A BIG WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST MEMBER OF THE TEAM:

A has worked with children and young people since 1992. During that time she has worked in schools, a pupil referral unit, and a health care setting. While much of this work has taken place to move children and young people forward educationally, this has given her the opportunity to work closely with children, young people and their carers, and to also work collaboratively with a wide range of professionals and support agencies.

In 2001 A left England for the United States of America where she spent two years as a cultural exchange teacher with the organization VIF. The experience of living and working in another country was a richly rewarding one, and it enabled A to understand how it feels to leave one’s social networks behind and start afresh elsewhere.

In 2005 A decided that it was time to undertake further professional development and she enrolled on the Master of Education programme offered by the University of Bristol where she undertook studies in the Psychology of Education. This course is recognized by the British Psychological Society and acts as a conversion course for those who do not hold a Bachelors degree in Psychology, but who wish to obtain Graduate Basis for Registration with the British Psychological Society. The reasoning behind this move was to better understand the physical and psychological development of the child in order to work with children and those who care for them in ways that promote psychological well-being, which in turn leads to improved social and emotional outcomes for children and young people.

A is passionate about helping children and young people to achieve the five main outcomes that are at the heart of Every Child Matters, which means that she is very much looking forward to working in partnership with colleagues and carers at Regional Foster Placements to meet the varied needs of the children and young people in our care.

THE PRINCES TRUST

The Prince of Wales set up The Prince's Trust in 1976, with the goal of helping young people fulfil their potential.

The Youth charity now helps change young people's lives. Since its launch it has helped more than 550,000 young people since and supports 100 more each day. Almost three in four young people the Trust helped last year moved into work, education or training.

It gives practical and financial support, developing key workplace skills such as confidence and motivation. It works with 14 to 30-year-olds who have struggled at school, have been in care, are long-term unemployed or have been in trouble with the law.

If you're 14 to 30 and feel stuck, bored, frustrated or held back, the Princes Trust can help. Look into the programmes we provide and how they can help you get your life working.

Further information about The Prince’s Trust is available at www.princes-trust.org.uk or on 0800 842 842.

NVQ CENTRE OPENS

We are delighted to announce that Regional Foster Placements have now been granted approval to become their own National Vocational Qualifications (NVQ) Centre with City & Guilds.

This means that we are now able to offer the Health & Social Care (Children and Young People) Level 3 qualification to all foster carers working with the company.

This qualification is a requirement within the Minimum Care Standards and is the benchmark for training in the industry.

The assessors will trained and supplied by Regional Foster Placements and will visit people in their own home to carry out the assessments.

For more details on what is required please contact Jeremy Wills any of the following formats:

Telephone: 0791 7700 527
E-mail: jeremywills@hotmail.co.uk
Post: 113 North Hill, Plymouth PL4 8JY

Regional Foster Placement 2007 Easter Event

On Saturday the 21st 2007 we held our Easter Event at the Milkyway. The day started with glorious sunshine, surely a good omen for the day ahead.

Well at least I got the day’s big mistake done and out of the way before everyone had arrived! I arrived with K at the Milkyway car-park at 9.15am giving me plenty of time to get organised for everyone arriving from 10am. As I pulled up K asked me if I had checked that it opened at 10am. I said I had not checked but was sure it did. Next our first family turns up….a little early of course. I thought I’d better go and check the opening time after all. To my horror I discovered that it actually opened at 10.30. Ooops!! While I was trying to grab the staff’s attention to negotiate an early entry, I could hear more families turning up. Luckily the kind staff at the Milkyway let us in to use the outside play area until the rest of the theme park officially opened. If wasn’t for that, the alternative was a game of rounders in the car-park as someone had suggested.

After everyone who had arrived early had gathered outside, it was time to explore the rest of the attractions. The most popular had to be the Dodgems. K was challenged to a bout of ‘dodging’ later in morning and emerged from the car having experienced five minutes of being chased and bumped constantly.

The weather was still shining for the occasion so we all met outside for lunch. All the children were given ‘goody bags’ containing Easter treats.

The indoor bird of prey show was excellent. The opportunity to get so near to these beautiful creatures and view them in flight so closely was a great experience. And the ferrets…..oh yes the ferrets! What that man could do with his ferrets, was well, how can it be described? Interesting? But he did love his ferrets!

The Zone Clone was another popular experience. First you were led through the luminous tunnels and gangways, trying to spot those aliens before they jumped out to scare the living daylights out of you, before ending with a ride that took you up and down through the darkness and arriving safely to run through the final tunnels.

Anyway I think it is safe to say that a great time was had by all! A big thank you to all those who came!

PC
Support and Resource Worker.

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

As a result of the geographical spread of our carers, Regional Foster Placements will be holding 2 events for carers this year:

September 8th - Minehead
The first will be held at Butlins in Minehead on September 8th and we envisage that it will primarily be for the Ilfracombe and Avening carers. A letter confirming the details will be sent to carers in those areas in the next 2 weeks. However, if anyone from our other areas wishes to attend they are more than welcome, just email enquiries@regionalfosterplacements.co.uk and I will ensure you receive a copy of the letter.

October – Date and venue to be confirmed
The second will primarily be for Okehampton and Plymouth carers and will be scheduled for sometime during the October half-term. Carers will receive a letter once details have been finalised. Again if carers from any other area wish to attend please email me.