The National Leaving Care Benchmarking Forum is working to stimulate and disseminate best practice on a national scale to enrich outcomes for our nation’s care leavers.
Events
- Attendance at 6 days specialist peer learning and development events for managers
- Attendance at 3 days themed learning and development away days for practitioners
- Annual PA Event and ‘PA of the Year’ awards,
- Advice and support from leaving care policy and practice experts
“The sessions make you realise that you do make a difference in a person’s life who has nobody else and that this is celebrated.”
– Personal Adviser PA Event, December 2020
Young person’s voice
- Opportunity for care leavers in member Local Authorities to join the Young Person’s Benchmarking Forum (YPBMF) and attend celebration events
- LA Steering group and Young Person’s Benchmarking Forum shape direction of forum and content of events
“I love being a Champion and involved with YPBMF. It’s given me confidence and positive networks. Local authorities know my face and want to work with me!”
– YPBMF Champion
Resources
- Resources developed by the forum, e.g. Local Offer Toolkit
- Regular policy and practice updates
- Exclusive member area of NLCBF website including contact details for other members
- Access to extensive research and resources about leaving care
- Members’ online peer enquiry and benchmarking service
- Access to specialist training and consultancy services
“I hope that local authorities will use the National Leaving Care Benchmarking Local Offer Toolkit as a way of benchmarking themselves against what other local authorities are offering.”
– Mark Riddell, National Implementation Adviser for Care Leavers, 2nd Report
Networking and influence
- Regular consultations with DfE, DWP, MHCLG and opportunities to influence developments at a national level
- Close working relationship with Ofsted, HMPPS and leaving care organisations
- Networking and peer support with professionals working in leaving care
- ‘Participation Network’ and ‘Employment, Education, Training Network’
“Whole event was meaningful and inspirational. To be able to face-to-face network was invaluable.”
– Leaving Care Manager, November 2021