Dear all,

This is our second monthly update and for us the theme this month has been wondering how we can be most helpful to you as the network members? Unlike some of the other ACP networks we’ve not seen a big desire from CYPF members to be involved in the work we’re doing. As a result we are asking the question of how we move forwards. I wonder if CYPF is an area already well served by other organisations such as the DCP CYP faculty or ACHIPP for example? We are keen not to reinvent the wheel and in particular to be proactive.

We want the work of the network to result in action with is helpful and supportive to clinical Psychologists and improves the lives of children, young people and families. Please help us to do this!

Here’s some of the things we’ve been doing this month.

• Miriam Silver has responded on our behalf to a consultation from NICE on looked after children and young people. We’re incredibly grateful for her expert input and her thoughtful response. If there’s a consultation you think the ACP should be commenting on, please do flag it up with us. Similarly if there’s something in the news you think we should be talking about, let us know.
• Ellie met with a company looking to recruit psychologists to their database. We talked in particular about making sure they only took practitioner psychologists and that commissioners (in this case schools) were adequately supported to make informed choices. We’d welcome your thoughts as to whether you want to hear about things like this. What is the network role here?
• We’ve consulted with the ACP board regarding safeguarding training requirements and are in discussion about provision of DBS checks through the ACP.
• We’ve set up a webinar (jointly with the Clinical Health Psychology network and the staff support and wellbeing network) on Supporting the wellbeing needs of staff who are parents and carers. This is being run by Mary Welford and looks to be very good. Compassion and Self-care for Staff who are Parents and Carers (acpuk.org.uk)
• We sit on the Clinical Health Psychology Network committee to make sure CYPF are held in mind in their discussions and consultations. As part of this we gave feedback (focusing particularly on the work with children and families) to the recent PPN paper on ‘The impact of psychological practice in physical healthcare’. This is now back with the PPN for review.
• We’ve been working on the Network page for the website. We commissioned an artist to draw our image which we wanted to represent the idea that we work systemically to effect change. Please let us know what you would like to see on the CYPF Network page.
• And of course, we’ve also been working in our day jobs, trying to intervene at many levels (organisational, team, staff, children, families, systems) which is all the stuff that drives us to want to make this network do things which improve things for the children at the centre of all this.

The first network meeting was incredibly helpful in hearing from the people who attended what they hoped for. We heard about

• Peer supervision and sharing knowledge
• Commenting on policy and discussion at a national level and getting the voice of Clinical Psychologists working in CYPF heard
• Organising group training sessions and master classes (and securing a discount for groups which people wouldn’t be able to get alone)

Aims for the next month are therefore to keep going with the work on the website (with your feedback) and to think about how to set up some peer supervision groups as requested. If you’d like to help with this we’d really like to hear from you.

We can’t do everything: we are just two people with jobs and families fitting ACP work into our spare time. But we have a strong sense of purpose and a desire not to let down you or the children and communities we work with. We know networks like ours can be judged on their outcomes and we’d like to build a network you feel is working in the areas you feel passionate about and making a difference. If you’d like to get involved with the network, please do let us know. Together we are stronger and more effective.

Best wishes

Ellie and Sam