submitting articles for this site

If you wish to have any news relating to services for children and their families published onto this site please forward items to PAVO via email: info@pavo.org.uk. Preferably send attachments in Word or publisher rather than pdf format.

If you wish to have further information about anything appearing here please do contact PAVO via the HelpDesk email: info@pavo.org.uk or phone: 0845 009 3288

If any of the links to documents, surveys or other websites don't work please do let us know and we will try again.

See our Sister Blog: PAVO Powys Play Partnership -http://powysplaypartnership.blogspot.co.uk/


Friday 28 August 2015

Play Sufficiency Audit Meeting




In Powys We Want Every Child To Play Every Day

Yvonne Owen Newns - PAVO's Children & Young People's Facilitator would like to invite you to a Play Sufficiency Audit Meeting to be held in early September.
Where: PAVO offices Llandrindod Wells
When: Wednesday 9th September 2015  
Time: 3pm to 5pm

Spaces are limited so please comfirm you attendance by
contacting annie.watkins@pavo.org.uk by Tuesday 1st September 2015.

We want every child to play every day in Powys. To work towards this the Powys play Strategy looks at how children & young people have:
  • The TIME to play
  • The SPACE to play
  • Adults, communities, organisations who foster a positive ATTITUDE towards children & young people playing and hanging out.
This Strategy implements the United Nations Charter on the Rights of the Child Article 31: children have the right to access paly, leisure, recreation & cultural activities. The strategy works towards Welsh Government’s policy of providing sufficient paly opportunities for children in Wales.

Purpose & Methodology

PAVO is coordinating the audit of Play Sufficiency across Powys to assess the opportunities children/young people have to access play. Welsh Government want to be able to demonstrate that we are supporting children & young people to access their rights. To do this we are using the following methods to find out more:
  • Focus groups with parents, maringalised groups, professionals
  • Online survey to children, young people, parents/carers
  • Semi-structure interviews with lead professionals associated with policy areas indentified in the paly sufficiency statutory guidance
  • Mapping & Data Collection: making use of data available from CYPP, JNSA, Education, Planning, FIS, Leisure & Recreation etc
Next Steps

Once the data and evidence has been collected this will be further analysised to highlight successes and barriers that children/young people face.

Welsh Government requires the Audit Report on Providing Sufficient Play Opportunities to be submitted by 31st March 2016. This will also provide Powys with an action plan to work towards improving play opportunities for children/ young people across the County over the next 3 years.

PAVO Training courses




Please see below for our forthcoming training courses.

  • 16th Sept 1/2 day Health & Safety course9.00-1.00pm, 6 places available
  • 21st Sept MiDAS minibus induction course, full day, 3 places available
  • 23rd Sept, additional MiDAS accessible module, full day, 4 places available
  • 28th Sept, Passenger Assistant course, full day, 2 places available
All courses will be held at our offices in Llandrindod Wells unless otherwise stated, we can deliver courses for you at your location subject to minimum numbers.

Please contact me if you would like more details or to book a place


We can deliver the following courses.

  • Minibus D1 PCV 
  • 1 day Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW)
  • 3 day First Aid at Work (FAW)
  • Manual handling training

We also have minibuses available for group hire, enquire for details


Thursday 27 August 2015

Wanted: 51,000 children to benefit from our charity


The Royal Merchant Navy Education Foundation has launched a campaign, not to raise funds, but to find beneficiaries



The Royal Merchant Navy Education Foundation was originally set up in 1827 to support children whose fathers has been killed serving at sea. Photograph: RMNEF

For more information please click on this link   Wanted: 51,000 children to benefit from our charity


Dementia Project



Age Cymru is working with the Older People’s Commissioner for Wales on research to hear the voices and experiences of older people with dementia, their families and carers.

I am writing to ask for your assistance in identifying people who would be willing to speak to us about their day to day experiences of living with dementia, the impact it has on their lives and the support currently available to them.

I believe that you might be in a position to help identify people who would like their voices to be heard, through the support and services that you provide.  Please also find a letter of introduction from the Older People’s Commissioner attached.

We are looking to speak both to people living with dementia themselves and the people who care or support them. These conversations can be conducted separately or together.

The conversations will be conducted by our fully trained engagement team and will be extremely informal. Our staff are alert to the sensitivity of the topics which might be covered and will take a flexible approach based upon a person’s situation. We are using a framework based on the ‘Talking Points: personal outcomes approach’ developed in Scotland, in which the participants guide the conversations wherever possible.

We are seeking to hold these conversations between now and the end of September 2015 with a report to be produced by the end of the year.


If you are able to help please contact Kathy Lye at Age Cymru on kathy.lye@agecymru.org.uk or 029 2043 1570. If you would like to discuss this research further or have any questions then you can contact Graeme Francis, Project Manager, on 029 2043 1547.

Thank you for your time and many thanks in advance for your support.

Yours sincerely

signature.bmp

Graeme Francis
Project Manager



Kathy Lye
Engagement Support Coordinator
Cynorthwydd Cefnogi Ymgysylltu
029 2043 1570

 

EQUALITY AND INCLUSION TRAINING / HYFFORDDIANT CYDRADDOLDEB A CHYNHWYSIAD





Equality and Inclusion of Disabled Children
21 October 2015, Rhyl - Online Booking Form
25 November 2015, Cardiff - Online Booking Form

A one-day course

This course is aimed at managers and practitioners working with children in a wide variety of settings, including day nurseries, play schemes and afterschool clubs. It will allow participants to explore and understand the legislative and policy framework that supports the inclusion of disabled children. This interactive training day will help people to reflect on their current provision and to consider practical steps that can ensure their setting is inclusive and accessible to all children who wish to attend.
 
  • Rights based approaches to inclusion of disabled children under the UNCRC
  • Disability as an equalities issue via The Equality Act 2010
  • Exploring the implications of Social Model of disability vs Medical Model of disability
  • Understanding the power of language and terminology in relation to disabled children
  • Discussing and debunking the myths of including disabled children into mainstream activities
  • Working in partnership with parents
  • Overcoming barriers  - understanding and promoting reasonable adjustments
  • Looking at features of inclusive settings 
  • Sharing of suggestions for inclusive games and activities
  • Considering how learning can be applied in daily practice
For more information please click 'Read More'

SHORT SURVEY: CHILD AND FAMILY POVERTY IN WALES





SHORT SURVEY: CHILD AND FAMILY POVERTY IN WALES

How much has changed in the past year?

In August 2014, Children in Wales published a report ˜Child and Family Poverty in Wales: A snapshot of key issues raised by families'.  This report identified the following as the most common poverty related issues raised by families
  • The impact of Welfare Reform and associated changes to the benefit system (including a lack of awareness about changes, and concerns about sanctions and delays in payments
  • Housing (in relation to sufficiency and availability of social housing, and housing quality)
  • Impact of the Bedroom Tax or spare bedroom subsidy
  • Food Poverty (including the increase in the use of foodbanks)
  • Debt
  • Energy costs
  • Rising cost of living (including families struggling with everyday essential costs)
We are keen to hear from you, as a member organisation, to help us understand what the main poverty related issues currently facing children and families in Wales are today and how much this has changed over the past year. Your information will help us in our work with policy makers.


THANK YOU

AROLWG BYR: TLODI PLANT A THEULUOEDD YNG NGHYMRY

Faint sydd wedi newid yn ystod y flwyddyn ddiwethaf?

Ym mis Awst 2014, cyhoeddodd Plant yng Nghymru adroddiad 'Tlodi Plant a Theuluoedd yng Nghymru: Ciplun ar y materion allweddol a godwyd gan deuluoedd' . Roedd yr adroddiad hwn yn nodi mai'r canlynol oedd y materion mwyaf cyffredin cysylltiedig รข thlodi oedd yn cael eu codi gan deuluoedd
  • Effaith Diwygio Lles a newidiadau cysylltiedig i'r system fudd-daliadau (gan gynnwys diffyg ymwybyddiaeth o newidiadau, a phryderon ynghylch sancsiynau ac oedi gyda thaliadau
  • Tai (yng nghyswllt digonolrwydd ac argaeledd tai cymdeithasol, ac ansawdd tai)
  • Effaith y Dreth Ystafelloedd Gwely neu'r cymhorthdal ystafell wely sbรขr
  • Tlodi Bwyd (gan gynnwys y cynnydd yn y defnydd o fanciau bwyd)
  • Dyled
  • Costau ynni
  • Cost gynyddol byw (gan gynnwys teuluoedd sy'n cael trafferth ymdopi รข chostau pob dydd hanfodol)
Rydyn ni'n awyddus i glywed gennych chi, un o'n haelod-sefydliadau, i'n helpu i ddeall beth yw'r prif faterion cysylltiedig รข thlodi sy'n wynebu plant a theuluoedd yng Nghymru heddiw, ac i ba raddau mae hynny wedi newid yn ystod y flwyddyn ddiwethaf.  Bydd eich gwybodaeth yn ein helpu yn ein gwaith gyda llunwyr polisi.

DIOLCH

Wednesday 26 August 2015

CYP Survey & Parents Survey: Play Sufficiency

According to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) you have the right to say what you think should happen when adults are making decisions that affect you. These questions are to help Powys County Council find out what you think about the places where you play or spend time with your friends near where you live when you have free time.

Yn รดl Confensiwn y Cenhedloedd Unedig ar Hawliau’r Plentyn (CCUHP) mae gennyt hawl i ddweud beth yr wyt yn credu a ddylai ddigwydd pan fydd oedolion yn gwneud penderfyniadau fydd yn effeithio arnat ti. Mae’r cwestiynau hyn i’n helpu ni i ddysgu beth wyt ti’n ei feddwl am y mannau y byddi’n chwarae neu’n treulio amser ynddynt gyda dy ffrindiau ger dy gartref pan fydd gennyt ti amser rhydd.


Social Services and Wellbeing Act: Update on Population Assessments Toolkit



Social Services and Wellbeing Act: Update on the Population Assessments Toolkit

As some of you may be aware, SSIA and PHW have been working together to create a toolkit to support the development of the population assessment reports required under the Social Services and Wellbeing Act.  We have been working closely with partners in national and local government, health boards and the third sector to find out what support and assistance they may need to help them meet the requirements set out in the Code of Practice and Regulations.  

The Welsh Government Technical Group have completed their report into population assessments, which has been taken into account in the development of the toolkit. A copy of the final report can be found on http://bit.ly/1KU8QGp

We recently held the first meeting of the Steering Group on Population Assessment Reports, where the outline for a toolkit was discussed and agreed by members. The synergies with other strategies and legislation, particularly around the wellbeing plans set out in the new Wellbeing of Future Generations Act, were also discussed.  It was also agreed a separate workshop on datasets will be held this Autumn to discuss some of the issues around identifying, collecting and analysing statistical data.  It was also agreed that a full copy of the scoping report would be useful for group members so I have attached a copy for your information.

Next Steps
We have identified a pilot region and we will be working with them to develop, test and refine a toolkit. The pilot phase will be completed by late Autumn and a final toolkit will be available by Spring 2016.  We have added a section to our website to keep people updated on the progress of the report which can be viewed here. We will keep you up to date of all developments and welcome any thoughts or suggestions you may have as the project progresses.
SSIA, Local Government House, Drake Walk, Cardiff CF10 4LG

Tuesday 25 August 2015

SkillsCymru - Careers, jobs and skills Events

SkillsCymru are the largest careers, jobs and skills events in Wales, taking place in Llandudno and Cardiff. They are highly interactive and inspirational events with one intention, providing young people with the unique opportunity to discover who they could be. From the wide range of employers offering apprenticeships in key industry sectors to universities and colleges providing the answers to career route queries, sector skills councils and career guidance organisations,  SkillsCymru is the one-stop shop for careers in Wales.  
The highly interactive SkillsCymru events offer learning through experiences, such as creating a garden from scratch, analysing a crime scene, reading the news and much more. Demonstrations help visitors to focus on areas of interest, as well as encourage them to explore different routes into a vast range of career opportunities. Free to attend!
*There is a travel bursary available for groups who book over 45 students. We recommend whole year groups attend from Years 10, 11, 12 and 13. Groups of learners from colleges and organisations can attend in smaller tutor or vocational groups.
Benefits:
You can meet:
  • Employers from the private and public sectors
  • Further education colleges
  • Universities
  • Training Providers
  • Sector Skills Councils
All under one roof!
Llandudno, Venue Cymru, 7-8th October
Cardiff, Motorpoint Arena, 21-22nd October
Book your place here: http://www.skillscymru.co.uk/
Schools, colleges and other community groups from across Wales are also invited to share the experience and can book by calling 01823 362800 or emailing georga.blair@prospects.co.uk

For Welsh version please click 'Read More'

BUILDING RESILIENCE TRAINING / HYFFORDDIANT ADEILADU GWYDNWCH




Building Resilience in Young People
3 November 2015, Cardiff - Online Booking Form
 
A one day course

Why do some young people cope with difficulties more easily than others? What factors really make a difference to how we deal with adversity? What can practitioners do to make a difference? This one-day course explores how you can develop an approach that builds on strengths to help young people deal with adversity, cope with change, survive disappointment and manage crises. It will draw upon practice, research and theory. Above all, it will enable participants to reflect upon their experience and build on their own strengths.

The course will include:
  • Resilience, risk and coping - what do we mean
  • Key resilience qualities for individuals and families
  • Implications of the different coping styles of young women and young men
  • Protective factors for individuals, families and communities
  • The significance of emotional intelligence, problem solving and optimism
  • Listening to young people and families and developing relationships of care
  • Supporting connectedness 
About the Trainer 
Cris Hoskin has over 30 years' experience of working with young people, parents and families in a variety of settings. This includes working with young people and parents in mainstream school, specialist (EBD) school, child and adolescent mental health and in the Youth Justice System. She has also worked in the voluntary sector for a number of years managing projects nationally for the Youth Justice Board and the Home office. She has been delivering courses for a number of years on a part time basis. In 2010 Cris left her post as commissioning lead for parenting services in a Local Authority to become a full-time freelance trainer and consultant.
She is also experienced in delivering a variety of courses to adult learners focusing on the emotional well-being of children and adolescence and training parenting and family practitioners.  

COST:

This course is also offered as in-house training, please contacttraining@childreninwales.org.uk for more information.

Some of our previous course participants have made the following comments:

'Very enjoyable training, well-paced and informative'

'I thoroughly enjoyed this training and I feel confident to use the tools when working with young people in transition'

'Best days training I have done for a while. Brilliant trainer. Thank you!'

'A very enjoyable day. Paced just right'
If you are interested in future Children in Wales courses, please visit our website or join our mailing list.

 **Remember that you can attend at a cheaper rate if your organisation is a member of Children in Wales. Join here**
You may be interested in our upcoming training courses...





November 2015

For Welsh version please click on 'Read More'

Friday 21 August 2015

Job Vacancy with PAVO - Mental Health Participation Officer



Mental Health Participation Officer
21 Hours per week
Salary £1,223.60 per month
Based in Llandrindod Wells

The purpose of this post is to support the Mental Health Team Manager to deliver and develop PAVO's mental health participation activities so that people of all ages and communities in Powys are effectively engaged in the planning, delivery and evaluation of their local mental health services.  The post is currently funded to 31st March 2016.

The closing date for applications is: 9am on Friday 11th September.

Interviews for the post will be held w/c 21st September

Application packs are available from Lisa Banfield at PAVO on 01597 82 2191 or lisa.banfield@pavo.org.uk


For more information about PAVO see: www.pavo.org.uk and for information about the work of our Mental Health Team see: http://www.powysmentalhealth.org.uk/

Registered Charity No. 1069557
A Company limited by guarantee 3522144. Registered in Wales






Thursday 20 August 2015




PORTFOLIO PREPARATION WORKSHOPS
18 FORTNIGHTLY SESSIONS & 2 GALLERY VISITS

 For young & emerging creative practitioners who find it difficult to access mainstream training £100 programme fee (20 sessions) or £5 payable per session

Please click on this link for Portfolio Preparation Poster

Tuesday 18 August 2015

Two job vacancies with PAVO





Powys Association Voluntary Organisations needs vibrant, committed people with passion, energy and positivity

1.            Intermediate Care Volunteer Officer - to recruit volunteers for health and social care organisations in the third sector (28 hrs - 4 days a week)
This fixed term appointment is funded until 31st March 2016.
Salary:- £19,577.60 per annum (£24,472 pro rata)
Base Llandrindod Wells or Newtown

2.            Development Officer (One Powys – Connecting Voices) - to ensure that the voice of people with neurological conditions in Powys is heard and listened to by all appropriate agencies (14 hrs – 2 days a week)
This fixed term appointment is funded until 30th April 2017
Salary:- £9,788.80 per annum (£24,472 pro rata)
Base Llandrindod Wells or Newtown

Interviews to be held in Llandrindod Wells 11th September
Closing date for applications 4th September

Interested?

Application packs are available from at PAVO
Tel: 01597 822191 or email lisa.banfield@pavo.org.uk





Monday 17 August 2015

Link to Infoengine below

Click to search for community and voluntary organisations within Powys


Powys Community Directory spreads its wings – helping people to ‘know what’s out there’!


infoengine, Powys' online directory of community and voluntary services, is now available across the Mid and West Wales region, covering Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion, Carmarthenshire and Powys. The infoengine website is an online directory making it easier for people across Powys to find and access the support services they need; from local food banks and sports clubs to wildlife welfare and national charities.

HOW TO REGISTER / POLICING THE SITE:

Organisations can register their own details by visiting the homepage and 
following the instructions. Each organisation is responsible for the details they 
enter. If the infoengine team is notified of concerns around inappropriate 
material or service provision then a member of the team has the right to hide 
the details in question from the public pending further investigation. 

IMAGES / PDF UPLOAD:

If an organisation chooses to upload an image or PDF document – this is 
sent to the team for authorisation prior to going live. The team reserves 
the right to delete any offensive or inappropriate material. Organisations are
urged to gain permission to publish images and the responsibility for this lies
with the organisation. 

TRANSLATION:

Organisations have the option to add details of their services bilingually but it 
is down to each organisation to translate their own information. 

UPDATING DETAILS:

Infoengine automatically refreshes itself – every 6 months the system sends
an email to the main contact for each organisation asking them to check and 
update their entry, if this contact doesn’t respond in approx. two weeks then 
the email is sent to another contact, if provided, and if this second contact 
doesn’t respond the Infoengine team is notified and aims to contact the 
organisation through other means to see if they are still operating. 

SAFEGUARDING:

Any provider of a service in which children under 8 years old are looked
after for a period of two hours or more must register with the Care and 
Social Services Inspectorate for Wales (CSSIW). To reduce the risk of parents 
accessing potentially inappropriate or unsafe childcare services Infoengine 
recognises search terms such as childcare, child-minder, nursery and will 
redirect people using these terms to the local Family Information Service which 
maintains its own database of registered providers.

Link to Infoengine

Infoengine Registration Form Cym


Infoengine Registration Form Eng


Regional Map of Infoengine Coverage