It was inevitable really that I would end up working in our family business. Or was it? Who would have thought it way back when I was 10 years old and we started to foster teenage young people in our home that 27 years on I would be involved in running an ‘outstanding’ fostering provider. It’s been an interesting journey! It all started with mum and dad helping out at our youth club, they ran a business selling basket ware ( the in thing in the 80’s I believe) But then helping out with young people drew my parents into ‘befriending’, youth and community work and social work and then fostering. Actually having young people in your home had its ups and downs, as well as us three girls, we often had one or two other young people living with us. It was hard at times sharing your parents or your bedroom (in those days you could). There were some interesting characters, one a girl punk who had amazing pictures painted on her face, wild backcombed hair, who dressed in black and chains. Even now I can remember what her room smelt like, sort of a musty smell and perfume mixed together. Then there was the lad who liked to body pop and taught me a few moves as well. A boy who stole things, a girl who dressed as a boy and many more. There was one girl I remember really well, it felt as though she was one of us (I have two younger sisters) she was a similar age to us and fitted in but sadly things did not work out and we were all left with a lot of sadness. I met her a few years ago and found out she had called her daughter the same name as mine. I feel really honoured to know that there is another Allé out there. Many came and went throughout the years but each one and each experience taught my sisters and I things about ourselves and others. For example how do you communicate with someone when almost everything they tell you is a lie, or someone has lost the use of their arm in a motorbike accident, or lost both their parents or were sexually abused by family members? All these experiences….. and only a child myself.
But they shaped and formed me into who I am today. As a teenager, I decided to become a teacher because I thought this would give me the most opportunity to help make a difference in children’s lives. During my training and practice in schools I found myself drawn to the kids that lacked self esteem, did not speak in class, never smiled or laughed, did not like school. The rewards of seeing them blossom and smile with pride as you stood them up in front of their class and showed their wonderful piece of work and gave them a sticker inspired me to go onto teaching children who were in foster care and excluded from schools. I realised that it was children’s self worth and not education that was inspiring to me. Later I gained my qualification and MA in Play Therapy. It was then that I came and worked for Chrysalis Care nearly 10 years ago. My parents had set it up in 1997 after many years of working in the public and private sector with looked after young people. Chrysalis Care comes from the family, it is home grown as they say, (even the offices were in our home originally). My youngest sister is a Social worker and a Director of Chrysalis Care too and will have her own story to tell. My middle sister is a foster carer for children with disabilities in Reading. So perhaps it was inevitable that all three of us with our experiences growing up in a fostering household would have our future mapped out in the caring profession. I certainly never imagined that I would be involved in running a family business helping so many others make a difference in children’s lives.
Caring for children and young people is at the heart and foundation of Chrysalis Care. Our logo says “Transforming Lives” and we really believe that children in our care will have their lives transformed. Perhaps what we do not always acknowledge, is how our lives are transformed also.
By Allé Pflaumer
Director
Monday, 10 January 2011
Friday, 24 December 2010
Monday, 13 December 2010
CWDC – or some ‘other’, surely its business as usual for our fantastic foster carers?
A number of our fantastic foster carers have now achieved their CWDC training, support and development standards and I continue to be impressed with the way Chrysalis Care foster carers remain committed to their learning and development. A treat on the day that we held an event to award CWDC certificates was the presence of our local MP David Evennett, who came to visit our head office in Bexleyheath, see http://www.flickr.com/photos/bexleyheathcrayford/5189853774/ for more on this.
Perhaps the involvement of local government is wholly appropriate in the current climate of devolved services. Although some of us may want to shield our eyes and our ears to the role of the government in what we do, there is a need (and a value) in acknowledging politicisation. To not consider agendas – such as notions of the ‘Big Society’ – is to not take on board everything that affects our current and future practice. In particular in relation to the CWDC, some significant changes to its organisation will undoubtedly affect, albeit even confuse us!
For those who have been around in the sector for some time, we are used to new standards, new milestones and in how these changes can sometimes cause some misunderstanding about what we are ‘supposed’ to do. This time is no different. I have received a little flurry of emails from people showing me the news about CWDC and asking if this means we can ditch the work books now (!). Some others have been concerned that they will have to rewrite their training programmes.
I say we carry on ‘as we were’ – the work is the same work, children and young people still need to be cared for in good, nurturing and stable homes. Foster carers still need to work within a framework that guides their good (and very, very good – outstanding even!) practice.
As we have learned from some of the changes to language over recent months, some of this is merely semantic and everything else remains essentially the same. In the case of CWDC, whether it is them or some ‘other’, something is necessary - to give credit to and reflect the fantastic role that Chrysalis Care foster carers have in transforming the lives of children and young people.
Jo Oliver
Service Development Manager
Perhaps the involvement of local government is wholly appropriate in the current climate of devolved services. Although some of us may want to shield our eyes and our ears to the role of the government in what we do, there is a need (and a value) in acknowledging politicisation. To not consider agendas – such as notions of the ‘Big Society’ – is to not take on board everything that affects our current and future practice. In particular in relation to the CWDC, some significant changes to its organisation will undoubtedly affect, albeit even confuse us!
For those who have been around in the sector for some time, we are used to new standards, new milestones and in how these changes can sometimes cause some misunderstanding about what we are ‘supposed’ to do. This time is no different. I have received a little flurry of emails from people showing me the news about CWDC and asking if this means we can ditch the work books now (!). Some others have been concerned that they will have to rewrite their training programmes.
I say we carry on ‘as we were’ – the work is the same work, children and young people still need to be cared for in good, nurturing and stable homes. Foster carers still need to work within a framework that guides their good (and very, very good – outstanding even!) practice.
As we have learned from some of the changes to language over recent months, some of this is merely semantic and everything else remains essentially the same. In the case of CWDC, whether it is them or some ‘other’, something is necessary - to give credit to and reflect the fantastic role that Chrysalis Care foster carers have in transforming the lives of children and young people.
Jo Oliver
Service Development Manager
Thursday, 25 November 2010
Thursday, 30 September 2010
If you have ideas, experiences, issues and success stories that you'd like to share with your peers – then Share Street is the place to do it
Share Street is an online community for the children’s workforce. It’s an opportunity for sharing resources and discussing good practice in the workplace, for building networks and communicating with colleagues.
It’s free to join and you can get involved in foster care forums, watch videos, view case studies and access a wealth of useful resources designed to make your life easier.
So why not pay a visit to Share Street and have your say?
http://sharestreet.cwdcouncil.org.uk/ForumDiscussions-22-1.aspx
It’s free to join and you can get involved in foster care forums, watch videos, view case studies and access a wealth of useful resources designed to make your life easier.
So why not pay a visit to Share Street and have your say?
http://sharestreet.cwdcouncil.org.uk/ForumDiscussions-22-1.aspx
Thursday, 16 September 2010
CONGRATULATIONS
Congratulations to those carers who are today receiving Commendations for regularly completing their Training and Monthly Reports and also to those carers who are receiving their Long Service Awards.
Well done & We hope you had a memorable day
ChrysalisCare Team
Well done & We hope you had a memorable day
ChrysalisCare Team
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