Oxfordshire conference focuses on strengthening work of CiCCs (15 August 2017)

Oxfordshire’s Children in Care Council (CiCC) has said a conference to highlight issues affecting looked-after children and those leaving care has enabled the council to hear the viewpoints from young people in the care of other councils.

The conference was attended by Children’s Commissioner for England Anne Longfield OBE and featured group discussions and workshops on how to strengthen the work of CiCCs – and ensure local services are responding to the voices of children in care.

The conference saw young people from six neighbouring council areas sharing ideas and discussing themes, including raising aspirations for children, health and wellbeing – and tackling the stigma of being in care.

Oxfordshire County Council’s Director for Children’s Services, Lucy Butler, joined a panel of professionals and elected officials, who were quizzed in a Question Time-style exercise.

The council’s Cabinet Member for Children and Family Services, Councillor Steve Harrod, also met with the young delegates during the event at St Hilda's College in Oxford on Tuesday 1 August.

Cllr Harrod said:

“It was a real privilege to be part of the day and meet some truly inspirational young people, who are making a real difference to the lives of others.

“Our Children in Care Council in Oxfordshire is instrumental in channelling the voices of looked-after children – and helping us understand the challenges that our young people face.

“It’s vital that our services are designed to meet the needs of the young people in our care – and that we are listening to and acting on what children have to say.

“Without the insight provided by our CiCC and events like today, we would simply be less able to deliver the support that they need.”

Chair of Oxfordshire’s CiCC, Jo, said:

“It was a real eye opener for what we could be doing to improve how we care for children and young people and care leavers.

“I feel that, as CiCCs, we left with many ideas on how we could improve the CiCC in our regions.

“It was a very productive day – and I thought meeting other CiCCs united everyone and it didn't feel like we were all alone.”

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