This
is a new post within the organisation
and I commenced in December 2004.
Funded through the Children’s
Fund and contributions from the statutory
sectors of Education, Social Services
and Health, this important strategic
post is a good example of partnership
working within the new structures
of Children and Young people’s
Services.
My
role is to develop and facilitate
children and young people’s
Voice and influence in the design,
delivery and planning of services,
with a particular focus on the 0-13
age group. Through involvement and
participation, not only will services
be improved but the Children and Young
People themselves will become more
confident and will have their self
esteem raised. The biggest challenge
I face is in facilitating an atmosphere
of culture change, demonstrating that
even the youngest of children are
capable of having a voice and influence.
Since
taking up post I have been busy establishing
links within various service providers,
both voluntary and statutory as well
as establishing a task group to look
specifically at issues around how
we can give the 0-5 age group a voice
and influence. I have developed a
presentation to highlight the importance
of embedding Voice and Influence at
the heart of services and this has
been shown to a number of audiences.
Recognition of the importance of my
work has been highlighted by invitations
to sit on a number of strategic steering/task
groups such as the ‘Common assessment
framework consultation and evaluation
group’ and the ‘Extended
schools steering group’.
Strong
links and working partnerships with
other agencies give me a strong springboard
to further develop the notion of Voice
and Influence work in future years.
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