Redefining the narrative of leaving care

This keynote focuses on the system of leaving care, analysing the approaches to supporting children to effectively become independent. Like all of our keynotes, this one uses storytelling as the method to share experiences of leaving care and how young people develop their own incredible strategies to sustain independent living, gain educational achievement and access employment.

The phrase ‘leaving care’ suggests that children who enter care leave it, however many challenge this phrase by saying that ‘care’ leaves the child, the child doesn’t leave ‘care’. Our system is set up that young people will naturally come to an end of their journey though care, only if they keep the relationships they build along the way is there any physical connection to being in care.

We look at the psychological dynamic of leaving care, taking into consideration the mental health implications this can have, more importantly we look at how young people have overcome these and how individuals and services have helped to ensure young people feel safe, happy and thrive.

Navigation of external systems outside of the social care system are the new focus for a child leaving care, these include accessing education, gaining employment or using local government support for benefits, housing and other services offering practical support for children leaving care.

This speech focuses on stories of young people who have all, against all the odds, achieved incredible things leaving care. We believe that all stories of personal development are unwritten strategies for social change, this speech brings you the stories and the strategies to support young people to lead their own care and build a stable and happy life after care.

This keynote is for

1. Frontline children’s services staff
2. Social workers
3. Teachers
4. Youth workers
5. Police officers
6. Health professionals
7. Leaving care personal advisors
8. ..or anyone that works with children!