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The Care Experienced Voice
In all areas we provide opportunity for care experienced people to get involved in influencing and shaping provision (including our own) for care leavers locally and nationally. We achieve this through:
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Young Advisor's Panel – meets quarterly (sometimes more often if there are pieces of work that require a more urgent response) to discuss current services, opportunities and feedback on particular issues relevant at that time. We also feed into local and national reviews, research and pieces of work relevant to care leavers. We offer opportunities for senior leaders and commissioners to consult with the panel around designing and commissioning services for care leavers. Membership is fluid and focussed around young ‘s specific interest in particular issues or pieces of work
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Reference Groups – we form reference groups around specific issues such as being a care experienced parent and emotional wellbeing – we feed into learning circles, strategic meetings and local authority senior leadership to ensure issues important to young people are highlighted and prioritised​
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Young Interviewer's – we involve care experienced young people in interviewing all new team members and new volunteers through a structured Young Interviewers Panel
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Training Opportunities – we involve care experienced young people in training Pure Insight volunteers and other professionals such as PAs, social workers, student social workers, health visitors, midwives. We also provide training to other organisations seeking to have a better understanding of how to best support care experienced young people including employers wishing to capitalise on the skills and talents care experienced young people can offer
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National Networks – we feed the care experienced voice into national forums such as the National Care Leavers Benchmarking forum, GM Care Leavers Trust, The Care Leavers Covenant, The Care Leavers Association, Our Voice, Our Say, The All Party Parliamentary Group for Looked after Children and Care Leavers, The National Implementation Advisor for Care Leavers
Mentoring
Do you need a bit of support with an area of your life that is troubling you or holding you back? Mentors are people from your community who have time and skills to help you focus on an area of your life you would like to change or develop. Mentors typically volunteer 2-3 hours a week to support you over a minimum of 2 years. It might be your housing or finances you need some support with, or figuring out what you want to do next in your life and how you are going to go about this in a step by step approach. Or it could be you are struggling with an issue that is really holding you back such as getting in trouble with the police, struggling with mental health or use of substances. Mentors are there just for you – to focus on whatever YOU feel is important to YOU. They complete a 10 week training programme with the Pure Insight Team and have to complete a DBS check and have good references to become a mentor – so you will be in safe hands. Many of our mentoring relationships turn into long term friendships with young people and volunteers talking about the benefits it has brought to both their lives.
Psychological Wellbeing Services
Are you struggling with your mental health or managing your emotions? When we have been through tough events in life it can leave scars on us that need time, patience and support to heal. Our Psychological wellbeing workers will support you on a weekly basis in your own home or out in the community to learn skills in how to manage your mental health and emotions. They can also help you to access your GP, understand your life story and any diagnosis or labels you may have We will work with you to determine how long you may need support for and you can dip in and out of this service as you need to – its led by you!
Counselling
Our counsellors are highly trained in working with people who have experienced trauma and or other mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. They will offer you a weekly slot to meet up and talk either face to face or over the telephone to help you work through difficult feelings or situations in your life. They can meet you a few times for a coffee or walk first if you feel this would make this more comfortable for you. We understand it’s a big step and it’s nice to meet somebody a few times first to get to know them.
Activities
Everyone feels better after getting out in the great outdoors. With the activity team you will get the chance to go Kayaking, walk up mountains, visit amazing beautiful places you wouldn’t normally get chance to see We have day trips out the beach, parks and beauty spots and often go on bike rides too. We have equipment you can borrow to do this . We also have an allotment and farm you can visit too!
Parent Support Worker
Would you like some 1:1 support for you and your child to learn how to cook low cost healthy meals, or to learn age appropriate play in your own home. Our parents workers also support parents to learn how to manage childhood illnesses and minor accidents, where to get out in the local community and find good parent groups. They can also accompany you in getting out and about and join you up with other parents you have things in common with to make new friends.
Parent Angels
If you are a new parent or a parent who has hit a difficult spot, this project could be perfect for you. We will listen to what you and your child need then match you up with a small team of volunteers who can help you to achieve this. It might be helping you settle into your new role as a parent and offering you some practical help such as a hot meal, holding baby whilst you have a shower, or get on with some jobs in your home. It could be to help you through a time of crisis by providing practical support and supporting you emotionally. Babies don’t come with guide books so having access to calm reliable adults can be a real blessing to have people to seek advice and support from. All our Parent Angels are highly trained and have been hand-picked because they are kind, non-judgemental human beings.
Young Advisors Panel
Would you like to help us improve our services and influence other local services for care leavers? Becoming part of the Pure Insight Young Advisors Panel gives you the chance to do this and much more. You will also help us interview and train new team members and volunteers and get involved in training other professionals from time to time.
It is really important to us that young people are at the heart of all that we do so your opinion is very valuable and will be listened to. You will also often see how your thoughts and ideas influence what we do at Pure Insight, now and in the future.