This year Restorative Justice Week falls between the 21 to 28 November with the aim to focus public attention on the benefits of open and honest communication within child and family focussed care.  

Restorative Practice falls under the umbrella term of Restorative Justice and focuses on techniques for positive relationship building and open and honest communication. Restorative Practice helps to enable those who work with children and families to develop and enhance skills to focus upon building relationships that create and inspire positive change. 

To help deliver a local increase in awareness, Torbay Children’s Services will be delivering a digital, Restorative Practice training session on 25 November for Torbay foster carers and partner agencies. If you are a Torbay foster carer who would like to book onto this session or would like to book onto the next session on the 2^nd December please email the Learning Academy at learning&developmenthub@torbay.gov.uk 

Torbay Children’s Services have also recently launched a restorative champion initiative to help embed the principles of the practice across the organisation to increase inclusivity, putting children and families at the heart of the organisation. 

Rebecca Rushton, Restorative Practice Lead, Torbay Children’s Services said: “Restorative Practices range from formal to informal processes that enables workers, managers, children, young people, and their families to communicate effectively. The approaches used focus upon, removing barriers, proactively promoting a sense of community, understanding, social responsibility and shared accountability. 

“Restorative practices are not limited to formal processes, such as restorative conferences or family group conferences which often follow a structured process. On a restorative practice continuum, the informal practices include restorative language, restorative questions, affective statements that communicate people’s feelings as well as encourage others to reflect on how their behaviour may impact on others.” 

Adopting Restorative Practice throughout Torbay Children’s Services and the network of foster carers is an important part in the initiative to make Torbay an even more child friendly place.  

Cllr Cordelia Law, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Torbay Council, said; “Restorative Practice plays an intrinsic role as we move further along our journey to become a more “Child Friendly Torbay.” Empowering our foster carers with this level of training is just one of the benefits that comes with fostering with your local authority. It is our aim to continue to spread Restorative Practice training with a multi-agency approach putting the needs of our cared for children at the heart of our community.” 

Torbay Children’s Services are still currently looking for a wide range of new foster carers to care for local, vulnerable children who are unable to live with their birth families. Torbay foster carers are financially supported with an allowance to meet the needs of the foster child and receive training and ongoing support from a dedicated fostering Social Worker and an experienced foster carer as a mentor. 

This is the perfect time to make a positive life change with child fostering if you are considering a new work/life balance. If you have flexible working hours, a spare room, and a kind heart, you could become Torbay foster carer. If you would like to find out more please get in touch with Torbay Children’s Services. Telephone: 01803 207845 Email: fostering@torbay.gov.uk