The aim of the LAC Practice Exchange Network is to provide practitioners with up to date knowledge and ideas to help improve practice and outcomes for children in care, which can be disseminated back to individual practitioner's local authority.

The LAC Practice Exchange Network events offer the opportunity for local practitioners to come together to hear about what is happening at their regional level from the Government regional offices and to hear from speakers on topics relevant to direct practice.

The events also provide opportunities to network, share best practice, discuss burning issues and find solutions to improve practice with children in care. Participants will be provided with materials from the day to enable feedback to participant’s own local authority.

Each participant and local authority will also be provided with a yearly briefing, which summarises all the key issues, topics covered and messages for practice from across all the regional events.

Learning outcomes:

·    Learn methods of promoting physical and emotional health of children in care settings

·    Understanding legislation around looked after children in context of National and local policy and procedures

·    Identify key outcomes for children in care and the methods of measuring these to improve practice and outcomes

·    Apply this understanding and knowledge to further your practice and disseminate learning back to your team, organisation or local authority

 
Programme*

*This programme is subject to change without notice and will be updated as speakers are confirmed.

 
Charlotte Levene, Chair and lead trainer

Charlotte has been working with children and young people for 15 years. She is a qualified social worker and has worked in children's homes, education settings, field work teams and for voluntary organisations. Throughout this time Charlotte has focussed on working with Looked After Children.

Charlotte was the Principal Officer at The National Centre for Excellence in Residential Child Care where her main role was to facilitate regional events for managers of residential child care to share good practice. Most recently Charlotte has facilitated regional consultations on the draft National Minimum Standards for children’s homes and has contributed to policy and training documents around the needs of Looked After Children.