SIG Chair: Dr Sarah Carlick, MeSafe
"I would just like to conclude that hearing about how much it means to 'Jack' just shows the importance and the weight of the actual app... as you can see in just our little 5 minute chat the light of hope in Jack's face, exploring and seeing the difference in his journey and providing a safe space for the children as a way of reflecting on their journey through life and the memories... without realising it, it shows the weight and the passion and the meaning behind the app and it just shows how beneficial it is for the children... we can spend years trying to help some of our children to try and find coping strategies, try and find ways to manage trauma, note milestones in their life... Jack has always struggled with areas of remembrance and celebrating and this app shows that actually this is just a natural coping mechanism for him, it's simple, not complicated, a space to let his thoughts off... I'm immensely proud of him."
Jane, Darren and Kevin will introduce and explore Storyteller, the digital platform upon which this therapeutic practitioner was reflecting, having listened to a 14 year old boy using it. Photos, video, voice-notes and text are all collated, curated and held for the child, and for the adult they become, to own forever.
By engaging with children in meaningful ways, we can help them build and claim a more coherent narrative of their past, present, and future. This strong sense of self and identity helps prevent the detrimental fragmentation that too often occurs when children move through the system, losing connection with people, places, and a sense of belonging. Protecting their self-confidence and identity is crucial for their mental health and well-being as they grow into adults.
Darren Evans is the Founder and CEO of After Cloud, and has been creating tech solutions for the Social Care Sector for 25 years.
The origin of After Cloud is rooted in his personal experience of life stories, what is too easily lost, and what can be captured to enrich the lives of others.
Jane Keenan is the Managing Director for Storyteller, and brings 35 years as senior leader and practitioner in therapeutic environments for children’s social care.
No one has taught her more than the children, and the voices of mature care-experienced adults now transforming the sector.
Kevin Yong is a leading expert in public sector improvement and data insights, specialising in children’s social care, and was previously Head of Coram-i, Coram’s pioneering children’s social care consultancy.
With over 20 years’ experience, Kevin uses his expertise to help create a society that enables all children to thrive.
It has improved my knowledge and understanding about the range of harms caused to children and their impact as I have been able to network with a wide range of experts from the UK and beyond. There is no other multidisciplinary association for child protection professionals focused on learning to support and improve practice and policy
