Creative model found to strengthen relationships between care-experienced young people and the adults in their lives
An innovative new approach has shown that creativity helps to develop and strengthen relationships between care-experienced young people and their carers in the North East.
Creative Life Story Work has been rolled out in three local authorities in the region - Gateshead, Darlington and South Tyneside - to see if the new creative model is an improvement to traditional life story work, which is a way of helping care-experienced young people to understand how they came into local authority care.
The new approach is based on the pioneering work of Professor Richard Rose (Therapeutic Life Story Work International) and has been led by Blue Cabin, a North East-based charity which transforms outcomes for care-experienced young people.
Funded by What Works Centre for Social Care and evaluated by Coram and Ipsos Mori, the new approach has been found to encourage care-experienced children and young people to explore their life stories creatively with Blue Cabin's team of professional artists.
On how the approach works, Jenny Young, Director of Blue Cabin, said: "Creative Life Story Work uses artist-led creative activities, combined with therapeutic life story work, to help care-experienced children and young people better understand their own life stories and strengthen their relationships with the people in their lives."
Findings from the evaluation report on the new creative model included:
- 85% of local authority staff who responded to a survey thought that Creative Life Story Work is more effective than traditional life story work
- A better understanding of care experience and identity were most often cited among the benefits to care-experienced children and young people who participated
- Of those involved in delivery of Creative Life Story Work, there was generally a perception it had improved the relationships between carers and children and young people, and improved well-being and stability of placements
- In interviews, no negative effects of taking part were reported, and carers and children and young people recommended the programme.
Jenny added: "What stands out to me most in this evaluation report is what children and young people said about being involved. They talked about 'significant changes in their lives' linked to taking part including improved mental health, a better understanding of their identity and improved relationships with people in the lives. We cannot underestimate this finding, particularly as they participated in sessions during a global pandemic.
"With guidance throughout from Professor Richard Rose of Therapeutic Life Story Work International, and dedication and commitment from our local authority partners and colleagues, we have shown that it is possible to think about life story work differently - as a creative, relational process, not a one-off event. We are also working hard to develop a trauma informed approach to measuring the impact of Creative Life Story Work."
Councillor Gary Haley, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People at Gateshead Council, said: "We're always striving to find innovative ways of engaging care experienced children and young people with life story work, which aims to improve emotional wellbeing and relationships so that they can thrive.
"The new model has already shown how a more creative approach can encourage young people to explore their emotions, which in turn has a positive impact on their relationships with the adults in their lives.
"By continuing to work with Blue Cabin and the professional artists, we hope to see more evidence of our care experienced children, carers and social workers benefiting from the programme."
Creative Life Story Work is now being made available to local authorities and practitioners throughout the UK.
An innovative new approach has shown that creativity helps to develop and strengthen relationships between care-experienced young people and their carers in the North East.
Creative Life Story Work has been rolled out in three local authorities in the region - Gateshead, Darlington and South Tyneside - to see if the new creative model is an improvement to traditional life story work, which is a way of helping care-experienced young people to understand how they came into local authority care.
The new approach is based on the pioneering work of Professor Richard Rose (Therapeutic Life Story Work International) and has been led by Blue Cabin, a North East-based charity which transforms outcomes for care-experienced young people.
Funded by What Works Centre for Social Care and evaluated by Coram and Ipsos Mori, the new approach has been found to encourage care-experienced children and young people to explore their life stories creatively with Blue Cabin's team of professional artists.
On how the approach works, Jenny Young, Director of Blue Cabin, said: "Creative Life Story Work uses artist-led creative activities, combined with therapeutic life story work, to help care-experienced children and young people better understand their own life stories and strengthen their relationships with the people in their lives."
Findings from the evaluation report on the new creative model included:
- 85% of local authority staff who responded to a survey thought that Creative Life Story Work is more effective than traditional life story work
- A better understanding of care experience and identity were most often cited among the benefits to care-experienced children and young people who participated
- Of those involved in delivery of Creative Life Story Work, there was generally a perception it had improved the relationships between carers and children and young people, and improved well-being and stability of placements
- In interviews, no negative effects of taking part were reported, and carers and children and young people recommended the programme.
Jenny added: "What stands out to me most in this evaluation report is what children and young people said about being involved. They talked about 'significant changes in their lives' linked to taking part including improved mental health, a better understanding of their identity and improved relationships with people in the lives. We cannot underestimate this finding, particularly as they participated in sessions during a global pandemic.
"With guidance throughout from Professor Richard Rose of Therapeutic Life Story Work International, and dedication and commitment from our local authority partners and colleagues, we have shown that it is possible to think about life story work differently - as a creative, relational process, not a one-off event. We are also working hard to develop a trauma informed approach to measuring the impact of Creative Life Story Work."
Councillor Gary Haley, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People at Gateshead Council, said: "We're always striving to find innovative ways of engaging care experienced children and young people with life story work, which aims to improve emotional wellbeing and relationships so that they can thrive.
"The new model has already shown how a more creative approach can encourage young people to explore their emotions, which in turn has a positive impact on their relationships with the adults in their lives.
"By continuing to work with Blue Cabin and the professional artists, we hope to see more evidence of our care experienced children, carers and social workers benefiting from the programme."
Creative Life Story Work is now being made available to local authorities and practitioners throughout the UK.
