Graphic text - being in care is an experience, not a definition

Labels are for clothes not people

Introducing issue 12 of REACH, which explores stigma, language, perception and the representation of care and care experience.

01 December 2018
Two colleagues chatting at a conference

You live and you learn

Amanda Lawler explains why CELCIS really cares about training and learning.

07 February 2018
Stephanie

Eat, sleep, CELCIS, repeat

Stephanie is a Modern Apprentice at CELCIS, and here she talks about landing her first ‘real’ job at only 16.

08 March 2018
A child eating ice cream in the sunshine

It’s not just about the adults!

The importance for children in residential care to develop the ability to navigate friendships with each other.

26 April 2018
What's the harm?

What's the harm?

The difficult issue of self-harm in residential care, exploring the experiences of young people and the support workers need to help.

16 May 2018
A mother and daughter chatting

Commitment, like love, is not enough

Gordon Main talks about how commitment in the care system is not enough.

04 June 2018
A toddler looking through a train window

Getting It Right For Every… Journey

Jillian Ingram ponders how getting a train from A to B might just offer clues to how to meet children’s needs.

20 July 2018
A mother holding a baby who is eating an apple

If I wasn't emotionally involved, they wouldn't have thrived

Gordon Main continues the conversation on commitment, discussing the emotional investment of foster carers.

02 August 2018
A group of children running to camera

Living in the room for improvement

Claire Burns introduces the evidence into practice theme of the new issue of our REACH publication.

03 September 2018
A man studying in a library

University can be a tricky place if you have been in care

This blog post explores the findings of a recent briefing from CELCIS about going to university from care.

17 October 2018
Two people chatting

Unconscious bias in the interview room

Joe Rankin of the Nevis Group talks about whether young people should tell future employers that they're care experienced. With video of James Calder.

05 December 2018
Labels highlighting some of the things that impact on care experienced children and young people

I couldn't bring myself to write the acronym 'LAC'

Continuing the theme of Graham's first blog post on language and labelling, giving examples of when this is unhelpful.

02 December 2018
laughing children

Taking collective responsibility

Lizzie Morton introduces the corporate parenting issue of Reach and talks about the big things happening for looked after children and young people.

28 February 2018
Teenagers talking to each other

CHAMPS is changing lives

Maryellen Fegan chairs the Highland Champions (CHAMPS) Board. In this blog she describes what she believes it has achieved.

12 March 2018
Two sad looking teens

Commitment must be matched by deeds, not just words

Kenny McGhee continues the conversation from Gordon Main’s recent blog Commitment, like love, is not enough.

20 June 2018
A poster from a Children's Hearings Scotland advertising campaign entitled: Be a force for good

"Mummy’s Little Punchbag"

Kenny Murray comments on the Children's Hearings Scotland 'Be A Force For Good' campaign.

16 August 2018
Two boys in a firld facing away from camera hugging

It’s a family affair

How a Maori model of improving care has been transformative for a family in Glasgow.

03 September 2018
Father hugging a child

Implications of the Children (Equal Protection from Assault) (Scotland) Bill

Dr Louise Hill considers the implications of the Children (Equal Protection from Assault) (Scotland) Bill and how similar measures have impacted on support services in other countries.

31 October 2018
Charlotte Armitage

Telling Stories

The representation of care experienced people in literature, film and storytelling.

08 December 2018
decorative

We can all learn about how young people can thrive in employment

Tommy McDade from Barnardo's Scotland talks about a programme that is supporting young people into the world of work for the first time.

04 December 2018
Happy children

Change is coming

Change is coming in the inspection of how well corporate parents are meeting their responsibilities in improving the lives of care experienced children and young people.

26 March 2018
Students lying on grass studying

Joining up the dots – why data analysis is vital in understanding and supporting care experienced young people

Dr Neil Harrison argues that we need to use better data to better understand care experienced young people entering higher education.

13 September 2018
A long straight road with trees either side

How do you solve a problem like… stigma?

Daniel Busso of the Frameworks Institute writes about how stigma could be changed.

11 December 2018
Children in Scotland logo

Change the language of poverty

Chris Small from Children in Scotland explains how and why tackling stigma on poverty led to a new campaign for action to improve children's lives

07 November 2018
Seen, heard and chicken check ins

Seen, heard and chicken check ins

How the Seen + Heard project in Fife informs developments in policy and practice, and engages Corporate Parents.

28 March 2018
People uploading data

A care leaver's path to university

Many paths to higher education are not straightforward. A care experienced student talks about overcoming such challenges.

10 September 2018
A Parisian boulevard shot from above

Going back to the Greeks: know thyself by stepping out of yourself

Fouzi Mathey Kikadidi explores how ignorance and labelling affects children and communities in France, arguing that empathy is essential in order to prevent stigma

12 December 2018
*decorative*

Team work works and all relationships matter

Dr Christine Puckering from Mellow Parenting tells the story of a family and how trauma informed care can foster better relationships.

10 September 2018
It's okay not to be okay

It’s okay to not be okay

Laura Sharpe from See Me to talks about the results of a survey looking at the mental health of young people in Scotland.

17 December 2018
Happy children

A decade of data

How an analysis of data has enabled Stirling’s services for children develop to better fit their needs.

17 September 2018
Happy teenagers

"I just want to be normal": looked after young people's experiences of feeling different

Professor Julie Selwyn, from the University of Bristol, and Dr Claire Baker from Corum Voice talk about the Bright Spots programme looking at young people's wellbeing.

17 December 2018
A concerned teenager talking to an adult

We are open, responsive and actively listen

Michael Stewart, from Fosterplus, gives an insight into a model used to improve foster care practice.

19 September 2018
An adult and teenager talking

Caring about care means being ready to change

John Ryan reflects on the fight to continue to do best by Scotland’s children.

18 December 2018
Hands making the shape of a heart

Care experience at Christmas

In this blog post, Alastair Redpath, Co-Chair of the Independent Care Review’s Stigma Work Group, considers why Christmas might not be all joy and cheer for everyone but sees hope for change.

19 December 2018
managers having a meeting

Reflecting on practice through PRISM

Jillian Ingram from CELCIS, explains how a new model for shared learning has helped child protection in North Ayrshire.

21 September 2018
two children counting on their fingers

Agents of change

Jo Derrick at Foster Care Associates explans how additional support for foster carers at the early stages of placement helps to improve outcomes.

24 September 2018
Children playing outside

An air of calm

Mark Brotherton, Educational Psychologist, explains how strong relationships between carers and psychologists have been nurtured.

25 September 2018
A concerned adult listening to a teenager

The mistrusting brain and blocked care

Evidence suggests that DDP (attachment-focused family therapy) is effective in helping recovery from developmental trauma. Here's how.

25 September 2018
A boy pointing at his school work

Information is power

Laura Conachan explains how the Children's Hearing System can be improved by seeing the bigger picture.

26 September 2018