22 Alness crescent
0141 882 5658
Thursday, 17 November 2011
The Politics of the Charter for Grandchildren.
Will our children ever have the benefit from it?
No Scottish political party has shown much enthusiasm for helping our grandchildren benefit from the role grandparents can play in their lives. Heavy lobbying about how grandparents are excluded by law and a multitude of case histories and petitions motivated the then Scottish Executive to produce the Charter for Grandchildren. It was created as advisory with no bite to it and has been completely ignored by the professionals working in the welfare of children as every day we hear of grandchildren still being cut of from their grandparents love and protection. The governments past and present have failed miserably We can only come to the conclusion The Charter for Grandchildren was just created without any real attempt to improve the lives of our grandchildren.
The present government had a couple of SNP MSPs from our area in Glasgow and Kilmarnock show some interest but they soon faded away when the were asked to do something positive. This subject is very low on Alec Salmonds priority list. In fact the SNP not only has shown little time for the Charter for Grandchildren but deliberately got shot of it by passing the buck for its administration down to the local authorities.
Glasgow City Chambers, the same political party that created the Charter for Grandchildren very quickly voted to accept the Charter for Grandchild and passed it to the DPC committee they will need too analyse the charter to see what can be used although it was the same government who created it using their own lawyers in a stakeholders group in the best interests of the children. So, what is there to analyse?
David Crawford of Glasgow Social Services stated that they already use what the Charter for Grandchildren contains. If they do it is very short lived as thousands of grandparents through our books still tell a different story of being ignored and lies told about them false meetings etc. They have not entered into the spirit of the Charter for Grandchildren but carry on their usual abrupt arrogant ways.
Glasgow City C ouncillor for our area Alistair Watson took up our cause but very soon did not reply to our letters.
Children are still not enjoying the protection and care their grandparents can give them because of these delays and it’s a disgrace.
Jimmy DeucharsUK
22 Alness crescent
Glasgow
0141 882 5658
22 Alness crescent
0141 882 5658
Wednesday, 16 November 2011
Nearly 200,000 babies at risk of harm in the UK
Where are their grandparents.
Nearly 200,000 babies in the UK are at risk of serious harm, according to figures released by the NSPCC as it launched its campaign to highlight the vulnerability of children aged under one.
The All Babies Count campaign calls on the government to ensure sufficient services are available so families are supported during infancy and pregnancy because babies are eight times more likely to be killed than any other age group in childhood.
According to research conducted by the charity, more than 198,000 babies are considered high risk because they are born into homes with mental health problems, domestic violence or drink and drug dependency.
Chris Cuthbert, NSPCC head of strategy and development for under-ones, said: "We know from serious case reviews that around half relate to babies under one. We’ve undertaken some research, which has looked at the prevalence of parental factors such as substance misuse, mental illness and domestic abuse.
"These figures show the scale of need. We are looking at around 200,000 babies across the UK who are living in households that are affected by some of these problems. There is an increasing political rhetoric around the importance of early intervention but we are keen to see that translated into greater action and services on the ground."
The report also recommends that the government gives commissioners in health services and local authorities the powers and responsibility to ensure early intervention services are in place and reviews current early intervention services available for families every two years, using this to deliver an action plan to address gaps.
The NSPCC is also set to launch early intervention programmes in 20 areas across the UK.
These include the Preventing Non-Accidental Head Injury Programme, which will provide a DVD to all parents before they leave hospital after the birth of a child to help prepare them for the pressures of crying and sleeplessness, and highlight the risk of head injuries.
The charity will also run Parents under Pressure, an intensive home visiting and parenting programme working with parents receiving drug or alcohol treatment who have a child under two in their care. Vulnerable first-time mothers will also benefit from the Mind the Baby intensive home-visiting programme.
Children’s minister Tim Loughton said: "Today's report from the NSPCC shows exactly why we are focusing on intervening early to help the most vulnerable children. We are providing an extra 4,200 health visitors and are doubling the places on the family nurse partnership programme to work with the most vulnerable young families.
"But we are clear, where children are at risk they need to be protected from harm. We are reforming the child protection system to make it work much better for children. We are also changing the approach to serious case reviews so that there is more effective learning from practice that drives sustained improvement at the front line."
By Janaki MahadevanThursday, 10 November 2011
1 comment
Babies are eight times more likely to be killed than any other age group in childhood
According to research conducted by the charity, more than 198,000 babies are considered high risk because they are born into homes with mental health problems, domestic violence or drink and drug dependency.
Chris Cuthbert, NSPCC head of strategy and development for under-ones, said: "We know from serious case reviews that around half relate to babies under one. We’ve undertaken some research, which has looked at the prevalence of parental factors such as substance misuse, mental illness and domestic abuse.
The report also recommends that the government gives commissioners in health services and local authorities the powers and responsibility to ensure early intervention services are in place and reviews current early intervention services available for families every two years, using this to deliver an action plan to address gaps.
The NSPCC is also set to launch early intervention programmes in 20 areas across the UK.
These include the Preventing Non-Accidental Head Injury Programme, which will provide a DVD to all parents before they leave hospital after the birth of a child to help prepare them for the pressures of crying and sleeplessness, and highlight the risk of head injuries.
The charity will also run Parents under Pressure, an intensive home visiting and parenting programme working with parents receiving drug or alcohol treatment who have a child under two in their care. Vulnerable first-time mothers will also benefit from the Mind the Baby intensive home-visiting programme.
Children’s minister Tim Loughton said: "Today's report from the NSPCC shows exactly why we are focusing on intervening early to help the most vulnerable children. We are providing an extra 4,200 health visitors and are doubling the places on the family nurse partnership programme to work with the most vulnerable young families.
"But we are clear, where children are at risk they need to be protected from harm. We are reforming the child protection system to make it work much better for children. We are also changing the approach to serious case reviews so that there is more effective learning from practice that drives sustained improvement at the front line."
Children share experiences of life in the care system
By Janaki MahadevanTuesday, 15 November 2011
The importance that children in care place on relationships and routines are among the insights revealed in 100 personal diary entries published by the children's rights director.
Dr Roger Morgan has published the diary notes of 23 children who are in care, leaving care or living in boarding schools or residential special schools.
The young volunteers filled a diary for a week, with 100 accounts recorded in the report. One 11-year-old wrote: "Foster care isn’t as bad as people say it is because I always thought I would die if I came into care but I loved it. Some days weren’t good, but others were the best days of my life.
"The sad thing about being in care is when it comes up to Mother's Day or Father's Day but if you see them then that isn’t as bad but even if you don’t you can get your foster carers something as they are like your mum and dad."
In children’s homes, a lot was written about food and cooking together, a theme that was also prevalent in other settings. One 14-year-old wrote: "We had tea then me and Chris baked cakes and we really enjoyed ourselves. We spent 30 minutes preparing time, 30 minutes cooking time, 15 minutes cooling time and 30 minutes decorating time. Then I tidied up and went to bed at 10."
Among the noted experiences of children in secure units were friends leaving and instances of restraint. One 15-year-old wrote: "Lock down! We didn’t have enough members of staff to deal with all 11 of us – so breakfast in bed for us... Annie left today – she’s been in secure for 18 months – I gave her a hug and she broke down in tears, I’m going to miss her."
Morgan said the diary entries gave "a clear insight" into the lives of children in the care system.
"As the diary entries have not been amended we can understand clearly the emotions, thoughts and concerns of the children and young people, and the children speak for themselves," he said.
"When reading the diary entries it is clear there are some recurring themes, such as relationships between children, the experience of living in a group, the importance of staff support, food and routines. Some of those in care wrote about the impact it had on their lives and some offered advice to other children if they ever found themselves being placed in care."
The importance that children in care place on relationships and routines are among the insights revealed in 100 personal diary entries published by the children's rights director.
Children in care wrote diaries for a week. Image: Office of the Children's Rights Director
The young volunteers filled a diary for a week, with 100 accounts recorded in the report. One 11-year-old wrote: "Foster care isn’t as bad as people say it is because I always thought I would die if I came into care but I loved it. Some days weren’t good, but others were the best days of my life.
In children’s homes, a lot was written about food and cooking together, a theme that was also prevalent in other settings. One 14-year-old wrote: "We had tea then me and Chris baked cakes and we really enjoyed ourselves. We spent 30 minutes preparing time, 30 minutes cooking time, 15 minutes cooling time and 30 minutes decorating time. Then I tidied up and went to bed at 10."
Among the noted experiences of children in secure units were friends leaving and instances of restraint. One 15-year-old wrote: "Lock down! We didn’t have enough members of staff to deal with all 11 of us – so breakfast in bed for us... Annie left today – she’s been in secure for 18 months – I gave her a hug and she broke down in tears, I’m going to miss her."
Morgan said the diary entries gave "a clear insight" into the lives of children in the care system.
"As the diary entries have not been amended we can understand clearly the emotions, thoughts and concerns of the children and young people, and the children speak for themselves," he said.
"When reading the diary entries it is clear there are some recurring themes, such as relationships between children, the experience of living in a group, the importance of staff support, food and routines. Some of those in care wrote about the impact it had on their lives and some offered advice to other children if they ever found themselves being placed in care."
Give your story here.
Hello Jim
Good to talk to you earlier on. As I explained, I'm writing a Grandparents' response to comments by David Norgrove as part of the Family Justice Review. The piece is initially for SAGA Magazine.
He said that
"Grandparents could be extremely important in a child's life, but some made problems worse during divorces by demanding the right to have contact with the children"
I wonder if you have any Grandparents on your books who have lost access to their Grandchildren as a result of marital breakup, through not
fault of their own who might be case studied for me??
I look forward to hearing from you.
Best wishes
Christine Megson
Meganewswest
Meganewswest@aol.com
07966142530
Good to talk to you earlier on. As I explained, I'm writing a Grandparents' response to comments by David Norgrove as part of the Family Justice Review. The piece is initially for SAGA Magazine.
He said that
"Grandparents could be extremely important in a child's life, but some made problems worse during divorces by demanding the right to have contact with the children"
I wonder if you have any Grandparents on your books who have lost access to their Grandchildren as a result of marital breakup, through not
fault of their own who might be case studied for me??
I look forward to hearing from you.
Best wishes
Christine Megson
Meganewswest
Meganewswest@aol.com
07966142530
PARENTLINE SCOTLAND,
I've been doing some volunteering with PARENTLINE SCOTLAND, a great organisation but hardly anyone I speak to seems to be aware of it or what they do!
So a bit of a publicity drive is under way and I wondered if you would be so kind, if you thought it appropriate, to pass it on/post etc. There's a link below to a writer and blogger who posted about her experience of using the service.
http://www.bang2write.com/2011/11/writer-parents-do-you-know-about-these.html
Best wishes
So a bit of a publicity drive is under way and I wondered if you would be so kind, if you thought it appropriate, to pass it on/post etc. There's a link below to a writer and blogger who posted about her experience of using the service.
http://www.bang2write.com/2011/11/writer-parents-do-you-know-about-these.html
Best wishes
Tuesday, 15 November 2011
Governments answer to Eastenders real live portrayel of children brought up in care.
Original Story http://jimmydeuchars.blogspot.com/2011/10/bbc-are-doing-our-job-of-highlighting.html?spref=fb
Children and Families Directorate Care and Justice Division
T: 0131-2445479 F: 0131-244 0978
Mr Jimmy Deuchars Grandparents Apart UK 22 Alness Crescent Glasgow
G521PJ
The Scottish Government
/ Mr Deuchars,
Thank you for your e-mail of 11 October to Brian Adam MSP, in which you expressed concern around the content of the BBC programme Easfenders, as a policy officer in the team that deals with kinship care I have been asked to respond on his behalf.
The Scottish Government believes that all children and young people who experience the care system should have the same life chances as any other youngsters, and that is why it's so important we treat all children and young people equally. The latest phase of the Who Cares? Anti-stigma campaign - Give Me A Chance - plays a key part in achieving this by helping counter any negative stereotyping misguidedly attached to children and young people who are or have been in care. A link to the campaign site is here http://www.givemeachancescotland.org/ .
The Scottish . Government flrQmote~Jhe Getting itRightJocEvery Child (GIRFEC)~approach iilWleprovision ol services. to children and young people. It provides a framework for all services and agencies working with children and families to deliver a co-ordinated approach which is appropriate, proportionate and timely. Among the values and principles of the GIRFEC approach are recognising that what is going on in one part of a child or young person's life can affect many other areas of his or her life; and supporting, wherever possible, those who know the child or young person well, know what they need, what works well for them and what may not be helpful. Keeping children and young people safe is also fundamental to the approach.
If you have any concerns around the content ,of the BBC programme and feel you need to comment you can contact the broadcaster directly. This can be done in writing to BBC Complaints, PO Box 1922, Darlington, DL3 OUR or by completing an on-line complaints form by visiting www.bbc.co.uk/complaints/formsif you do not get a satisfactory response from the BBC then you can raise your concerns with Of com , the independent regulator and competition authority for the UK communications industries. You can contact Ofcom through
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Victoria Quay. |
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Monday, 14 November 2011
BBC Want to talk to grandparents
PLEASE CONTACT ANNE-MARIE DIRECT.
Anne-Marie Bullock annemarie.bullock@bbc.co.uk to james, me
show details 15:40 (5 hours ago)
Hi Jimmy,
Thanks for taking the time to chat just now. As I mentioned I’m researching for the BBC Radio 4 series One to One in which guests presenters interview people on a subject of interest to them. Newspaper columnist Yasmin Alibhai Brown has expressed an interest in the Family Justice Review and looking at stories of how different relationships have been affected following a divorce or relationship breakdown. I’m looking to chat to grandparents who lost access to their grandchildren following the breakdown of their child’s relationship with their partner. I know this is a sensitive issue but wondered if you have people who’d be willing to speak to me on the phone – just for a research call at this stage – especially if their cases have since been resolved.
If you’re able to contact people you’ve helped to see if they’d be willing that would be great. You can contact me on the number below or on this email.
Thanks again for your help.
Kind regards,
Anne-Marie Bullock
BBC Audio and Music Factual Production
One to One BBC Radio 4.
Zone 9A, BBC Birmingham,
The Mailbox,
Birmingham, B1 1RF
0121 567 6736
annemarie.bullock@bbc.co.uk
Anne-Marie Bullock annemarie.bullock@bbc.co.uk to james, me
show details 15:40 (5 hours ago)
Hi Jimmy,
Thanks for taking the time to chat just now. As I mentioned I’m researching for the BBC Radio 4 series One to One in which guests presenters interview people on a subject of interest to them. Newspaper columnist Yasmin Alibhai Brown has expressed an interest in the Family Justice Review and looking at stories of how different relationships have been affected following a divorce or relationship breakdown. I’m looking to chat to grandparents who lost access to their grandchildren following the breakdown of their child’s relationship with their partner. I know this is a sensitive issue but wondered if you have people who’d be willing to speak to me on the phone – just for a research call at this stage – especially if their cases have since been resolved.
If you’re able to contact people you’ve helped to see if they’d be willing that would be great. You can contact me on the number below or on this email.
Thanks again for your help.
Kind regards,
Anne-Marie Bullock
BBC Audio and Music Factual Production
One to One BBC Radio 4.
Zone 9A, BBC Birmingham,
The Mailbox,
Birmingham, B1 1RF
0121 567 6736
annemarie.bullock@bbc.co.uk
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