Projects
NLCAS manages projects that seek to improve the performance of local authorities in providing innovative services for children in care and care leavers.We will respond to requests for assistance from individual or groups of local authorities or initiate our own projects that address issues we have identified as in need of development.These projects are time limited with funding coming directly from local authorities or a variety of other sources.To find out more about the project NLCAS are involved with click on the links below
National Leaving Care Benchmarking Forum
NLCAS manages the National Leaving Care Benchmarking Forum. This network of local authority leaving care services helps members to improve the services young people receive by a process of mutual learning and development.
For more information about the Benchmarking Forum click here or contact Mike Sutcliffe on 07793 365161 or email mike.sutcliffe@raineronline.org
Lifes 2 Short Project
NLCAS worked in partnership with Connexions West Yorkshire to improve outcomes for care leavers in Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield. The project helped each authority to develop new ideas that would help young people increase their educational attainments and job prospects. Young people worked alongside us to identify and develop these new ideas. They evaluated good practice in the five authorities and elsewhere.
To find out more about this project please click here
Yorkshire & Humber
Working with the Yorkshire and Humber and Government Office for Yorkshire and Humber NLCAS employs a regional leaving care development co-ordinator.
The project is developing regional approaches to leaving care and undertakes projects that will improve services for young people across the two regions.
The collaboration has worked on a number of initiatives that were disseminated at a national conference in May 2007. For more information on this project contact Julie Mepham julie.mepham@raineronline.org on 07765 236840.
To view the material and documents produced by this project click here
Northern Ireland Children (Leaving Care) Order implementation
NLCAS is assisting the Northern Ireland Department for Health, Social Services and Public Safety in implementing the Children (Leaving Care) Order. This is the Northern Ireland equivalent of the Children (Leaving Care) Act.
The project runs from September 2007 – March 2008 and will train social workers and personal advisors as well as bringing to Northern Ireland the benefit of the lessons learnt from the implementation of the legislation in England and Wales
For more information on this project contact Julie Mepham on 07765 236840 or email: julie.mepham@raineronline.org
LILAC
NLCAS worked in partnership with A National Voice and the Fostering Network on LILAC. The project developed a kitemark that local authorities and other agencies can be awarded for the successful involvement of young people in the planning and review of their care and in the development of services.
A group of young people have developed the assessment system and are now piloting the process prior to making it available to all local authorities and other agencies.
To see a copy of the report on the progress of LILAC so far click here or contact Martin Hazlehurst on 07793 365160 or martin.hazlehurst@raineronline.org
For more about A National Voice go to www.anationalvoice.org
For more about the Fostering Network go to www.fostering.net
Receiving help from NLCAS
Consultancy
NLCAS consultancy will help agencies deliver more effective services for care leavers that takes account of up to date developments in policy and practice.
Each project is tailored to the requirements of the commissioning agency but may include:
- Audit or service review to provide an expert analysis of current provision and the development of an action plan to implement recommendations.
- Advice and assistance with service development.
- Facilitation of the development of multi agency responses to the needs of care leavers.
- Facilitation of the involvement of young people in the design and delivery of services.
Training
NLCAS Training will equip staff from whose role brings them into contact with care leavers with the information and skills needed to provide an effective service. All of our training includes coverage of the Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000 and its associated Regulations and Guidance.
- Courses can be designed to suit the needs of the agency in terms of both content and length.
- NLCAS can also supply copies of Supporting Care Leavers - A Training and Resource Pack for all those working with young people leaving care.
Research
NLCAS is keen to work in partnership with academic institutions to conduct research on leaving care. NLCAS can bring the expert knowledge and grounding in practice that will ensure the relevance of research to those responsible for providing services.
For more information about NLCAS Training, Consultancy or research contact Martin Hazlehurst on 07793 365160 or martin.hazlehurst@raineronline.org or Julie Mepham on 07765 236840 julie.mepham@raineronline.org or phone our office on 020 7336 4824