Friday 26 April 2024
 Join us at the Devon County Show this year!
We’re excited to be returning to the Devon County Show again this year from Thursday 16 to Saturday 18 May.
Our stand will be in its usual place on Road 8, where, alongside our partners, we’ll be showcasing the work we do to help make Devon the best place to grow up, live well and prosper.
And this year, you could be in with a chance of joining us there! In the lead up to this year’s show, we’ll be giving away one family ticket, for up to five people, for the Saturday of the show. Keep an eye out on our Facebook page nearer the time for more information and how to enter.
There’ll be a variety of different exhibitors on our stand this year with lots of information, games and activities for all ages. Read the full story on the news page of our website to find out more!
 Family Hubs are being developed across Devon
Families will be aware that we are developing a network of Family Hubs and associated outreach services across Devon, and that Action for Children is helping us prepare for the changes. You can see the range of services that we envisage being part of our Family Hubs network on our website. They build on the services that have been provided through Children's Centres for many years. But there are big differences:
- Family Hubs will provide help and support to families of children aged from zero to 19 years old, or up to 25 years old for young people with special educational needs or disabilities or with care experience
- the support available from Family Hubs will be accessible to all families with children in that age range. There will be no assessment or eligibility criteria, and no need to be referred by a professional
- Family Hubs will work more closely with existing care and support providers in local communities, so there will be a wider range of help and advice available to families
From this month, families will begin to see a gradual change as Family Hubs and the services they deliver will start to become more present in local communities. The next step will be to decide where the support can be accessed, but for now, we are asking families to ring ahead or email Action for Children to speak to a staff member for advice and support. We've published a special edition newsletter about Family Hubs, and how families can access them. If you missed it, you can read it online.
 Youth Voice Awards 2024
Earlier this month we staged our annual Youth Voice Awards, where we celebrated the young people who have helped make change in Devon over the last year.
Over 70 young people and adults gathered at the Positive Lights Project in Exeter to show their pride and support for all our award winners from Youth Council, Youth Parliament, SEND Network for Change, SUSU, and Young Devon.
We had over 60 winners overall, all chosen for their contributions to youth voice and playing their part in the huge number of achievements that we’ve had in the last year. These include: recognising care experience as a protected characteristic; council tax exemption for care experienced young people; Total Respect training; improving mental health provisions through Youth Voice Saturdays; and working with local organisations to explore how to improve accessibility to venues. Read the full story on the news page of our website.
Well done to all our award winners!
 Get ready for Naturally Healthy May!
May is just around the corner, and with it comes Naturally Healthy May! We're encouraging people to step outside, breathe in the fresh air and relish in the joy of being active outdoors.
May is the perfect time of year to connect with the natural world around us. Immersing in nature through your senses and exploring your outdoor surroundings can be a positive distraction from day to day work, exams, and the business of everyday life. It is widely known that just by being outdoors, we can feel revived and relaxed, helping our mental health and wellbeing by reducing our stress and anxiety levels.
All month Active Devon and Devon Local Nature Partnership will be sharing a variety of events around the county, places to walk, wheel and cycle, places to breathe in and get fresh air and wildlife to spot in Devon. To find events in your local area, or to list an event you are running, visit the Devon Connect website and let’s all celebrate Naturally Healthy May together! We are looking forward to taking part and hope that you are too!
 Have you signed up to receive our monthly SEND newsletter?
We produce a newsletter every month about the work and services that we provide to children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and their families.
It's to help keep parents and carers informed of what we're doing to improve support for young people with SEND, and to signpost to services or guidance that may help families.
This month's edition is jam packed! We've got news about some changes to SEND Statutory Team, summer term dates for the Autism and Us programme and an update from NHS Devon's Head of Mental Health Commissioning about support in schools... and lots more!
Sign up now to make sure you receive it direct to your inbox! Just click the button below and pop your email address in!
 Walking Bus is driving change at West Croft School
West Croft School in Bideford has launched its second Walking Bus route with our help. A Walking Bus is a safe and fun way for groups of children to walk to school together, accompanied by adult volunteers who receive road safety training and insurance cover from us. As with a normal bus, the Walking Bus follows a fixed route picking up children from bus stops at set times along the route.
Our Walking Bus scheme is proving a great success at West Croft School. Having only started their first Walking Bus in January this year, the addition of a second route means that more than 30 children at the school are making use of the Walking Buses.
The response from pupils at West Croft School has been extremely positive. One said: “The Walking Bus is safe, fun and great exercise. You get support from teachers, and you can discuss your worries on the way into school.”
For more information about walking buses please visit our safe travel webpages.
 Have you got a degree in social work and are you looking for the next step?
Our Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE) programme in children’s social care is now open! If you are a newly qualified (or a recently qualified) social worker, the ASYE programme may be just what you are looking for.
This programme will support you throughout your transition from newly qualified social worker (NQSW) to experienced social worker, offering opportunities to work within the different areas of children’s social care and enabling you to engage with casework that will provide a wide range of rich learning experiences. It also encourages you to gain the knowledge and skills required to improve the outcomes for vulnerable children and their families across Devon.
If you would like to find out more, join the free virtual webinar on Tuesday 7 May at 7pm. To register for the event, please visit the ASYE programme webpage. There's also more information, including how to apply, on there. If you have any questions, or would like to talk to someone about the programme, please email childsc.recruitmentchildrenssocialwork-mailbox@devon.gov.uk. Applications close on Wednesday 22 May, so don’t miss out!
Congratulations Janine and Rebecca - thank you for your hard work!
Two of our social workers have been awarded the title, 'Amazing Social Worker 2024' by The British Association of Social Workers (BASW), as part of Social Work Month.
We want to say a big congratulations to Janine, one of our children's social care team managers, and to Rebecca, one of our advanced practitioners in children's services.
The colleague that nominated Janine, said:
"Janine is new to being a team manager, but she is fantastic. She is very supportive of her team. She nurtures us to really think about our practice and reflect on our strengths and weaknesses. She also recognises these in each individual and uses each person's strengths to enhance our team."
Rebecca's colleague said:
"Rebecca is simply the oracle of social work practice. She is inspiring. We are so lucky to work with her as we can learn so much from her and nothing is ever too much trouble. Her wealth of experience along with her outstanding practice is truly amazing."
To read more about why Janine and Rebecca were nominated, please visit their profiles (26 and 27 March) on The British Association of Social Workers website.
Download a free emergency plan template from Devon Carers
Have you considered what would happen if you couldn't care for the person you support due to an accident or emergency?
Life can become so busy that we don’t always stop to think about what would happen if there was an emergency and we weren’t able to care for them, even just for a short period.
The Devon Carers Emergency Plan can help you! Designed in conjunction with carers, health and social care professionals, it enables you to record and inform others of important information about the person you care for, should you become unable to look after them.
 Do you fancy becoming Space youth service's next Trustee?
Space supports young people from all backgrounds to learn, create and realise their potential by providing a safe space to hang out with mates, talk about things you can’t ask your parents, gain confidence and try new things. They deliver youth work, community projects, and other services to ensure that young people have the opportunity to succeed in Devon.
Space is currently searching for a Trustee who wants to make a difference in the lives of young people across Devon. Becoming a Trustee for Space Youth Service provide an exciting and challenging opportunity to help shape the future development of youth services across Devon and beyond.
Space is looking for candidates who will bring passion, drive and skills that will add value to the organisation. This expertise could include any number of skills beyond youth work, such as administration, management, and teaching skills. All Trustees learn and develop on the job so don’t be put off if you think the role is daunting – there’s lots of support available.
Find out more and apply on the Space youth services website.
Don't miss the chance to help shape your library
Libraries Unlimited, the charity that runs libraries in Devon on our behalf, would like you to let them know how they're doing.
Their customer survey has been running for a few weeks now, and closes on Tuesday 30 April, so don't delay having your say!
By completing the survey, you will also have a chance to win one of three £25 One4All vouchers in our free prize draw! You can complete the survey online or request a paper copy at your library.
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