Housekeeping

To explore and understand the experiences of looked after disabled children and young people in research, policy and practice arenas, in order to inform and encourage change.

1. Being Counted

1.How many looked after children are disabled? 2.How are looked after children theoretically constructed? 3.What are the opportunities and barriers to establishing accurate figures?

Key Action Points To ensure clear understanding of definitions and shared terminology across practitioners and organisations To address the challenge of collecting data that will usefully support planning services and future resources

2. Being Heard

Purpose of workshop Working with Active Inquiry, the Being Heard workshop used forum theatre, presentations and small group discussion to explore what matters to looked after disabled children.

Key Action Points To address the powerlessness that some children can feel when excluded from day-to- day decisions To use forum theatre to engage an audience and encourage critical discussion and learning To further develop creative opportunities for our looked after disabled children to express their views and be heard

3. Being Included

Purpose of workshop How are the views of children heard in decision making processes? What are the decision making forums for looked after disabled children and how are they currently included/excluded? What are the communication rights of children?

Key Action Points Continue to invest in the development of tools that assist in reaching and including those children with little or no speech Address the challenge of improving practitioner training and adjusting workloads to accommodate the additional time necessary to meaningfully communicate with disabled children

4. Being Valued

Purpose of workshop How do we address the issues raised? Drawing on our experience and learning from previous workshops we will focus on taking forward research, policy, and practice by developing a future programme of work.

Discussion and Action Groups

Alisha’s Surprise