• Episode 3: S4E3 - Trauma-informed record keeping
    Nov 7 2024

    How can social workers and foster carers create records that have a positive impact on people's lives?


    We welcome Dr Lisa Cherry to the podcast to discuss how we can take a trauma-informed approach to recording information about a child or young person's life.


    Lisa has been working in education and children's services for more than 30 years and in this episode she shares advice for both social work professionals and foster carers. Learn what makes 'good' record-keeping -- from the language we use to the moments we choose to record -- and how you can promote healing in care-experienced adults.


    Hear a new episode of the Creative Life Story Work podcast on the first Thursday of each month. Find out more about Creative Life Story Work membership here, and sign up to our mailing list here, for regular updates on our training and resources.


    To sign up to Lisa's upcoming Live Classroom on 27th November, click here.

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    21 mins
  • Episode 2: S4E2 - The role of technology in capturing the stories of care-experienced children
    Oct 3 2024
    In this episode of the Creative Life Story Work podcast, host Dawn welcomes Christian Brock, co-founder and managing director of Virtual Memory Box, to discuss how technology is being leveraged to support life story work for care-experienced children and young people. They delve into the functionalities and benefits of the Virtual Memory Box, including its web platform setup and its co-production with South Tyneside Council. Christian shares insights on the personalization and accessibility features of the tool, and highlights how it augments traditional life story work. The conversation also touches on the emotional impact and positive feedback from users, alongside advice for tech entrepreneurs looking to develop meaningful tools for community support.

    Find out more about Creative Life Story Work membership at www.creativelifestorywork.com


    00:00 Introduction to Creative Life Story Work
    00:51 Meet Christian Brock: Co-Founder of Virtual Memory Box
    02:29 The Concept and Features of Virtual Memory Box
    03:16 Collaborative Development with South Tyneside Council
    08:23 User Permissions and Access Control
    11:41 Data Ownership and Accessibility
    12:44 Break: Blue Cabin's Creative Life Storywork Membership
    14:32 Impact Stories and Feedback
    18:08 Future of Digital Technology in Care Systems
    19:28 Advice for Tech Entrepreneurs
    20:33 How to Engage with Virtual Memory Box
    22:11 Conclusion and Farewell


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    23 mins
  • Episode 1: S4E1 - Supporting children and young people affected by grief and loss
    Sep 5 2024

    How might grief and loss affect children and young people's behaviour and relationships? And how can we support care-experienced children and young people to process their feelings?


    We welcome back to the podcast Ciara McClelland, who specialises in working with children and families impacted by adverse childhood experiences, to find out more about the impact of grief and loss on the brain and body. Ciara is a trainer from Trauma Informed Consultancy Services.


    For this episode, we are partnering with Lively Minds: the mental health podcast who are posting it on their feed too! Head over to their show to hear Ciara dig deeper into the world of dramatherapy in her conversation with hosts, Ellie and Will.


    Hear a new episode of the Creative Life Story Work podcast on the first Thursday of each month.

    Find out more about Creative Life Story Work membership here, and sign up to our mailing list here, for regular updates on our training and resources.

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    25 mins
  • Episode 11: S3E11 - All About Us: Life story work for care-leavers
    Aug 1 2024

    How can we adapt Creative Life Story Work for young adults?


    In 2023, we worked with care-leavers and young researchers to develop All About Us, a life story work pilot project for care-leavers.


    We talk with theatre-maker and Blue Cabin Associate, Ruth Mary Johnson, and Faye Marsh from Darlington Borough Council, about the practicalities of gathering feedback from care-leavers in Darlington and South Tyneside. Find out how their input shaped the project and how All About Us is different from the sessions we deliver with younger children and their trusted adults.


    Hear a new episode of the Creative Life Story Work podcast on the first Thursday of each month.

    Find out more about Creative Life Story Work membership at www.creativelifestorywork.com

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    33 mins
  • Episode 10: S3E10 - What is a foster carer's role in life story work?
    Jul 4 2024

    This month on the podcast we talk about the vital role foster carers play in the delivery of life story work. Joanne Stoddart (local authority specialist) and Jenny Young (director) from Blue Cabin are our guests as we find out what training and support foster carers receive when they welcome a child or young person to their home, and the benefits of the foster carer being involved in delivering life story work.


    Hear a new episode of the Creative Life Story Work podcast on the first Thursday of each month.

    Find out more about Creative Life Story Work membership at creativelifestorywork.com

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    27 mins
  • Episode 9: S3E9 - How a critical friend can help shape your life story work strategy
    Jun 6 2024

    We were very happy to catch up with Professor Richard Rose in Darlington, to talk about the role he's played as a critical friend for Darlington Borough Council and other organisations. Hear how having someone to share honest, constructive feedback is helping to shape life story work strategies.

    Find out more about Creative Life Story Work membership at www.creativelifestorywork.com

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    13 mins
  • Episode 8: S3E8 - Darlington Borough Council's approach to life story work
    May 2 2024

    In this bitesize episode of the Creative Life Story Work podcast, we chat with Martin Webster, Workforce Development Manager at Darlington Borough Council. He shares some of the feedback he's received from children, young people and carers, and explains how Darlington is putting a framework in place to help its staff embed a creative approach to life story work.

    Click here to find out more about Creative Life Story Work membership

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    13 mins
  • Episode 7: S3E7 - Making time for Life Story Work
    Apr 4 2024

    We hear from staff at Darlington Borough Council about how they carve out time and space for life story work. Get a real-life insight into a variety of roles in Darlington's Children's Services department, people's experiences of Creative Life Story Work, and how staff and foster carers are being supported to deliver better life story work.

    Click here to find out more about Creative Life Story Work membership.

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    32 mins