The purpose of the Care Experienced staff network is to reduce barriers and improve equality of opportunity for Care Experienced staff and the wider Care Experienced community.
What does “care experienced” mean?
The term “care experienced” relates to anyone who has been in care in any capacity and at any point in their life, regardless of the duration. This includes being at home under a supervision order, living in foster care, kinship care (cared by of a relative or someone with a significant pre-existing relationship with the child), residential care and secure care. This also includes informal care arrangements, such as residing with relatives.
What is the network for?
The Care Experienced staff network will bring together members from across NHS Lothian. It will be a platform to discuss issues relevant to members and allow the organisation to consult with those who have lived experienced of care systems.
The Care Experienced Staff Network will provide an inclusive and safe platform to:
- Support Care Experienced individuals to develop their own network and careers.
- Inform how NHS Lothian can support the needs of Care Experienced individuals and encourage them to engage and excel in the workforce.
- Provide feedback on NHS Lothian’s Corporate Parenting Plan and the implementation of programmes to improve services for Care Experienced Children and Young People.
Membership
All NHS Lothian employees are welcome, with focuses on supporting Care Experienced staff and allowing them to inform programmes of work within the Corporate Parenting Plan. The network is also open to those who have an interest in supporting Care Experienced individuals.
If you’d like to join the network, please contact loth.careexperienced@nhs.scot
Next Meeting
Our next meeting is Thursday 25 April at 15.30. Email the address above for the Teams link.
Future Meeting Dates
- Thursday 30 May at 15.30
- Thursday 27 June at 15.30
- Thursday 25 July at 15.30
- Thursday 29 August at 15.30
- Thursday 26 September at 15.30
- Thursday 31 October at 15.30
- Thursday 28 November at 15.30
