SHiFT’s Post

Huge shout out to my wonderful fellow trustees and colleagues at Support SEND Kids (especially Rachel Amos and Tamsin Ogilvie) for our research in partnership with Skynewsuk.com which shows that: - 3 in 4 parents who have a child with SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) have given up work or cut their hours. - 2 in 5 parents who have a child with SEND have left work. - 1 in 3 parents who have a child with SEND have reduced their hours. Reform of the entire SEND education system is required to help get these parents back into work, and most importantly to ensure children have access to the education they deserve as a basic human right. I feel incredibly lucky to work for an employer in Virgin Media O2 who provides flexibility in the form of carers leave, emergency leave and parental leave (thanks Nisha Marwaha and our awesome DEI networks!) as well as to have an awesome team who “just get it” and always support me, otherwise I too would form part of this shocking statistic. If anyone knows any SEND parents needing help to navigate the SEND system, please share the Support SEND Kids site with them, or I’m always happy to help people in similar situations access useful resources. #SEND #ParentCarers #SENDCrisis #WorkingParents #SENDLaw

💡More Funding! Another Step in the Right Direction💡 The government has announced a £250 million Children’s Social Care Prevention Grant to strengthen early family support services. This boost, part of the 2025/26 Local Government Finance Statement, will increase funding for preventative children’s social care to over £500 million next year. The grant will focus on:💭 ✅ Strengthening family help services. ✅ Promoting early intervention to keep children with families where possible. ✅ Tackling profiteering in private care services. ✅ Empowering local authorities to provide safe, loving homes for children in care. Key sector voices are welcoming this step:🌟 🟦 Andy S., ADCS: “A vital recognition of councils’ struggles to invest in early help and prevention, empowering families to address challenges early." 🟦 Jo Casebourne, Foundations – What Works Centre for Children & Families: “Supporting parents is essential for children to thrive.” 🟦 Children’s Charities Coalition: “A turning point in preventing families from reaching crisis.” This grant is definately a step in the right directions in Children's Services, but continued investment and focus in the right areas will also be essential to ensure every child has the chance to thrive in a safe, nurturing environment.⭐😀 #socialcare #earlyhelp #childrenandfamilies

🫶⚕️PayPal Fundraiser: "Don't Leave Your Kid Home ⚕️🙏 As a dedicated family member and concerned citizen, I am starting this fundraiser to bring attention to a critical issue: children being left home alone due to the demands of their parents' jobs. Recently, I witnessed a heartbreaking situation involving my sister, who is a social worker. While she was out taking her clients to court, she left her 8-year-old child home alone for my father to pick up. When I arrived, I found my beloved nephew hiding behind a couch, crying because he was afraid and alone. This is a scenario no child should ever have to endure. Children are our most precious treasures, and their safety and emotional well-being must be our top priority. Leaving a child home alone, even for a short period, can lead to significant fear, anxiety, and potential harm. It is simply uncalled for and unacceptable in our society. The funds raised through this campaign will be used to: 1. Raise Awareness: We aim to educate parents and caregivers about the dangers and emotional impact of leaving children home alone. 2. Support Services: Provide resources and support to parents who may need assistance finding reliable childcare options. 3. Advocate for Policy Changes: Work towards creating and implementing policies that ensure children are never left alone due to parental work obligations. Your support can make a profound difference in the lives of children who might otherwise find themselves in frightening and unsafe situations. Together, we can create a safer environment for our children and ensure that no child is ever left home alone again. Please consider donating to this cause and sharing this fundraiser with your network. Every contribution helps us get closer to a world where children are always safe and cared for. #NoChildLeftAlone #ChildSafetyFirst #ProtectOurKids #EndChildNeglect #SafeAndSound Thank you for your support and compassion. Let's work together to make a difference in the lives of our children. I’m raising $19,999.99 until 09/03/2024 for Don't leave your kid home alone!. Can you help? https://lnkd.in/eqM38zds

Lost child. It's enough to put the fear into any event organiser. So, how's your Lost Child and Adult at Risk policy looking? If you run an event you need to understand the basics around Lost Child and Adults at Risk protocols. Whether your event is a large-scale public event, an exhibition, a local fete or a charity event you'll need to produce Lost Child and Adult at Risk paperwork and protocols to keep all attendees safe. We've poured our 30+ years of running at event childcare and Lost Child points into a CPD-accredited training course to help you do just that. Choose from an online or face-to-face course starting from just £87 per person. Check the link in the first comment. #CPDAccredited #LostChild #AdultsAtRisk #EventProfs #EventTraining #EventprofsTraining #LostChildPolicy #LostChildProtocols

It's not too late to donate to our Christmas Appeal. At just 17, Sara* was facing life on the streets. When she had nowhere else to turn, she found her way to one of Anglicare’s crisis accommodation homes. There, she was able to access  the support and skills many young people experiencing homelessness have missed out on in their childhoods. The support that can help them build good lives for themselves and become responsible, productive adults. Things like: • Counselling to help cope with the trauma of a violent or difficult childhood. • Help to access social services. • Budgeting and financial literacy skills. • Connection to education, training and employment opportunities We know that with stable housing and the right support network, young people can positively change their life trajectory by securing employment, education and long-term housing.  We are asking for your support to help young people in our community who are experiencing homelessness. Your donation will allow us to build them a better future.  https://bit.ly/3qnZJg4

According to the Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families, only 29% of the 300,000+ families with children under the age of 5 have access to child care. The situation is even more challenging for families of school-age children (kindergarten through age 12). With over 469,000 children needing care, only 12% are served by licensed providers, preschools, or subsidized child care programs. At Kids Co., we are committed to addressing these gaps, striving to create a future where all families have access to the care they need. But we can’t do it alone—this is a challenge for us all. If you want to help us change this statistic, consider donating to our cause. Source: Source: Washington State Department of Children, Youth and Families Source: https://lnkd.in/gnAPyEHq #KidsCo #KidsCoWA #ChildCareForAll #AffordableChildCare #QualityChildCare #AdvocateForChildren #WashingtonStateDepartment #Seattle #CareforChildren

Navigating the transition from holiday mode to being back at school can be an anxious time for children, teenagers and carers alike. Here are a few tips for carers to help you, help them: •Create an atmosphere at home where children feel comfortable chatting about their anxieties and concerns. •Having a clear morning and evening routine can make transitions between home and school smoother e.g. a place to put shoes and bags, so they can easily find them the next day. •A good night’s sleep is key! •Modelling positive relationships can help children navigate their own relationships with friends and teachers. At Fitzgerald Fostering we provide our carers with comprehensive training and are on hand 24/7 to provide support should it be needed. The charity Action for Children have some great resources for the back-to-school transition: https://lnkd.in/ehcfvwvh #fitzgeraldfostering #backtoschool #backtoschool2024 #independentfosteringagency #fostercaresupport #fostercareuk #fostercareawareness

Social Care News: Three in ten care providers have been forced to close parts of their organisations or hand back contracts to local authorities because of financial pressures. Survey findings from learning disability charity Hft and representative body Care England in their annual Sector Pulse Check also found one-third are considering leaving the market altogether, which would leave […] http://ow.ly/b59j105WLQH #socialcare

Social Care News: Three in ten care providers have been forced to close parts of their organisations or hand back contracts to local authorities because of financial pressures. Survey findings from learning disability charity Hft and representative body Care England in their annual Sector Pulse Check also found one-third are considering leaving the market altogether, which would leave […] http://ow.ly/b59j105WLQH #socialcare

The new Resolution Parenting through separation Guide is such a valuable tool and we love the new additions #resolution #parentingthroughseparation #familylaw #coparenting #childfocused