One of our foster carers, Avril Head has fostered 140 children over 30 years and is featured in the Times newspaper (January 24th 2012). Visit the article for more: http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/sitesearch.do?querystring=Avril+head&p=tto&pf=all&bl=on
Tuesday, 31 January 2012
Thursday, 26 January 2012
No Ceiling to Hope? – Working for a Better Society
Today, I have read two news items that have struck a chord – firstly, the XLP Annual Report (http://www.xlp.org.uk/) and I also downloaded the sample chapter from Patrick Regan’s latest book: ‘No ceiling to hope’. The work of XLP is inspiring and I look forward to attending their open day on 1st March 2012. They produce some t-shirts – must get one – with slogans such as: ‘I refuse to believe this is a lost generation’. As someone committed to enrichment and a believer that there truly is no celing – it IS possible for young people (or anyone, whatever age) to turn themselves around and with the right support and guidance and environment, to make better choices, for their own lives, for their community and for a better society.
The other news item was a link sent to me by my colleague, Julie Collins, which was from the CEO of the NSPCC, Andrew Flanagan (http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/andrew-flanagan/child-protection-we-need-a-rethink_b_1176853.html). Again, Andrew is clearly passionate about the protection of children and in the commitment of us all: “It's not just a 'Big Society' but a 'Better Society'; a society that does not look to others to act, but is willing to act themselves.” Hear, hear - our social responsibility is absolutely key to making the changes that policy and legislation clearly cannot.
This is a bitter sweet blog…Andrew promotes that dwindling resources now be redirected to the priority of younger children but what about all of those young people who surely cannot be considered the lost generation (?): Is the choice that crude? This is not a criticism of the latter news story (a blog worth airing in my view) but it does bring to the forefront the complexity of the struggle.
Yes, babies and young children need to be protected and nurtured. Yes, parents and families need to be supported and empowered. Yes, young people need to be provided with supportive and inspiring environments to flourish and make good -no great – choices.
At Chrysalis Care, we believe in children – a child is a child until they are eighteen years old – please let us never forget this. There are other agencies that do fantastic work with adults, confirming the ‘hope has no ceiling’ mantra. It is imperative that we do not give up on hope for better – if we believe, we can achieve.
Joanna Oliver, Strategic Development Executive
The other news item was a link sent to me by my colleague, Julie Collins, which was from the CEO of the NSPCC, Andrew Flanagan (http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/andrew-flanagan/child-protection-we-need-a-rethink_b_1176853.html). Again, Andrew is clearly passionate about the protection of children and in the commitment of us all: “It's not just a 'Big Society' but a 'Better Society'; a society that does not look to others to act, but is willing to act themselves.” Hear, hear - our social responsibility is absolutely key to making the changes that policy and legislation clearly cannot.
This is a bitter sweet blog…Andrew promotes that dwindling resources now be redirected to the priority of younger children but what about all of those young people who surely cannot be considered the lost generation (?): Is the choice that crude? This is not a criticism of the latter news story (a blog worth airing in my view) but it does bring to the forefront the complexity of the struggle.
Yes, babies and young children need to be protected and nurtured. Yes, parents and families need to be supported and empowered. Yes, young people need to be provided with supportive and inspiring environments to flourish and make good -no great – choices.
At Chrysalis Care, we believe in children – a child is a child until they are eighteen years old – please let us never forget this. There are other agencies that do fantastic work with adults, confirming the ‘hope has no ceiling’ mantra. It is imperative that we do not give up on hope for better – if we believe, we can achieve.
Joanna Oliver, Strategic Development Executive
Tuesday, 24 January 2012
Chrysalis Care supports ‘Give a child a home’
Our Registered Manager, Ian Dixon, was recently invited to meet the Prime Minister and other Senior Ministers and Directors for a round table discussion about fostering and adoption. This event was on the national news albeit he didn't get into camera shot!
Ian said: “This was a proud event for Chrysalis Care and demonstrates that (as fostering providers), we DO have a bigger, as in the Bigger arena on how we shape fostering in the future. It was a short meeting but nonetheless, good for us at Chrysalis Care and I hope the discussion helped the Prime Minister have a better understanding of how we all work together.”
At Chrysalis Care, we are committed to contributing to improving the services that children and young people receive, so that they can have the positive life experiences that all children should enjoy. We are extremely pleased that fostering and adoption is receiving the attention that it is and valued being invited to be a part of this event.
visit: http://www.giveachildahome.co.uk/
Ian Dixon/Joanna Oliver
Ian said: “This was a proud event for Chrysalis Care and demonstrates that (as fostering providers), we DO have a bigger, as in the Bigger arena on how we shape fostering in the future. It was a short meeting but nonetheless, good for us at Chrysalis Care and I hope the discussion helped the Prime Minister have a better understanding of how we all work together.”
At Chrysalis Care, we are committed to contributing to improving the services that children and young people receive, so that they can have the positive life experiences that all children should enjoy. We are extremely pleased that fostering and adoption is receiving the attention that it is and valued being invited to be a part of this event.
visit: http://www.giveachildahome.co.uk/
Ian Dixon/Joanna Oliver
Thursday, 19 January 2012
Crisis looms for foster care in 2012
At least 8,750 new foster families need to be found across the UK in the next 12 months to avoid a crisis in foster care in 2012, the Fostering Network has warned today (20 December).
The new figures show the scale of the challenge for fostering services as they struggle to provide the right foster homes for all the children who need them.
The number of children in care who need foster homes has risen for five years in a row, and is continuing to rise. There is also an ageing foster carer population and around 14 per cent of the workforce retire or leave every year.
Without these extra families, too many children will have to settle for second best. This might mean living with a foster carer who is a long way from the child’s home, school and family, or who does not have space for their brothers and sisters, or even living in residential care when fostering has been identified as the right option.
Robert Tapsfield, chief executive of the Fostering Network, said: “These figures are alarming – we could be facing a real crisis when looking to provide the most appropriate care for children who cannot live with their own family.
“All children in care need a family they can grow up with who can love them, be ambitious for them and help them achieve their potential. For a growing number, foster care is the best option.
“By becoming a foster carer people can help the children they welcome into their homes to have the best possible opportunity of a positive future, do well at school and be successful in later life."
An extra 7,100 foster carers are needed in England, 1,000 in Scotland, 550 in Wales and 100 in Northern Ireland.
The new figures show the scale of the challenge for fostering services as they struggle to provide the right foster homes for all the children who need them.
The number of children in care who need foster homes has risen for five years in a row, and is continuing to rise. There is also an ageing foster carer population and around 14 per cent of the workforce retire or leave every year.
Without these extra families, too many children will have to settle for second best. This might mean living with a foster carer who is a long way from the child’s home, school and family, or who does not have space for their brothers and sisters, or even living in residential care when fostering has been identified as the right option.
Robert Tapsfield, chief executive of the Fostering Network, said: “These figures are alarming – we could be facing a real crisis when looking to provide the most appropriate care for children who cannot live with their own family.
“All children in care need a family they can grow up with who can love them, be ambitious for them and help them achieve their potential. For a growing number, foster care is the best option.
“By becoming a foster carer people can help the children they welcome into their homes to have the best possible opportunity of a positive future, do well at school and be successful in later life."
An extra 7,100 foster carers are needed in England, 1,000 in Scotland, 550 in Wales and 100 in Northern Ireland.
Friday, 23 September 2011
More for less?
In the current climate of austerity, it would be tempting to go down the road of ‘gloom and doom’. There is no doubt that everyone is required to ‘tighten their belt’ and for an organisation like Chrysalis Care, which works on the basis of being inclusive and child centred, it presents challenges to us. Commissioners want to know what we are doing to save money….and understandably want to know whether we can do what we do for less? The challenges are for us all, as a cross sector, interagency team.
It is important to us to maintain our high quality service, to remain outstanding and to be true to our core ethos and identity. It is also important to remember to remain optimistic and hopeful in the face of adversity. By remaining optimistic, we are in a stronger position to be creative and responsive. To remember that what we are doing IS in the best interests of the child and that our belief in children and their rights to a positive experience and a future where they are able to realise their potential, is why we do what we do.
Doing more for less may be a challenge but doing more because children and young people deserve it is absolutely still the right thing to do.
Joanna Oliver, Strategic Development Executive
It is important to us to maintain our high quality service, to remain outstanding and to be true to our core ethos and identity. It is also important to remember to remain optimistic and hopeful in the face of adversity. By remaining optimistic, we are in a stronger position to be creative and responsive. To remember that what we are doing IS in the best interests of the child and that our belief in children and their rights to a positive experience and a future where they are able to realise their potential, is why we do what we do.
Doing more for less may be a challenge but doing more because children and young people deserve it is absolutely still the right thing to do.
Joanna Oliver, Strategic Development Executive
Monday, 10 January 2011
KEEPING IT IN THE FAMILY!!
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
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
Friday, 24 December 2010
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