) Influencing Local Authority policies and improving service responses to Kinship carers’ identified needs.

21. First Contact Clinical About the research 1 year project till end June 2013 Focus upon grandparents who are in kinship arrangements due to parental substance misuse or addiction Train carers from CDAN to carry out research using First Contact Clinical’s Peer Based Researcher training programme South of Tyne and Wear (SoTW) case study

22. First Contact Clinical Research questions What is the extent of the kinship care? What types of supports and services are needed? Does the LA policy and practice support grandparents and children? What support services and good practice examples exist and where are the gaps?

23. First Contact Clinical What we want to happen LAs recognise Kinship Carer needs and reflect research findings in policy (SoTW) Stronger partnership working developed Research process recognised as good practice Contribution to national lobbying Support networks created in SoTW CDAN carers gain research skills and confidence

24. First Contact Clinical Emerging findings

25. First Contact Clinical Local and national policy Despite a statutory requirement 38% (5) of local authorities in NE did not have a Family and Friends carers policy in place In NE the only robust consultation is within Sunderland (pilot action research) – this has national recognition Changing national policy landscape e.g. 26 week limit and Legal Aid limitations

26. First Contact Clinical Gaps in support Kinship Carers in Northumberland, Tyneside and parts of Teesside Dearth of specialist support in South Tyneside and Gateshead No recognition in own right by Carers’ Centres locally or nationally No consistency of financial support

27. First Contact Clinical Barriers and difficulties Difficult to make contact with kin-carers other than through existing networks 5 PBRs trained but impact of own caring roles affected availability No regional forum for collective approach to influence policy and practice

28. First Contact Clinical Quote from a research participant “If all of us grandparents put all of the grandchildren on the doorsteps of social services, just for one day, they would not know what to do; they would be inundated with children. I don’t think they really know how many children are being looked after. There is not the emotional support there and there is not the financial support – there is definitely not.”

29. First Contact Clinical What can you do? Put us in touch with SoTW kinship carers Spread the word about the research Share good practice Come to events about the research findings Do research to influence policy where you are Partnerships to influence regionally & nationally Galvanise, work with us and campaign!!!

30. First Contact Clinical To find out more More than Grandparents Kate Conqueror - email: kate_conqueror@tiscali.co.uk - telephone 0191 5493768 kate_conqueror@tiscali.co.uk Peer Based Research Project Sue Robson, email: sue@suerobson.co.uk, telephone 0781310921sue@suerobson.co.uk Lindsay Henderson - Tel: 0191 4274711, email lindsayhenderson@firstcontactclinical.co.uk lindsayhenderson@firstcontactclinical.co.uk

31. Supporting kinship carers: policies and practices of North Tyneside Council Cath McEvoy Safeguarding Operations Manager, North Tyneside Council

32. Kinship Arrangements within North Tyneside Cath McEvoy Safeguarding Operations Manager

33. North Tyneside Context Child Population 40,000 Looked After Children: 260-290 Child Protection: 140-160 Child in Need: 500

34. North Tyneside Ethos Children & young people should, whenever possible be placed with family members or connected persons Children feel part of a family unit Children maintain a sense of identity Children feel loved and cared for Children able to maintain contact with family and friends Placement stability

35. Private Arrangements Informal agreements No legal arrangements Unknown situations Private fostering

36. Formal Arrangements Residence Orders: 57 cases: 74 children Special Guardianship Order: 44 children Connected Person Foster Carers: 31 cases: 46 children

37. SGO figures 2010-201147 screening assessments 19 orders granted 2011-201221 screening assessments 12 orders granted 2012-201348 screening assessments 14 orders granted

38. Connected Persons 2009-201024 approvals43 screenings 2010-201118 approvals31 screenings 2011-201214 approvals37 screenings 201222 approvals47 screenings

39. Process Policy Assessment Identification of support Training

40. Examples of Support Therapeutic input for grandparents Building renovations Nursery provision / child care FGC Transport costs Advice / Guidance

41. Future Developments Review of policy Life Story work Feedback survey

42. Q&A and Discussion

43. Thank you! Please fill in the feedback form.