Jail Bars and Nail Bars

Posted by Mark Raw in Childcare Industry Harmony Childrens Services

It looks like the issue of ‘Kids behind Bars’ has made it to the mainstream media as it is being shown onBBC1 on Thursday evenings.  It has even caused one desperate mother to contact me to seek advice and guidance.

There has been a lot going on in July, several key reports have been published the main ones being:  The Children’s Society reports on Runaways, http://www.cypnow.co.uk/Social_Care/article/1079987/runaways-must-seen-risk/   The Children’s Homes data pack: http://www.education.gov.uk/childrenandyoungpeople/families/childrenincare/childrenshomes/a00192000/childrens-homes-data-pack   And the DoE children’s home quarterly news letter: http://www.education.gov.uk/childrenandyoungpeople/families/childrenincare/childrenshomes/a00192002/a-newsletter-for-the-childrens-homes-sector

The data pack has been a very useful tool to show what is happening within the residential sector over the last few turbulent years. There have been lots of changes and it features some constructive ways to move forward.

The newsletter is a welcome read; it’s been a long time coming that a single document was produced by those who set the national policy.  The two items that I found particularly good were a) engagement with unit managers to share good practice and b) residential homes can be a positive influence on the child if they are ‘person centred’ to facilitate an ‘extended family’ environment.  This is very much in line with what Harmony House has in place and our nurturing approach may mean that we are ahead of the game already.

Harmony House must be achieving what we set out to do, as we have now admitted our second resident and the transition has gone very well so far, with very little or no impact on the existing resident.  I would say this is somewhat down to our keen matching process.  Not as some may say “cherry picking” but by putting the needs and the progress of those already in situ , and making sure that the placement is sustained and not threatened by the need to fill another bed.  Some my say that this is not the best approach to running a children’s home, however in my opinion this is indeed the correct approach. 

I hope that the partnership approach of openness, honesty and mutual respect with Local Authorities and the children/young people has made our current resident’s experience of children’s homes a positive and productive one.  I very much hope this experience provides them with a positive experience which continues to influence them long after they move on from Harmony House. 

The summer holidays are fast approaching, and this is giving us time to get out there and explore what the county has to offer in ways of days out, beaches, theme parks and maybe some overnight visits to explore different places.  The staff remit is to encourage our young residents to adopt the view that the days are not just spent in a warm house, watching TV and going to the shops for more DVDs.

 A big “well done” to our longest term resident who has taken her work experience in a beauty salon to the next level of paid work, with the real possibility of full time employment in the near future.  She has been requested to undertake a nail course and complete the first part of the training, before the next session at the end of August when she needs to practice her nail painting techniques. Needless to say, the female staff members have taken full advantage of this offer and we now have the best manicured staff team in the country….. well the females at least!  To the best of my knowledge the males have not yet had their fingers or toes practiced on as yet, but there is still plenty of time!