Young Views and Voices Priti Biswas Paul Corina Cathy Mouser

2 Purpose and Objectives To enhance our understanding of children and young people’s experience from their perspectives. To contribute towards an NSCB children and young people’s involvement strategy ……To improve the involvement of children and young people in safeguarding…

3 Methodology Random selection of respondents Semi-structured interviews Volunteers selected (voluntary and statutory sector) One to one interviews Data analysed

4 Respondents (35) Age: years years years Gender: Male – 18 Female – 17 Ethnicity: White British –31 White (Other) - 3 Mixed (white and black African) - 1 Disability: Yes – 6 No – 29

5 Key findings.. Positives….. One third of the young people had a very positive experience – understood what was happening, – were satisfied with the way things were explained to them, – participated in meetings, and – felt listened to

6 Quotes.. “SW made things better, not worse. I believed what the SW said and it’s always proved to be true.” “…..what I suggested or said happened and I felt they understood. ……They went away and came back a week later and told me what had happened because of what I said.”

7 However….. Others had mixed experiences – somewhat confused about what was happening – not able to express their views – felt the information which was given to them was not always appropriate for them – asked questions but did not feel they were listened to, and – for some no information and a frequent change in social worker had a negative impact

8 Suggestions for improvement Keeping children informed by providing timely, relevant, appropriate and up-to-date information while regular reassurance is given. “Tell the truth and reassure children that things won’t get worse”

9 Suggestions for improvement cont.. Communications with CYP are straight forward, simple and coherent, particularly where more than one social worker is involved (e.g. from adult and children’s services), and where social workers leave or transfer cases. “Social Workers changing all the time, and giving different opinions made it confusing.”

10 Suggestions for improvement cont.. Children and young people friendly materials explaining the services that we offer and what to expect. “.. I was too young to understand complicated 'adult stuff'. Felt confused at the time and thought about it a lot. Some adults told me to tell lies about what was happening to me and how I felt..”

11 Suggestions for improvement cont.. Wherever possible reduce the number of social workers involved in children’s lives, so that they are given more opportunity to develop a trusting relationship. “Within the last year we have had 3 different social workers from 3 different groups so I don’t really know who I am supposed to be talking to. It’s all very confusing.”

12 Suggestions for improvement cont.. It is important to deepen and maintain ‘trust’ between children and their social workers. “Being listened to and trusted more.”

13 Suggestions for improvement cont.. Children’s contribution and engagement in meetings could be improved by better preparation “Perhaps if people had let me have time to say things…. I'm not very good at saying things without people letting me have time to say them”.

14 What’s next?? We need to have a CYP engagement strategy.. …How can we best take this forward ….. Thank You!