Children’s Voluntary Sector Forum

The Children’s Voluntary Sector Forum (CVSF) is open to all Voluntary & Community organisations who provide services to Children living in Solihull. The group meets every couple of months to discuss issues relevant to the services they provide. For more information on how the Forum can support the work that you do and how to get involved, contact Charles Rapson on 0121 770 8222 or email charlesr@solihull-sustain.org.uk

Next Forum Meeting

We want as many people to benefit from this forum as possible, so please tell us when you would like the next meeting to be. We will go with the majority vote.

Share Street – A New Way of Sharing & Learning

The Chidren’s Workforce Development Council (CWDC) has just launched Share Street – an online resource for people who work with Children & Young people plus parents, carers and children & young people themselves.

So, If you work with children or young people and their families, Share Street is for you. It’s a community for sharing resources and discussing best practice in the workplace, for building networks and communicating with colleagues.

To join in, visit Share Street now

Want More Support ?

And we want to provide it but we have only limited resources and capacity. So, we would appreciate your help in gathering some basic information about the number of people providing services to children & young people – staff and volunteers – and how many children and young people use the services you provide. This applies to organisations who specifically provide services to children & young people but also to organisations who provide a more general service that is used by children & young people (e.g. sports and arts clubs, etc.

The information will help to demonstrate the volume of work undertaken by the voluntary sector and argue the case for additional resources to support you – especially given the pressures on you with increased safeguarding requirements, staff & volunteer induction, skills and experience requirements, etc.

It will take only a few minutes to complete a simple online survey.

In the meantime, if we can help, please contact Charles Rapson on 0121 770 8222 or email charlesr@solihull-sustain.org.uk

Thank you for your help

Vetting & Barring Scheme

Anyone working with Children, Young People & Vulnerable Adults should be aware that from October 2009, the Independent Safeguarding Authority will begin the process of increasing the requirements for employers & employees (including Voluntary & Community organisations & volunteers) working with children and vulnerable adults. That means everyone from specialist child support through to Sunday Schools is affected.

The Independent Safeguarding Authority Website provides an overview of the scheme as well as answers to common questions

Workforce Strategy

As part of the governments 10 year Every Child Matters strategy which has now reached the half way mark, the focus switches to creating a unified Children & Young Peoples workforce. As part of this, Solihull Children & Young Peoples Trust has issued its Workforce Strategy for 2009 to 2012. The strategy covers workforce planning, recruitment, retention, training and development, leadership and management and includes a common induction for all new starters in Solihull.

Childrens Workforce Strategy

For further information on the strategy contact Claire Moore, Workforce Development Manager, Solihull Children and Young People’s Trust on 0121 788 5385 or email cmoore@solihull.gov.uk.

Introducing LINCS

LINCS is the new name for the Solihull Child and Family Support Model. LINCS is a simple, practical framework for multi-agency support of children, young people and families. The LINCS ‘How to’ booklet is a step by step guide on what to do if you have concerns about a child. It provides advice on issues such as when to carry out a Common Assessment Framework (CAF) assessment and how to decide on a Lead Professional or Lead Person (LP).

Download the ‘How to’ booklet here

If you would like to know more or would like free training on LINCS,CAF and LP please contact the LINCS team at Solihull Children and Young People’s Trust on 0121 788 5356 or email lincs@solihull.gov.uk

Documents

Terms of Reference

The group has an agreed Terms of Reference, which has been made available for download.

CVSF Terms of Reference

Newsletters

Forum Minutes

CYPT Board Reports

Janet Down from SoLO is the VCS representative on the Children & Young Peoples Trust (CYPT) Board. Janet provides feedback from the CYPT Board meetings and would welcome your input to help her fulfill her role. Janet can be contacted on 0121 788 3469 or email janet@solihullsolo.org

DCATCH Newsletter

Useful newsletter detailing some of the excellent projects funded through DCATCH funding across Solihull.

February DCATCH Newsletter

Useful Websites & Resources

The SAFE Network – Information & Advice on Safeguarding – The SAFE Network provides information and advice on safeguarding children and young people to voluntary and community organisations and parents.
CWDC Website of the Children’s Workforce Development Council with useful information and resources for anyone working with children.
CYPT pages on SMBC website with further links
Main Stay Safe site
Stay Safe proceedures
Every Child Matters
Solihullonevoice – CYPT website
4u2do – site for children in Solihull
youthspace – site for young people in Solihull
Askability - website from the Children’s Society
Earlysupport for parents, carers and professionals
Virtual Classroom. An online education facility for children unable to attend school.

Talking Trusts

Talking Trusts is a document produced by a consortium of national organisations that support local networks for voluntary and community sector (VCS) organisations. The document is intended to inform the discussion about how children’s trusts can best involve the VCS especially smaller organisations. Download a summary document for the Talking Trusts

Lord Lamings Report

Lord Lamings report on safeguarding children has now been produced with commitment from central government to implementing the recommendations in this report.

Solihull SUSTAiN - Helping Solihull's Third Sector Get Fit for the Future