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Author: Charlene Smith

Sefton Council helping to drive positive changes to race equality

25 May 2021
Charlene Smith
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Categories: Front Page, Latest News, Sefton Council

Steve Martlew, Interim Head of Communities for Sefton Council sends a message about how the Council is helping to drive positive changes to race equality across the borough.

Today marks one year since the murder of George Floyd which sparked protests around the world and a commitment among many individuals and organisations to acknowledge and understand racism and stand in solidarity against it.

Sefton Council is committed to equality and social inclusion as an employer, service provider and as a partner both locally and regionally. We recognise it has an important role to play in tackling race injustice and inequality and driving forward positive change.

We are currently developing a declaration of intent which shows our commitment to ensuring we promote equality within our organisation and across the borough. The declaration outlines priorities and ambitions highlighting how we hope to achieve this.

We continue to offer a comprehensive mandatory Equality and Diversity training programme. This includes Equality and Diversity Awareness, Equality and Diversity for Managers as well as Unconscious Bias. It’s so important we do this training as it helps us to reflect on our own experiences and biases and it encourages us to be a fully inclusive workforce.

Sefton is also proud to be part of a programme led by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, which will brings together leaders from Merseyside Councils, community organisations, businesses and the public sector, to tackle systemic injustice and inequality and drive forward positive change for the city region’s Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities. The programme will enable partners to collaborate on a plan of action to improve on issues such as workforce diversity, learning development opportunities, business support and Black History projects.

The murder of George Floyd and Black Lives Matters showed us that changes need to be made and we will continue to work with our partners including the Liverpool City Region’s race equality team to look at strategies and projects which will help us eliminate bias, discrimination and injustice.

Council staff and carers go into the community to get people on board to foster for Sefton

21 May 2021
Charlene Smith
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Categories: Front Page, Latest News, Sefton Council, Young People

Council staff, foster carers and their families braved the elements yesterday (Thurs 20th May) and embarked on a mission to encourage anyone who is thinking about setting sail on a new life, to become a foster carer for Sefton Council.

As part of Sefton’s Foster Care Fortnight celebrations, members of the fostering community climbed on board the ‘Pride of Sefton’ to spread the message that the Council needs more local people to give a loving and stable home to vulnerable children from the Borough.

Lisa Cummings Service Manager for Sefton’s Fostering Service said:

“Nothing stopped us celebrating Foster Carer Fortnight on the ‘Pride of Sefton’ today. The weather was wild but we she still wanted to get out in the community and spread the word.  Thank you to Sovini who helped us by donating today’s sailing and to the ‘Pride of Sefton’ crew who did an amazing job.

“Fostering is not just about these two weeks. All year round we want to show our carers that we value them and send a message for people to come on board with our amazing team and support network and become a foster carer for Sefton”

Taking in the beautiful sights of Liverpool’s waterways, foster carers Sue and Derek said:

“Coming out in this awful weather proved just how much fostering means to us because it doesn’t matter what the weather or the situation, you just want to get out there and spread the message that these children need our help.”

“Anyone who has given fostering even the slightest consideration should really go for it because it’s changed the world for us.”

Dave is a Placement Support Worker at Sefton and was also part of the crew who regularly takes children who are fostered for days out on ‘The Pride of Sefton’. He said:

“I’m so glad that we can use the ‘Pride of Sefton’ as part of our recruitment campaign. People all around can see our sign and our details so it’s another way of getting the word out there.

“The boat has so many uses as the children love it when we bring them on and sail down the river and in and out of the locks. Bringing them together allows them to speak to other children who are in a similar situation as them. This helps to build their confidence while they’re having fun.”

Sefton Council is committed to offering support to its carers every step of the way. This includes specialist and peer support, training and a financial package.

To make an enquiry or find out more please visit www.seftonfostering.co.uk or call free on 0800 923 2777.

Sefton Celebrates Foster Care Fortnight

10 May 2021
Charlene Smith
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Categories: Front Page, Sefton Council, Young People

It’s Foster Care Fortnight! Sefton Council is urging local people to ask themselves whether they could give a loving and stable home to a child by fostering for Sefton.

Running from Monday 10th to Sunday 23rd May, Foster Care Fortnight is the UK’s biggest fostering campaign. It also gives us the opportunity to say a big ‘Thank you’ to the whole of our fostering community for all their hard work and dedication during what has been such a difficult time.

In line with this year’s theme #WhyWeCare, we will be sharing video’s which include people from our fostering family, talking about “Why We Care”. The celebration will also include a virtual event for our fabulous carers to get together and win some brilliant prizes donated by local businesses.

On the 20th May, we’re on the move with our campaign as our carers, care leavers and staff climb on board the ‘Pride of Sefton’ canal boat, to take a journey along Liverpool’s waterways from Stanley Dock at the Titanic to the Mann Island, spreading our message as we go.

Sefton Council Chief Executive Dwayne Johnson says, “I would like to say a massive ‘Thank you’ to our dedicated foster carers who are doing an amazing job in making sure our children are supported emotionally and educationally and to our staff who are with our foster carers every step of the way.

“I have some personal experience as my mother grew up in care and said the turning point in her life was when she was fostered at 12 years old. She went on to have a fulfilled and successful life and says she owes a lot of that to her foster parents.”

Sue and Derek are a couple, but Sue has been fostering for 18 years and Derek is newly approved. Sue says. “I see the impact I’m having when children become happier and relaxed. They begin to see a future and develop ambitions and goals. It’s a great feeling when you know you’ve made a difference.”

Derek says, “I fell in love with Sue and with fostering and I’m the happiest I’ve ever been. With guidance from the team, the recruitment process was straight forward. If you’re thinking about fostering please go for it, it’ll be the best thing you’ll ever do”

Sasha, now in her twenties, was fostered when she was 8 years old when her parents’ relationship broke down and they were unable to care for her.

She says, “I want to help raise awareness about fostering and let people know that being loved and having a sense of belonging can turn a child’s life around. I hope I am an inspiration to other children in care because with my determination and support I went on to get 3 degrees at University and see a great future for myself. Without this support I really don’t know where I would be.”

Call for carers to book COVID-19 jab

8 April 2021
Charlene Smith
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Categories: Front Page, Health, Latest News

As the COVID-19 vaccination programme continues to make good progress, GPs in Sefton are reminding unpaid carers to get registered and come forward for their vaccine.

Some unpaid carers may not receive an invitation for their vaccination if their carer status is not known to the NHS so it’s important to ensure they are registered with Sefton Carers Centre who can help with this.

Sefton Carers Centre will register unpaid carers and provide them with a letter as proof of their status. Unpaid carers will need the letter before booking their vaccination through their GP practice.

Carers eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine include anyone who is a main carer of someone who receives Carer’s Allowance or who is at high risk from coronavirus from a condition.

This includes:

  • Children with severe neuro-disabilities (you will be informed by your GP)
  • Those who are designated Clinically Extremely Vulnerable (advised to shield)
  • Adults with underlying health conditions
  • Those who need care because of advanced age.

Fiona Taylor, chief officer for NHS South Sefton Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and NHS Southport and Formby CCG, said: “Getting the vaccine is the best way to protect those who you are caring for and yourself from coronavirus. The life-saving vaccine is safe and effective.

“If you are a carer, please register with Sefton Carers Centre as soon as possible. This will ensure that anyone eligible for the vaccination isn’t missed and we can continue to protect our local community and the most vulnerable.”

Vicky Keeley, chief executive officer at Sefton Carers Centre added: “Unpaid carers have been under increasing demands and stress as the pandemic continues. The vaccination programme is vital to protect vulnerable people and carers.

“Sefton Carers Centre provides a range of free support, advice, and activities for all unpaid carers on their journey of care. Carers registered with us will receive a letter confirming their caring status as evidence for the vaccination programme. Free personal protective equipment can also be accessed via Sefton Council until 21 June 2021.

“We would encourage anyone aged 16 and over in a caring role to register with us and then speak with their GP to make sure that they get vaccinated.”

To register as an unpaid carer with the Sefton Carers Centre, please call 0151 288 6060.

If you are an unpaid carer and provide care to someone outside of your household, you can order Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) free of charge from Sefton Council until 21 June 2021. To order email EmergencyPPE@sefton.gov.uk and make sure you clearly mark your email as “Carers PPE” or call 0345 140 0845. For more information, visit Sefton Council’s website.

For more information about the Covid-19 vaccination visit: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/coronavirus-vaccine/

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), the European Medicines Agency and the World Health Organisation have all been absolutely clear that the vaccines are safe and effective, and people should go and get their COVID-19 vaccine when asked to do so.

NHS South Sefton CCG and NHS Southport and Formby CCG have been responsible for buying or ‘commissioning’ the majority of local health services since 1 April 2013, when primary care trusts were abolished.

NHS South Sefton CCG brings together 30 member GP practices covering an area from Bootle in the south, Hightown in the north and Maghull to the east.

NHS Southport and Formby CCG’s membership are made up of 19 GP practices.

For more information visit: southportformbyccg.nhs.uk / southseftonccg.nhs.uk or follow us on Twitter @NHSSFCCG / @NHSSSCCG

Sefton Council is looking for volunteers who can support children and young people in making their voices heard

1 April 2021
Charlene Smith
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Categories: Essential Sefton, Front Page, Health, Latest News, Sefton Council, Young People, Your Sefton

Are you passionate about improving the lives of children and young people in care?

Could you support a young person to have their say in decisions made about them, help them to understand their rights and challenge anything they are unhappy with.

If you could spare a couple of hours a month to volunteer as an Independent Advocate, we would love to hear from you.

The purpose of our independent advocacy is to:

  • Assist and support children and young people to speak out/speak up for themselves
  • Ensure that the young person’s voice is heard and listened to.
  • Help children and young people to understand decisions that have been made about their care
  • Assist children and young people to understand their rights and the services that are available to them.

As a volunteer, you will receive:

  • Initial training including Independent Advocacy, Safeguarding and Children’s Social Care
  • Ongoing supervision and support
  • Access to free specialist training relevant to your role
  • Reimbursement of expenses (including travel)
  • Skills and Experience to assist with future job opportunities

Our Independent Advocates will usually support young people at appointments / meetings during office hours, therefore we particularly welcome interest from volunteers who are available midweek (any days Mon-Fri).

For more information Contact Cheryl Yates, Independent Visiting and Advocacy Officer:

cheryl.yates@sefton.gov.uk 0151 934 4167 / 0771843282

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