News

News

Annual Achievement Awards 2025

Every year we celebrate the achievements of our children looked after, care leavers and social care workers by holding an event for everyone to collect their awards.

More information on the Annual Achievements Awards


News Updates

2025

What is a Child Looked After Review?

A new animation has been produced in collaboration with members of the Somerset in Care and Leaving Care Councils (SiCC and SLCC) that answers the question: What is a Child Looked After review?

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Opportunity for children in care and care leavers with John Lewis Partnership

The John Lewis Partnership has launched the Building Happier Futures employment programme and are looking for enthusiastic Care Experienced individuals looking to explore a career at John Lewis and Partners.

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The Autumn 2025 SiCC and SLCC Newsletter

Featuring information on all of the projects that members of SiCC and SLCC have been working on over the past few months.

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Have you heard about the Families First Partnership (FFP) Programme?

The Families First Partnership Programme is a major reform initiative in children’s social care that has been launched by the Department for Education. It builds on the legacy of the Supporting Families Programme (2012-2025) and aims to transform how help, support and protection are delivered to families in Somerset and beyond.

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Chloe Interviewed by the BBC about Homes and Horizons Project. Includes a photo of Chloe.Chloe Interviewed by the BBC about Homes and Horizons Project

Chloe, member of SiCC and SLCC, was interviewed by the BBC about the Homes and Horizons project and the opening of the eighth children’s home in Somerset.

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Homes and Horizons Visit

Chloe and Ryan from SLCC were invited to visit a new home for children and young people in care in Ilminster. Chloe and Ryan were involved in commissioning Homes 2 Inspire several years ago in order to provide high spec care homes for Somerset young people. Now, Homes 2 Inspire (part of the Shaw Trust) are working in a 3-way partnership with Somerset Council and the NHS Foundation Trust.

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Young People Sit on Interview Panels

Over the last month some members of our Participation Groups, Kira (Somerset in Care and Leaving Care Council – SiCC and SLCC) and Abi (Youth Parliament Advisory Group), Chloe (SiCC and SLCC ) and Elected Member of Somerset Youth Parliament James all volunteered to represent young people by sitting alongside Somerset Council managers on a panel to interview candidates for a variety of posts.

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The Summer 2025 SiCC and SLCC Newsletter

Featuring information on all of the projects that members of SiCC and SLCC have been working on over the past few months.

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Kira’s Youth Mentoring Project with Councillor Heather Shearer

Recently Kira, member of SiCC and SLCC took part in a mentoring project with Councillor Heather Shearer. In this article, Kira tells us about the project and how it affected her.

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Kieran meets the Prime Minister over Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill

Recently Kieran, member of SiCC and SLCC went up to London and met Prime Minister Kier Starmer at the House of Commons over the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill 2024-25, a Bill designed to improve the safeguarding of children and to raise education standards.

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National Children’s Bureau 11-17 Advisory Board Recruiting now

The National Children’s Bureau (NCB) is recruiting for its 11-17 advisory board on behalf of the Department for Education (DfE) for children and young people with lived experience of children’s social care.

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Care Experienced Young People shape new Corporate Parenting Strategy

The Somerset Corporate Parenting Board has unveiled its new strategy, co-written with children in care and care leavers. This strategy outlines Somerset Council’s guidelines and aims to ensure that children and young people in care are nurtured to grow and thrive.

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Celebrating Care Leavers – Making a Difference Together Conference

In March, members of SiCC and SLCC MC-ed at the ‘Celebrating Care Leavers – Making a Difference Together’ Conference, which was held at the Canalside in Bridgwater. Member of SiCC and SLCC, Amber-Jane wrote an article about the event.

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Member of SiCC and SLCC speaks at the Future of Supported Accommodation conference

Leon Isaac, a member of the Somerset Leaving Care Council was invited as keynote speaker at the Commissioners Conference – The Future of Supported Accommodation at the Birmingham Conference and Exhibition Centre on 4th March.

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The Spring 2025 SiCC and SLCC Newsletter

Featuring information on all of the projects that members of SiCC and SLCC have been working on over the past few months.

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Children and Families Scrutiny Meeting

In December members of SiCC and SLCC Chloe, Amber Jane and Kieran spoke at the Children and Families Scrutiny meeting. At the meeting the trio talked about the recently launched Somerset Children and Young People Plan (CYPP).

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Members of SiCC and SLCC give input on Judges Toolkit

In November members of SiCC and SLCC looked over a draft of a Judges Toolkit for the Nuffield Family Justice Observatory (NFJO), giving their recommendations on ways it could be improved.

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Leon joins ‘Grown Up’ research project

Leon Isaac, member of SiCC and SLCC has recently joined a new national 18-month research project called ‘Grown Up? Transitions to Adulthood’, which explores the experiences and attitudes of young people moving from adolescence to adulthood.

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Kieran joins the interview panel for Somerset Safeguarding Children Partnership job

Member of SiCC and SLCC Kieran Warren has had a busy start to the year, by sitting on the panel for the Somerset Safeguarding Children Partnership’s (SSCP) Partnership Business Manager maternity cover interviews.

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2024

SiCC and SLCC take part in Young Rangers Project

On the 1st December 2024, four members of SiCC and SLCC went to the Quantocks for a trial of a Young Somerset program specifically for Care Leavers called Young Rangers. Member of SiCC and SLCC Amber Jane his written an article about her experience.

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Voices 2025, the creative writing competition for care experienced children and young people

Organised by the charity Coram Voice, Voices is the only creative writing competition specifically for care experienced children and young people. It provides a unique platform for them to showcase their creativity, celebrate their talents and shine a light on what it means to be care-experienced.

Click here for more information

 

NHS SWAPS

A small group of SiCC and SLCC members have acted as consultants to the SW Care Leaver Covenant Rollout Oversight Group (SW CLC ROG) which is an NHS group committed to the Care Leavers Covenant and developing opportunities for care leavers to take employment in the NHS.

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The Autumn 2024 SiCC and SLCC Newsletter

Featuring information on:

  • The Annual Achievement Awards 2024
  • South Somerset Getting To Know You Day
  • Share Checklist
  • Burtons Orchard Film
  • Leaving care houses art project
  • Nuffield Family Justice Observatory Deprivation of Liberty research project
  • Spark Sisterhood filming event
  • GCSW app for care leavers

This edition was guest edited by Matt Dodd, Leaving Care Apprentice.

SiCC and SLCC Newsletter Autumn 2024

This is what we think: The perspectives of care-experienced young people on the Principles of Care

In March 2024 SiCC & SLCC worked with the Nuffield Family Justice Observatory (NFJO) on a project to find out the thoughts and views of children and young people on the five principles of care for children with complex needs and circumstances, including those with Deprivation of Liberty orders (DoLs).

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What does it mean to be Trauma Informed? – Film for SSCP

In March 2024 members of SiCC and SLCC joined members of Somerset Youth Parliament and the Somerset Safeguarding Children Partnership (SSCP) to produce a film about being Trauma Informed.

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Leaving Care Content Creator Apprentice

My name is Matt, and I’m a Leaving Care Content Creator Apprentice. My main role as a Content Creator is to work on the social media, I make posts for our Instagram and Facebook accounts.

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Rent Guarantor Scheme

Members of SiCC & SLCC were pleased to learn about the new scheme backed by Somerset Council to give young people in
care a chance to become more independent.

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SDAS – Somerset Drug & Alcohol Service

Members of SiCC & SLCC advised SDAS (Somerset Drug and Alcohol Service) from a service user perspective on the processes they use to support referrals to the service.

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Congratulations Kieran

Congratulations to Kieran Warren, care leaver and member of SiCC & SLCC who was successful in his bid to become a member of the Department for Education children’s social care advisory board.

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The Winter 2024 SiCC and SLCC Newsletter

Featuring information on:

  • Homes and Horizons Award
  • SiCC and SLCC Quality Checkers
  • Leaving Care Content Creator Apprentice – Matt Dodd
  • Naming the new 16+ Service
  • SDAS – Somerset Drugs and Alcohol Service
  • Congratulations Kieran
  • Meet Jo Manning
  • Rent Guarantor Scheme

SiCC and SLCC Newsletter Winter 2024


2023

Somerset Young People in care win award for their work on homes for children

A group of young people in care and care leavers have won an award from a leading advocacy group for their work on homes for children.

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The Autumn 2023 SiCC and SLCC Newsletter

Featuring information on:

  • Annual Achievements Awards
  • Getting to know you days
  • 16+ accommodation service
  • Homes and Horizons MJ Awards
  • Step up to social work
  • Quality checkers
  • Children’s Social Care interviews
  • SiCC and SLCC Creatives Roadshow

SiCC and SLCC Newsletter Autumn 2023

 

The Spring 2023 SiCC and SLCC Newsletter

Featuring information on:

  • Homes and Horizons – Fostering services and quality checkers
  • The Mind of My Own consultation
  • Getting to know you days
  • Independence skills
  • Work that SiCC and SLCC have done with Plymouth University
  • The Corporate Parenting Board
  • Updates on work created by the SiCC and SLCC Creatives and Film crews
  • The Vaping and E-Cigarettes project

SiCC and SLCC Newsletter Spring 2023


2022

The Winter 2022 SiCC and SLCC Newsletter

Featuring information on:

  • The brand new ‘Child Protection Conference’ animation created by the SiCC and SLCC Film Crew
  • How SiCC and SLCC have helped design and review services
  • Updates on what SiCC and SLCC have been working on
  • Work created by the SiCC and SLCC Creatives
  • Opportunities for SiCC and SLCC to participate

SiCC and SLCC Newsletter Winter 2022

 

 

The Summer 2022 SiCC and SLCC Newsletter

Featuring information on:

  • The brand new ‘Your Journey: Coming in to Care’ animation created by members of SiCC and SLCC
  • Developing the website, newsletter, filming and animation
  • The Annual Achievement Awards
  • Work created by the SiCC and SLCC Creatives
  • SiCC and SLCC representation in London with the Director of Children Services

SiCC and SLCC Newsletter Summer 2022

 

 

The Spring 2022 SiCC and SLCC Newsletter

Featuring information on:

  • Opportunities
  • Achievements
  • Ways that you can get involved and make a difference

SiCC and SLCC Newsletter Feb 2022

 

 

 

Somerset County Council Homes for Children Tender

A recognised need for the way placements for children in care in Somerset are commissioned and delivered led to an opportunity to co-design and re-think ways to work together.

SiCC and SLCC were approached by the Children’s Commissioners to ensure young people were involved in the process of finding the trusted provider. Over a period of two months, six members of SiCC and SLCC were met by potential providers bidding for the opportunity and devised questions to be part of the formal scoring interview process, they visited children’s homes run by providers and inspected them through interviewing staff and reports. After the visits which took them all over the country they attended a reflective session to confirm their findings and presented this back to the commissioning team.

 


2021

Making a complaint against Children’s Social Care

A young woman had made a complaint about decisions made around her care and the way her complaint was managed.

The Complaints group in addition to the Customer Experiences team worked together to update the process for making complaints, then produced a script making sure that all language was young person friendly. This was then reviewed by members of SiCC and SLCC, who considered whether the new process made sense and was suitable for them. They were then involved at every step of the production of the animation.

Once finished the young woman who made the complaint was pleased that she had been listened to, that it had led to a change in the service and was happy with the changes to the process. The members of SiCC and SLCC that helped make the animation were rightfully proud that they had been able to help other young people.

 

What makes a good social worker?

In February 2021 half term, the Leaving Care apprentices and the In-Care Councils (SiCC & SLCC) were invited to deliver a training session via Teams to 16 first-year social work students at Yeovil College.

We showed the students a film incorporating the voices of young people from the Care Councils, entitled ‘What Makes a Good Social Worker?’.

The young people used their lived experiences of care to tell the students what worked and what wasn’t helpful.  The main learning points were around consistency, reliability and listening to young people.

 

 


Somerset Care Councils | Somerset in Care Council (SiCC) | Somerset Leaving Care Council (SLCC) | Have Your Say