Hearing a different view

The blip is of seeing a different view: the science centre and tower from on high from my hotel rooM.

But today was about hearing things from a different perspective.

After last night's inspirational stories I experienced the other end of the spectrum today when I observed children's hearings and witnessed again what the system seeks to achieve.

Two cases of young people for whom life had not provided the opportunities or the confidence to prepare for or go out and do what we witnessed last night.

One did not have the consistency of behaviour to keep themselves safe when things were not going well and needed ongoing care and protection to ensure that when they were at their low point they were supported and protected. It was not what the young person wanted just now but is what was needed. Lots of positive signs and developing maturity promising possibilities for the future, but difficult decisions had to be taken now to make sure that those options were preserved for the future. Strong emotions and tears but at the end a recognition that it was for the best.

Then a long debate about contact for another young person just starting school who is in foster care. Some frank and hard hitting discussions with the birth parents who contested many things and who in different ways demonstrated their love for the young person who had lived with them for just a third of their life. But also evidence that despite that love the care needed could not be provided or sustained.

And lots of discussions about who should contact whom and when and by what method ( face to face (supervised,or not); phone contact (monitored or not); letterbox ( i.e. By post/ third party) - and how frequently. And whether that applied equally to mum and dad or separate decisions.

Lots of tension, debate, anger, frustration. I also saw An example of a solicitor in a hearing supporting not just the client but also helping the process through their contributions by explaining realities and options.

Decisions were made in what was seen as the best interest of the young person. People may exercise their rights to take appeals. Process will continue and, hopefully, the young person concerned will find themselves in a stable environment in which they can thrive and possibly, in the next decade or so, feature in whatever version of last night's awards ceremony exists in the future.

Then back to the office mid-afternoon to catch up and prepare for the holiday weekend and Saturday's visit to the Care Council. But the thoughts of what these young people were going through and how they might be coping or not pervaded my thoughts.

A different perspective indeed.