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Lisa Cherry is in conversation with Emm Irving,  Senior Programme Manager for Improving Population Health, NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board who leads on the Adversity, Trauma and Resilience Programme. The ambition is for the whole of West Yorkshire to become Trauma Informed by 2030. Lisa and Emm discuss the challenges, dealing with overwhelm and facing our own traumas alongside why we need to start with the workforce! 

Join Lisa Cherry and Karen Treisman in a live webinar conversation about changing organisational systems, services and cultures.  

Join Lisa Cherry in conversation on a live webinar with Peter Blundell and Danica Darley on boundaries and relational practice. Professional boundaries are there for the safety and security of service users and professionals. However, there are factors that can increase professionals' use of boundaries that can lead to defensive and distance-based practice rather than relational and effective practice. The best professional social care practice is relational, yet boundaries (if used ineffectively) can interfere rather than foster those relationships.We are advocating for relationship-based professional boundaries practice, rather than a practice that is distance-based (i.e., creates barriers to relationships and change). We openly advocate for system change. We support safe, reflective and professional practice and are not supportive of practitioners working against systems unsupported, or in ways that could cause them or service users harm.

In this episode, Lisa Cherry is in conversation with Alex Kemp exploring professional kindness, culture and leadership. Alexander Kemp has been working with children and families for over 20 years. He holds a degree in social work and a masters of public administration.  He lives in Brighton with his husband who is a doctor working in intensive care.  Alex is care experienced.  Alex has worked in senior roles within large organisations specialising in the provision of services to children and families who need help and protection and with children in care and care leavers.  Alex worked at Cafcass, the largest employer of social workers in the UK, as an assistant director for a large geographical area of England.  In this role, he worked in partnership with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in supporting the British Overseas Territories to develop and improve services for children and families.  He trained and coached senior leaders abroad to support their development.    Alex’s last role was in the UK as one of Her Majesty’s Inspectors of children’s social care; he is the first known care experienced person to have held this position.  He inspected local authorities and other organisations including fostering agencies and children’s homes.  Alex is one of only a handful of care experienced people in the UK who have progressed into such senior roles in large organisations responsible for providing help and support to children and families. He believes strongly that expertise by experience is undervalued.  He has recently established an organisation which aims to support organisations and practitioners across the helping professions explore how and kindness and reflection influence the way in which professionals work.  Alex also hopes to spend some time speaking, training and writing. Twitter - Alex - @AlexanderKempyLisa - @_lisacherry

Luke Billingham, part-time researcher, part-time youth worker, talks all things about shifting the lens on how we view youth violence, the significance of mattering and how we need to step away from 'boundaries receptacles for blame'.Here's a link to the "Terrifying abyss of insignificance" paper: https://opo.iisj.net/index.php/osls/article/view/1185/1395Worth mentioning that the title of that paper is a quote from a brilliant book by Tony Ellis: https://www.routledge.com/Men-Masculinities-and-Violence-An-ethnographic-study/Ellis/p/book/9781138040274)Here's a link to Against Youth Violence (available for pre-order; out in October): https://bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/against-youth-violenceHere's a link to Hackney Quest's site, where Luke works part-time: https://www.hackneyquest.org.uk/Here's a link to the research project Luke is working on with the OU: https://changingviolence.org/Twitter: @lbilli91Twitter: @_lisacherry

What happens when youth work, the decimation of preventative services and a community that feels left behind collide? In this collaborative book, Cut Short; Why we’re failing our youth – and how to fix it, Ciaran charts life during the most challenging years of the last decade. The emergence of the VRU in London is recorded as are the real lives of those living in their community as violence escalates against the backdrop or even in response to, the ideology of austerity and a changing political landscape.I absolutely loved this book and as far as I'm concerned, it is a must read inviting a very real and ongoing call to action.Twitter: @ciaranthaparPaperback out on 30th June

Dr Amanda Taylor-Beswick’s main research interest is in the area of digitalization and professional education, in particular, how social work education socializes and equips students for practice in an emergent and complex digital social world. Research projects include: an examination of the contribution of social work education to the preparedness of students for practice in the connected age; navigating digital contact for children in out of home care; the design and development of a wearable device to help to reduced drug deaths in high risk populations in Northern Ireland; a youth-co-research project designed to test out activism as a mental health intervention for young people; academic advisor to a project investigating ‘The Digital Capabilities of Social Workers in England’ in order to improve practices in this area. She is also currently working with the NISCC, HSCB and the 5 NI Health and Social Care Trust to progress digital understandings in and for social work education and practice.Buy the 3rd Ed of The Brightness of Stars HERE@AMLTaylor66@_lisacherry

Steven Russell, is the founder of Elements SEMH Support. As a child, he lived with 9 foster families, was placed into two children’s homes and attended 5 schools. With this in mind, he decided to turn his “Pain to Purpose” by creating Elements.As a child, growing up in the care system, and an adult working in the care system. Steven has become an effective communicator with children living in care.His authentic style enables him to build rapport with children and young people with ease.Combining the elements of his professional and personal experiences to create “Elements SEMH Support”. Steven has been able to inspire hundreds of children to become more optimistic about their lives despite their adverse experiences

Sheina Rigg a Scottish social worker, living in Belfast permanently since 1990 has been seconded to a Trauma Informed Practice Project in 2018 as one of a team of 4 implementation managers, project manager and project lead. Now a smaller project, more embedded in the SBNI structure, they support organisational change using a transformation model devised from a service user perspective, their journey through services and apply a trauma lens/trauma principles to that journey from 'entry' to 'exit'. Pilot projects have been supported in a range of settings. Covid and lockdown has had its impact, not least on the systems being supported to change however in some ways staff wellbeing has never been so talked about so some doors are more open than they were!Resources: https://www.safeguardingni.org/aces-and-trauma-informed-practice

Sean, who features in the new section of The Brightness of Stars 3rd Edition, shares with us a little bit of history of 'care', why community is everything and why speaking about the care experience is hard yet so important! Buy the book at all online and offline stores including Amazon:https://www.amazon.co.uk/Brightness-Stars-Stories-Experienced-Inspire/dp/1032191589/ref=sr_1_6?qid=1641830200&refinements=p_27%3ALisa+Cherry&s=books&sr=1-6&text=Lisa+Cherry

Sparked by a Twitter conversation, Lisa and Andi deep dive in a more nuanced way than Twitter allows, into thinking about childhood adversity and trauma in the context of criminal justice. How do we ensure that the public are safe, that people take responsibility for their actions and that there are interventions in place that support healing from childhood trauma and adversity? @andibrierley@_lisacherry

The 3rd Ed of The Brightness of Stars is out in May 2022 and this short series of videos introduces you to some of the contributors.Meet Dianne, one of the original contributors talks about how writing about her experiences 'opened a door', heightened her awareness and the impact that the experience of being in care had on her.  The 3rd Ed has brand new contributors bringing the book up to date, additional reflections from the original contributors and poetry. You can order your copy here:Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Brightness-S...Routledge: https://www.routledge.com/The-Brightn...

The 3rd Ed of The Brightness of Stars is out in May 2022 and this short series of videos introduces you to some of the contributors.Meet Isabelle, one of the youngest contributors sharing why contributing a chapter was so important to her, the act of processing trauma through writing her chapter and the importance of sharing shared lived experiences. The book has brand new contributors bringing the book up to date, reflections from the original contributors and poetry. Isabelle is one of the new contributors. You can order your copy here....Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Brightness-Stars-Stories-Experienced-Inspire/dp/1032191589/ref=sr_1_6?qid=1641830200&refinements=p_27%3ALisa+Cherry&s=books&sr=1-6&text=Lisa+CherryRoutledge: https://www.routledge.com/The-Brightness-of-Stars-Stories-from-Care-Experienced-Adults-to-Inspire/Cherry/p/book/9781032191584

The 3rd Ed of The Brightness of Stars is out in May 2022 and this short series of videos introduces you to some of the contributors.Meet Pav, one of the original contributors talk candidly about our time on Women's Hour, the healing power of being involved in the book, life as a Muslim in the children's home and how we should never stop reaching out to children and young people even when they won't let us!  The 3rd Ed has brand new contributors bringing the book up to date, additional reflections from the original contributors and poetry.  You can order your copy here:Amazon or Routledge

The 3rd Ed of The Brightness of Stars is out on 22nd May 2022 and this short series of videos introduces you to some of the contributors.Meet Jamie, sharing the impact of finding people with similar experiences and how that has led him to focus on community, connection and collaboration. He also begins to explore the intersection of care with sexuality. The book has brand new contributors bringing the book up to date, reflections from the original contributors and poetry. Jamie is one of the new contributors. You can order your copy here....Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Brightness-Stars-Stories-Experienced-Inspire/dp/1032191589/ref=sr_1_6?qid=1641830200&refinements=p_27%3ALisa+Cherry&s=books&sr=1-6&text=Lisa+CherryRoutledge: https://www.routledge.com/The-Brightness-of-Stars-Stories-from-Care-Experienced-Adults-to-Inspire/Cherry/p/book/9781032191584

The 3rd Ed of The Brightness of Stars is out on 22nd May 2022 and this short series of videos introduces you to some of the contributors.Meet Tim, one of the original contributors from the 1st Ed written back in 2013/2014 sharing the reflective process of looking back at where he was and where he is now. You can order your copy here:Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Brightness-Stars-Stories-Experienced-Inspire/dp/1032191589/ref=sr_1_6?qid=1641830200&refinements=p_27%3ALisa+Cherry&s=books&sr=1-6&text=Lisa+CherryRoutledge: https://www.routledge.com/The-Brightness-of-Stars-Stories-from-Care-Experienced-Adults-to-Inspire/Cherry/p/book/9781032191584

The 3rd Ed of The Brightness of Stars is out on 22nd May 2022 and this short series of videos introduces you to some of the contributors.Meet Shaunna, one of the youngest contributors sharing why taking part was so important to her. The book has brand new contributors bringing the book up to date, reflections from the original contributors and poetry. Shaunna is one of the new contributors. You can order your copy here....Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Brightness-Stars-Stories-Experienced-Inspire/dp/1032191589/ref=sr_1_6?qid=1641830200&refinements=p_27%3ALisa+Cherry&s=books&sr=1-6&text=Lisa+CherryRoutledge: https://www.routledge.com/The-Brightness-of-Stars-Stories-from-Care-Experienced-Adults-to-Inspire/Cherry/p/book/9781032191584

A deep discussion on parenting, the menopause and translating the science of neurobiology.Kate on Twitter : @katesilvertonKate on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katesilverton/Kate's Book: There's No Such Thing as NaughtyLisa on Twitter: @_lisacherryLisa's Book:  Conversations That Make A Difference for Children and Young People

A short interview about the book Conversations That Make a Difference for Children and Young People by contributing organisation, To The Moon and Back.You can buy the book here:https://www.amazon.co.uk/Conversations-Difference-Children-Young-People/dp/0367644010/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=Here is a review found on Amazon from Dr Christopher Moore:What an achievement by Lisa Cherry. This book is a must-read for anyone who has a vested interest in the emotional wellbeing and mental health of children and young people.Lisa provides a brief introduction to the areas of attachment, adversity and trauma. These set the scene for the subsequent conversations in each of the three parts of the book. She also provides frequent reflections and points for discussions. I found that there was a real momentum to each chapter. They often left me with food for thought and I was eager to begin reading the next conversation.One of the greatest strengths of this book is how it dips into various contexts and disciplines and yet the discussions remain accessible and relevant to a range of educators and professionals within health and social care. I have little experience of the criminal justice system, but I found Andi Brierley’s chapter very applicable to common issues such as preventative and multi-agency working. Similarly, the chapter with Pauline Scott and Laura Devennie will speak to those grappling with whole-school and whole-service thinking around staff wellbeing.The conversational nature of this book is really unique, and this allows it to provide a really rich space for exploring and challenging a range of issues. It goes further than many books about similar topics, as it pulls back the curtain on the complex journey that these headteachers, social workers, therapists and managing directors (to name just some of the professional backgrounds) have experienced.I appreciated the fact that the conversations did not shy away from the difficulties and setbacks which occurred on these journeys. Change is hard. Systems can be rigid. People can be hesitant to view the world and their own background with a different lens. It is truly refreshing to see these issues discussed openly and honestly. Lisa and her contributors really help to make these experiences tangible. There are also universal themes revealed across this spectrum of conversation which provide hope for the future. Compassion. Understanding. Empathy. Relationships. This book will undoubtedly help you to feel that you can make a difference.

A live Book Launch event recorded on Zoom with 5 authors releasing books this year on the subject of trauma, relationships and connection. Lisa's Book:http://bit.ly/conversationswithyou​and a FREE chapter download:https://bit.ly/chapter4you​Andi's Book:http://bit.ly/andibrierley​Mark's Book:http://bit.ly/markfinnis​Karen's Book:http://bit.ly/karentreisman​Adele's Book:http://bit.ly/adelebates