Residential Child Care

Readers who have stayed with the Webmag over the years will have read of Gus’s earlier career in residential child care, as he worked his way up the ladder to run his own home. He also wrote the column of the goings on at Bluebrick Children’s Home. Now, he is contributing an occasional column on … Read more

The world’s experts on a potentially life-threatening tick disease are warning that families with young children are more at risk than ever when travelling in Europe this summer. Leading scientists have confirmed that Tick Borne Encephalitis (TBE), which can lead to meningitis and in serious cases result in paralysis and death, is now endemic in … Read more

How do we avoid tokenism in consulting people without power? There are sometimes themes that cross a number of modules that I teach on, which on occasions make preparation simpler, although it must be stressed that each module has a different context. Last month I was preparing teaching materials for a number of modules – … Read more

Dave Wiles and Tim Evans as Chief Executives of youth work organisations decided to draw attention to the good stories about young people by taking to the road with only £10 in their pockets. If you want to read earlier episodes, click here. Story 2 It was that morning that Pamela had come to meet … Read more

The Scottish Institute for Residential Child Care (SIRCC) has an annual conference in Scotland, which normally takes place in early June. This year it is going to be held in Erskine, west of Glasgow, from 5 -7 June. The conference has become a well-established fixture and for the last two years over 300 people have … Read more

December is a month when we are bombarded from all corners about the joys of the festive season. It is also a month when we look back on the past year and we reflect on our achievements and remember loved ones who have died or are ill. If I look back on the last year, … Read more

This is the fourth episode in Sharon’s story. She and Caitlin were in care together, and they have just met again. Sharon is telling Caitlin what happened to her after there were split up. You can read the earlier episodes here – Episode 1 2 3 So, when we had eaten, I started again, “Course, … Read more

This list includes resources that will be of help to early years workers, including books, articles, legislation, other publications and resources such as videos and DVDs. It should be noted that some of these resources may include particular aspects that are not helpful in addressing racism or do not have a strategic approach to tackling … Read more

In October 2006 the British Government produced a Green Paper for consultation called Care Matters: Transforming the Lives of Children and Young People in Care (Cm 6932).  One of the issues it laments and seeks to address is the educational progress and attainment of these children.  The first chapter sets out what it calls “shocking … Read more

So Alan Johnson, the Education Secretary of State, wants teachers to ignore the country’s rampant blame culture and mustn’t let it prevent them taking children away on school trips.  Oh yes?  This to teachers who have had to endure the aftermath of school trips which have gone wrong and the ensuing nightmare of local and … Read more

Last month Dave explained how he and Tim Evans as Chief Executives decided to draw attention to the good stories about young people by taking to the road. Tim Evans and I met with £10.00 in our pocket to spend the week on the road together.  No plans, no hotels, no………. We walked from the … Read more