THE GUIDE TO
WORKING TOGETHER
For people working with children and young people
As children and young people, we are the experts in our lives. We know that things are much better when we work together with adults in our lives, whether they are from the Trust, the council, our schools or other places.
We have helped write this guide to working together because we want to make sure that everyone that works with us and our families or carers is able to hear our voice.
As you read through this guide, you will see that it is written by children and young people to the adults that work with us. We thought it was important to use language that everyone can understand, which means we haven‘t used words like participation and co-production.
Working together means:
Doing things with us not to us
Listening to our experiences
Helping us to understand things if they are difficult
Telling us why things are the way they are
Being honest, respectful and ‘getting us’
Giving us the information we need to be able have a say in the things that matter to us
Download the Guide
Click on the image to download a copy of the Working Together guide.
What matters to us?
We worked together with adults from the Children’s Trust to make a list of the things that are important to us when working together.
Click on a box for details
We know we have a right to have our voices heard
Treat us like individuals, we are not all the same
We should all have the chance to get involved in things that matter, it is your job to make this happen
Use language that we can understand
The things you write about us should be truthful, and everything you know about us should be put on our file
Our culture and identity are really important to us
Make sure the places that you take us or see us are nice and welcoming
Be honest and try to understand how we feel
What we have done so far
Before this guide to Working Together was written, we had the ‘How Can I Help You?’ Participation Strategy. How Can I Help You was the name that we chose for the four I’s of Invest, Inform, Involve and Influence. We have kept the four I’s in this new guide and you can read more about them on the next page.
In the three years that we had How Can I Help You, lots of really good things happened in the Trust to make it easier for us to have a say in the things that matter. As the Chairs of the children and young people’s groups we are happy that we have had the chance to help write Working Together, and look forward to making things even better in the future.
We get regular newsletters
We celebrate the FIYA awards every year
We co-chair the Corporate Parenting Board
We have activities during the school holidays
We get a booklet that tells us what our rights are
We are more supported when we make a complaint
We do interviews, inductions and lots of Trust events
Other organisations in the West Midlands using our four I’s
We get a coming into care box with loads of useful information
The National Youth Agency gave us a flagship Hear By Rights award
We are able to become Young Ambassadors and work with the Trust
We have our own website with a special area for when we have left care
The computer systems have changed so our voice can be recorded better
The Participation Team visit us when we come into care and when we turn 17
Have you seen the four I’s?
Making sure that everyone knows how important it is to work together, and that the right things are in place to make it happen
Giving us the information we need to be able to help make decisions about our life
All about the different ways that we can work together with adults, on our own or in groups
How working together can make a difference to all children and young people, now and in the future
When we need a bit more help….
The Voice Team work with the children and young people that are cared for by the Trust, or that have left care and are now care experienced young people.
They run groups which you can read about below, but they also do lots of other things to try and make our lives better. There are activities and trips that happen in every school holiday, and they also have parties and fun days throughout the year.
The Team also visit children that have just come into care to talk about the help that is there for us. They also speak to young people who are turning seventeen and help them get ready to leave care.
They make sure we have the information we need, and will also help us when we make a complaint.
There are lots of people that can work together with children and young people when we need a bit more help.
We have listed a few organisations here and put all of the information on the Sandwell Voice website. This is so we can make sure that staff from all organisations have the most up to date information when things change.
Barnardo’s
Barnardo’s can help children and young people that have been in care make plans for the future and come to terms with some of the things that we have been through.
Advocates
There are advocates that can help us have our say and sort things out for us if we are in care, are care experienced or have a social worker.
Independent Visitors
Independent Visitors can meet with us regularly to talk to us, do fun things with us and give us extra help, advice and support if we need it.
The Virtual School
The Virtual School provides advice, guidance and support to children that are cared for in Sandwell.
Named Nurse
The Named Nurse and other nurses can help to keep us healthy and give us easy access to health services.
Young Ambassadors
Young Ambassadors work with the Voice Team to help make sure the voice of the child is heard across the Trust and other organisations.
As Young Ambassadors, we get paid to help the Trust by doing the following things:
- Interview new social work staff that want to join the Trust.
- Talk to new staff about the voice of the child when they do their induction.
- Attend and chair meetings like the Corporate Parenting Board.
- Speak about our experiences at events.
- Help the Trust with their celebration events and other large meetings.
- Do the Coming into Care and Transition visits with someone from the Participation Team.
If you are working with a care experienced young person and you think they would like to become a Young Ambassador, talk to the Voice Team
Our Groups and Forums
Voices of Sandwell
Voices of Sandwell (VOS) is a group of children we care for. It is a place to get involved in lots of exciting projects, learn new skills and make some great friends.
VOS is for children and young people aged between 11 and 17 years old.
Forum for Independent Young Adults
The Forum for Independent Young Adults (FIYA) is for care experienced young people between the ages of 18 and 25 years old.
They do loads of activities and work with people in the Trust and other organisations to make things better.
These groups really are like a big family.
We meet every other Wednesday evening between 5 and 7pm at the Trust Building in Broadwell Road, Oldbury.
If you know any children and young people that would like to come along, speak to the Voice Team.
Young People Engagement Requests
It is paramount that the voice of the child is heard and their views are taken in to account when shaping the service that we and our partners provide to them. If you or your organisation would like to engage with either group please click here to request an audience.
When visiting groups please allow time to come back again and feedback to the young people on the outcomes of their views.