Friday 24 December 2010
Monday 13 December 2010
CWDC – or some ‘other’, surely its business as usual for our fantastic foster carers?
A number of our fantastic foster carers have now achieved their CWDC training, support and development standards and I continue to be impressed with the way Chrysalis Care foster carers remain committed to their learning and development. A treat on the day that we held an event to award CWDC certificates was the presence of our local MP David Evennett, who came to visit our head office in Bexleyheath, see http://www.flickr.com/photos/bexleyheathcrayford/5189853774/ for more on this.
Perhaps the involvement of local government is wholly appropriate in the current climate of devolved services. Although some of us may want to shield our eyes and our ears to the role of the government in what we do, there is a need (and a value) in acknowledging politicisation. To not consider agendas – such as notions of the ‘Big Society’ – is to not take on board everything that affects our current and future practice. In particular in relation to the CWDC, some significant changes to its organisation will undoubtedly affect, albeit even confuse us!
For those who have been around in the sector for some time, we are used to new standards, new milestones and in how these changes can sometimes cause some misunderstanding about what we are ‘supposed’ to do. This time is no different. I have received a little flurry of emails from people showing me the news about CWDC and asking if this means we can ditch the work books now (!). Some others have been concerned that they will have to rewrite their training programmes.
I say we carry on ‘as we were’ – the work is the same work, children and young people still need to be cared for in good, nurturing and stable homes. Foster carers still need to work within a framework that guides their good (and very, very good – outstanding even!) practice.
As we have learned from some of the changes to language over recent months, some of this is merely semantic and everything else remains essentially the same. In the case of CWDC, whether it is them or some ‘other’, something is necessary - to give credit to and reflect the fantastic role that Chrysalis Care foster carers have in transforming the lives of children and young people.
Jo Oliver
Service Development Manager
Perhaps the involvement of local government is wholly appropriate in the current climate of devolved services. Although some of us may want to shield our eyes and our ears to the role of the government in what we do, there is a need (and a value) in acknowledging politicisation. To not consider agendas – such as notions of the ‘Big Society’ – is to not take on board everything that affects our current and future practice. In particular in relation to the CWDC, some significant changes to its organisation will undoubtedly affect, albeit even confuse us!
For those who have been around in the sector for some time, we are used to new standards, new milestones and in how these changes can sometimes cause some misunderstanding about what we are ‘supposed’ to do. This time is no different. I have received a little flurry of emails from people showing me the news about CWDC and asking if this means we can ditch the work books now (!). Some others have been concerned that they will have to rewrite their training programmes.
I say we carry on ‘as we were’ – the work is the same work, children and young people still need to be cared for in good, nurturing and stable homes. Foster carers still need to work within a framework that guides their good (and very, very good – outstanding even!) practice.
As we have learned from some of the changes to language over recent months, some of this is merely semantic and everything else remains essentially the same. In the case of CWDC, whether it is them or some ‘other’, something is necessary - to give credit to and reflect the fantastic role that Chrysalis Care foster carers have in transforming the lives of children and young people.
Jo Oliver
Service Development Manager
Thursday 25 November 2010
Thursday 30 September 2010
If you have ideas, experiences, issues and success stories that you'd like to share with your peers – then Share Street is the place to do it
Share Street is an online community for the children’s workforce. It’s an opportunity for sharing resources and discussing good practice in the workplace, for building networks and communicating with colleagues.
It’s free to join and you can get involved in foster care forums, watch videos, view case studies and access a wealth of useful resources designed to make your life easier.
So why not pay a visit to Share Street and have your say?
http://sharestreet.cwdcouncil.org.uk/ForumDiscussions-22-1.aspx
It’s free to join and you can get involved in foster care forums, watch videos, view case studies and access a wealth of useful resources designed to make your life easier.
So why not pay a visit to Share Street and have your say?
http://sharestreet.cwdcouncil.org.uk/ForumDiscussions-22-1.aspx
Thursday 16 September 2010
CONGRATULATIONS
Congratulations to those carers who are today receiving Commendations for regularly completing their Training and Monthly Reports and also to those carers who are receiving their Long Service Awards.
Well done & We hope you had a memorable day
ChrysalisCare Team
Well done & We hope you had a memorable day
ChrysalisCare Team
Thursday 2 September 2010
Professionalisation or (over)due acknowledgement?
The notion of professionalising foster care has been on the agenda for some time, it appears that it is the logistics of this that create the barrier....what about sick and holiday absence? What about legislation around hours of work and taking regular breaks? But the detail perhaps serves to cloud the significance of the crucial bigger picture.
For years, I have listened to foster carers reflect upon situations, where they have conveyed that they were not seen as professionals and that their views were not sought, or considered with any conviction. Some are able to reflect more deeply and acknowledge that some of this is attributable to their own confidence levels and that they can sometimes struggle to ‘find their voice’. I would assert that this is not just the domain of foster care, as more and more often, services for children are organised in multi agency and integrated contexts, leading to there being a range of people with varying professional status being involved in the care a child receives.
This, in itself, has turned notions of professional hierarchy on its head. In the realms of foster care, whether a foster carer lacks some confidence or is highly assertive, the fact remains that the foster carer spends most time with the child, they are charged with keeping accurate records and appropriate information sharing. They have front line responsibility for safeguarding the welfare of the child and for ensuring that the every child matters agenda (or 'help children achieve more') is fulfilled. They have to balance personal and professional values and manage the inevitable interplay between the two. Regular learning and development and supervision is central to their role. They have to maintain a work ethic, yet be on call 24 hours a day. Sounds like a professional to me.
Jo Oliver
Service Development Manager
For years, I have listened to foster carers reflect upon situations, where they have conveyed that they were not seen as professionals and that their views were not sought, or considered with any conviction. Some are able to reflect more deeply and acknowledge that some of this is attributable to their own confidence levels and that they can sometimes struggle to ‘find their voice’. I would assert that this is not just the domain of foster care, as more and more often, services for children are organised in multi agency and integrated contexts, leading to there being a range of people with varying professional status being involved in the care a child receives.
This, in itself, has turned notions of professional hierarchy on its head. In the realms of foster care, whether a foster carer lacks some confidence or is highly assertive, the fact remains that the foster carer spends most time with the child, they are charged with keeping accurate records and appropriate information sharing. They have front line responsibility for safeguarding the welfare of the child and for ensuring that the every child matters agenda (or 'help children achieve more') is fulfilled. They have to balance personal and professional values and manage the inevitable interplay between the two. Regular learning and development and supervision is central to their role. They have to maintain a work ethic, yet be on call 24 hours a day. Sounds like a professional to me.
Jo Oliver
Service Development Manager
Hello and Welcome to the Chrysalis Care blog spot
 |
| Allé Pflaumer, Director |
As you will be aware there are many issues and topics highlighted by the media regarding looked after children, foster care, social services and children not being taken into care with tragic consequences.
The Chrysalis Care blog spot will be a forum where some of these topics, issues and other thoughts associated with fostering and looked after children will be discussed by staff, foster carers and perhaps some young people. I hope you enjoy them and please feel free to comment.
Monday 16 August 2010
RECRUITMENT
Chrysalis care is a family run, established agency that prides itself on “transforming the lives “ of the children we look after. There is a national shortage of foster carers and we are actively recruiting in Kent, London and Bedfordshire to ensure local children have local foster homes.
As well as our familes who look after children of all ages, we also have a range of specialist foster families: those who look after young siblings, those who undertake Parent and Child Fostering and those who look after young people on Remand.
All of our foster families receive a professional fee, 24 hour advice and a huge range of training and other social and professional opportunities to develop.
So, COULD YOU FOSTER?. A question you should look at closely with your family and friends. You need to have spare room, be available full time and have a sense of fun and resilience. Call NOW ON 0208 298 2800 if you would like some more information and we will visit you within a week to offer you more information.
As well as our familes who look after children of all ages, we also have a range of specialist foster families: those who look after young siblings, those who undertake Parent and Child Fostering and those who look after young people on Remand.
All of our foster families receive a professional fee, 24 hour advice and a huge range of training and other social and professional opportunities to develop.
So, COULD YOU FOSTER?. A question you should look at closely with your family and friends. You need to have spare room, be available full time and have a sense of fun and resilience. Call NOW ON 0208 298 2800 if you would like some more information and we will visit you within a week to offer you more information.
Thursday 29 July 2010
Children's Services Summer Fun
Here are some dates to put in your diary for the Summer holidays:
Activities are open to all CC foster families
Monday 09th August - Broadstairs Beach day
Tuesday 10th August - Epping Forest Picnic
Friday 13th August - Picnic In The Park (Bexleyheath)
Monday 16th August - Howletts Zoo Trip
Tuesday 17th August - Trip to London
Friday 20th August - Adventure Island/Southend
For more informations & To book places please call Jo or Richard
on 0208 298 2800
Activities are open to all CC foster families
Monday 09th August - Broadstairs Beach day
Tuesday 10th August - Epping Forest Picnic
Friday 13th August - Picnic In The Park (Bexleyheath)
Monday 16th August - Howletts Zoo Trip
Tuesday 17th August - Trip to London
Friday 20th August - Adventure Island/Southend
For more informations & To book places please call Jo or Richard
on 0208 298 2800
Tuesday 27 July 2010
SUMMER EVENT DETAILS
Bexleyheath - The Danson Centre
Date: Wed 4th August 2010
Time: 11.00 - 15.00
Details: EVERY fun activity you could think was happening last year somewhere in Bexley as theborough celebrated National Play Day. Thousands of children and their families across the borough flocked to the events, whose theme last year was Give Us A Go. Activities on offer this year include arts & crafts, sports, games, inflatable fun, a mini indoor planetarium, donkey rides, pets' corner, treasure hunts, trampoline fun, baby corner & beach and much more. Come on down and give us a go. It’s a free day of fun for the whole family and you get to take away vouchers for your youngsters to come back and try out a whole range of educational, fun and social activities at the centre. Dont forget to bring your suncream, hats and a lunch box and spend the whole afternoon with us.
Organised by: The Danson Centre
Open to public/invite only: Open to public
Venue
The Danson Centre
Brampton Road
Bexleyheath
Kent
DA7 4EZ
Date: Wed 4th August 2010
Time: 11.00 - 15.00
Details: EVERY fun activity you could think was happening last year somewhere in Bexley as theborough celebrated National Play Day. Thousands of children and their families across the borough flocked to the events, whose theme last year was Give Us A Go. Activities on offer this year include arts & crafts, sports, games, inflatable fun, a mini indoor planetarium, donkey rides, pets' corner, treasure hunts, trampoline fun, baby corner & beach and much more. Come on down and give us a go. It’s a free day of fun for the whole family and you get to take away vouchers for your youngsters to come back and try out a whole range of educational, fun and social activities at the centre. Dont forget to bring your suncream, hats and a lunch box and spend the whole afternoon with us.
Organised by: The Danson Centre
Open to public/invite only: Open to public
Venue
The Danson Centre
Brampton Road
Bexleyheath
Kent
DA7 4EZ
Friday 16 July 2010
WORLDCUP 2010
Congratulations to June who won the Chrysalis office World Cup Sweepstake with Spain, drinks are on you !
Friday 2 July 2010
TRAINING EVENT
CC Foster Carers don't forget :
Child Protection - Safe Caring & Allegations
training course @ Kings House, Bexleyheath
Any Foster Carers not attending and would like to
please call Karen at the office on 0208 298 2800
Child Protection - Safe Caring & Allegations
training course @ Kings House, Bexleyheath
Any Foster Carers not attending and would like to
please call Karen at the office on 0208 298 2800
Wednesday 16 June 2010
Friday 21 May 2010
This is a great Opportunity !
We are looking for two motivated people
who pride themselves on high standards of work, focusing on supporting foster carers and improving the lives of children and young people.
Chrysalis Care, an ‘Outstanding’ Independent Fostering Provider, is looking for two Qualified Social Workers/Senior Practitioners to join the team based in Bexleyheath. You will enjoy working with an agency which puts quality of service as its number one priority.
Salary - £26,000 - £35,500pa
Excellent Administrative Support
Manageable Work Load
Good Training Opportunities
Good Supervision
Pension Scheme
Private Medical Cover
Car/Car Allowance
Please call 0208 298 2801 for an application pack
who pride themselves on high standards of work, focusing on supporting foster carers and improving the lives of children and young people.
Chrysalis Care, an ‘Outstanding’ Independent Fostering Provider, is looking for two Qualified Social Workers/Senior Practitioners to join the team based in Bexleyheath. You will enjoy working with an agency which puts quality of service as its number one priority.
Salary - £26,000 - £35,500pa
Excellent Administrative Support
Manageable Work Load
Good Training Opportunities
Good Supervision
Pension Scheme
Private Medical Cover
Car/Car Allowance
Please call 0208 298 2801 for an application pack
Wednesday 12 May 2010
CHRYSALIS FOSTER CARERS FUN DAY come and join us at our family fun day. We would
love to see you all there. Don't forget to bring a picnic and a pair of football boots !!
Activities Include:
Bouncy Castle, face painting . . . . . .
games and much more . . . . . .
For more info please refer to your recent flyer !!
Any other queries please contact either Jo or Richard .........
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