Tahlia’s story: Having a voice in out-of-home care

Jun 2020

Written by Lauren Cooper Kimberley Lamb

Tahlia is a 16-year-old young woman who likes to be in complete control of her world at all times. She is as strong, articulate and as sassy as they come. Tahlia is an incredible advocate not only for herself but for all young people in care. She can recite the Charter of Rights and is well across which services she needs to access if she feels these are being breached. Tahlia currently resides in a 1:1 placement. Tahlia enjoys her own space and will tell you that living with others is something that is really difficult for her. Tahlia is always working on a project to improve her house, and for the most part, will say this is because she wants the place to feel like a home for the next young person who lives there. Tahlia views the world as a place for her to conquer. She has goals and ambitions and is not afraid to speak up about what she thinks is right. Tahlia has dreams to work in an office and be part of an administration team or a receptionist.

Setting the Scene

Tahlia likes to manage all her appointments via calendar invites, the same way we do in the office. Tahlia has a reoccurring calendar invite that she accesses via her phone or laptop that tell her when her meeting will occur. Tahlia likes to hold her meeting in the office. She feels as though the setting is more formal this way. It also gives Tahlia a chance to say hello to everyone working in the office and touch base with them. We book out a meeting room with a whiteboard that we can use to write up our Agenda. Tahlia likes to sit close to the whiteboard, so she has a great view for minute taking. Before starting the meeting, Tahlia will always go into the office kitchen and make herself a cup of coffee or tea. I think this adds to the formality for Tahlia and has become a ritual for her.

Involving Tahlia in the Care Team

Tahlia likes to be in control of her own decision making and the running of her house, so it is no surprise that I, the therapeutic Specialist take a back seat when it comes to the facilitation of her involvement in the care team. At the start of each meeting, I ask Tahlia to run me through each of the topics she wishes to discuss. Sometimes this list is long, and other times, it is fairly short. After this, Tahlia asks other members of the group if they have anything they wish to discuss, and it is added to our Agenda, which is usually written up on a whiteboard. Our Agenda is displayed so everyone in the room can see this. Tahlia and I have worked out over time that this helps us stick to the important topics, rather than being distracted by other little things that may come up as part of our discussion.

Tahlia generally likes to take the minutes for her meetings and assists in running and keeping people to the Agenda. There are times where we may not always agree on the decisions made about one of our agenda items, and this can mean that Tahlia opts to take a time out. Sometimes our time outs last for a few minutes, and in other cases, they mean our time together for the day is over. Tahlia would say at this point that our meeting is no longer productive, and its best, we continue at another time. I generally will agree, and we set a date and time to reconvene. Tahlia always asks for a calendar invite to be sent confirming this.

Tahlia’s voice

Tahlia has been a part of the care system for a while and feels as though the inclusion of care team meetings have significantly increased her participation in decision making. When asked what she likes best about her care team meeting, Tahlia said “I like that it gives young people in care the opportunity to have a say in the decisions that are being made about their life. It allows the young person to build strong connections with their team and provides opportunities for discussion about any improvements, changes, goals or setbacks. I like that everyone can communicate and be on the same page”. Tahlia is also very passionate about services for young people being individualised. Tahlia said, “it is important that you are always asking young people how they want their meeting to run, where they would like their meeting, and how they would like to participate”.

Reflections on the role of Care Teams and the Participation of Young People

What do you notice in Tahlia’s story in terms of the role of Care Teams in supporting young people in residential care?

Some of the highlights include:

  • Setting the Direction: The Care Team is responsible for setting the direction of a young person’s care, education and other supports, and in Tahlia’s story, she plays a leading role. The meetings provide a space for her to exercise and extend her agency in collaboration with her team.
  • Team Approach: Care Team meetings require a team approach, and Tahlia is clear that this is one of the key benefits of this approach. It allows her to build connections with key people in her life and be “on the same page”.
  • Listening with curiosity: Tahlia’s story reminds of that supporting the meaningful participation of young people in residential care is as much about listening to young people—who they are an individual, their needs and preferences—as it is about response and decision-making.

To learn more about what the research says about the benefits of youth participation in residential care check out our research brief: Enabling Young Peoples’ Participation in Residential Care.

Written By

Tahlia, Young Person and Advocate

Lauren Cooper, Therapeutic Specialist, Lifestyle Solutions

Kimberley Lamb, Therapeutic Specialist, Lifestyle Solutions

You may be interested in: Care teams Lived experience Youth participation

Young peoples' participation is a right, not a privilege
Young peoples' participation is a right, not a privilege
Under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989), Australian young people should be assured the right to express their views freely in all matters that affect...
Read more
Enabling young people’s participation in residential care decision-making - Research brief
Enabling young people’s participation in residential care decision-making - Research brief
The literature on how young people participate in decision-making in residential care identifies three main aspects of participation: being able to access information to take part in decisions that matter;...
Read more
10 ways to enable young people's participation in therapeutic residential care
10 ways to enable young people's participation in therapeutic residential care
In this blog, I’m keen to offer practitioners in therapeutic residential care some ideas about how to involve young people in decisions that affect their lives. Many young people in...
Read more
Isaac's story: Having a voice in out-of-home care
Isaac's story: Having a voice in out-of-home care
Isaac is 15 years old, about 6ft tall, and you know when he is in the room. Isaac lives in his house with one other young person. Isaac experiences the...
Read more
Care teams - Collaborative processes for creating healing and change - Practice guide
Care teams - Collaborative processes for creating healing and change - Practice guide
A care team approach is an essential element of therapeutic care. This guide has been developed to support the practice of collaboration and participation through Care Team processes of which...
Read more
What does voice and choice mean in Intensive Therapeutic Care?
What does voice and choice mean in Intensive Therapeutic Care?
Voice and choice can be an extremely difficult concept in Intensive Therapeutic Care to get right. We know participation is a right, not a privilege, and we also know young people...
Read more
Karen's story: Culture
Karen's story: Culture
Recently I had the privilege of being invited to the 50th Birthday party for twins, Karen and Sharon Lovett who initially came into care at 4 months.  I was fortunate...
Read more
“It wasn't just listening to your ideas, it was following through”
“It wasn't just listening to your ideas, it was following through”
In 2019 and 2020, a group of young people with firsthand experience in out-of-home care joined PhD candidate Meaghan Vosz to research the practices associated with ‘giving due weight’ to...
Read more
Q&A with Mohita Kapoor from CREATE Foundation
Q&A with Mohita Kapoor from CREATE Foundation
In September 2020 Mohita Kapoor, the NSW State Coordinator for the CREATE Foundation was invited to speak at our Therapeutic Specialist forum for those working within the Intensive Therapeutic Care...
Read more
“Just ask Us”: Insights into working with young people with disability
“Just ask Us”: Insights into working with young people with disability
In late 2020, the Advocate for Children Young People (ACYP) shared their first report dedicated exclusively to the unique lived experiences of young people with disability. They asked 370 children...
Read more
A story you may recognise
A story you may recognise
Peta had worked in residential care for 18 months. She took the position because she had had a difficult childhood and she felt that she had a lot to offer...
Read more
Mandatory consent education, a win for all young people
Mandatory consent education, a win for all young people
Consent education will be mandatory in Australian schools from 2023, a win for Chanel Contos’ #teachusconsent movement and all young people who have called out a lack of holistic consent and sexuality...
Read more
Strengthening connections & relationships project
Strengthening connections & relationships project
What is this research about? Young people in residential care face major challenges that can prevent them from forming healthy relationships and a strong personal identity, which are critical building...
Read more
The wisdom of lived experience: Learning from adults who were once children in care
The wisdom of lived experience: Learning from adults who were once children in care
The wisdom of lived experience: Learning from adults who were once children in care Lisa Cherry is an author, researcher and leading international trainer and consultant, specialising in assisting schools,...
Read more
Belonging as an intervention: An opportunity to consider the adult that the child will become
Belonging as an intervention: An opportunity to consider the adult that the child will become
This blog is written by Lisa Cherry. Lisa is an author and a leading international trainer and consultant, specialising in assisting those in Education, Social Care and Adoption and Fostering...
Read more
What Professor Cindy Blackstock can teach us about trusting children and ourselves
What Professor Cindy Blackstock can teach us about trusting children and ourselves
First Nations children's rights activist and 2022 International Childhood Trauma Conference speaker Cindy Blackstock recently said that adults need to trust children with the truth. "They can handle it," Blackstock...
Read more
Asked but not heard: Another report calls for change in out-of-home care
Asked but not heard: Another report calls for change in out-of-home care
A new report released by the NSW Advocate for Children and Young People, Zoë Robinson, calls on the government to listen and respond to the voices of children and young...
Read more
Trauma, loss and parenting – care leavers’ experiences of having their own children during transitions from care
Trauma, loss and parenting – care leavers’ experiences of having their own children during transitions from care
This post is written by Jade Purtell, a multidisciplinary researcher and practitioner focused on out-of-home care and transitions from care experiences and policy. This research is funded by an Australian Government...
Read more
“Powerful children who can control their worlds are happier, secure children,” Q&A with Billy Black
“Powerful children who can control their worlds are happier, secure children,” Q&A with Billy Black
This month, we are thrilled to welcome Billy Black to our team at the CETC as a Care Experience Resource and Training Specialist. Billy has advocated for children in care...
Read more
New years' resolutions and other goals for teens in care
New years' resolutions and other goals for teens in care
When I was a teen in care, I found the (well-intentioned) focus on my progress from case workers and other adults exhausting. If I tried hard, I made “progress”, but...
Read more
The therapeutic power of imaginary storytelling
The therapeutic power of imaginary storytelling
World Care Day is a global event held on the third Friday of February every year to celebrate the voices of children and young people with a care experience. The theme...
Read more
Let’s Talk About the Summer Holiday – a poem about detention
Let’s Talk About the Summer Holiday – a poem about detention
"Let’s talk about the summer holiday, even though I’m in detention in was still fun aye. Because it was so hot, there was no time to use the indoor gym...
Read more
Book Review: The Brightness of Stars, Stories from Care Experienced Adults to Inspire Change
Book Review: The Brightness of Stars, Stories from Care Experienced Adults to Inspire Change
Care Home Flickering’s                                                                                                                                                      SearchingFor unconditional love,Away from horrorsOf night time wanderings;Boys and girls lookingfor comfort inall the wrong places.Pushing,Fighting a slow death,One mosaic piece at aTime, wide eyed wonderingIf someone would...
Read more
What do foster carers tell us about their support needs? - Research brief
What do foster carers tell us about their support needs? - Research brief
Foster carers are a crucial human resource in responding to children and young people who have experienced abuse, neglect, and trauma. The design and implementation of foster care programs varies...
Read more
Hard vs soft skills: which are more important in residential care work?
Hard vs soft skills: which are more important in residential care work?
Not everyone is suited to being a therapeutic residential worker. Working in therapeutic care requires special skills and qualities, some that can be taught or mentored, and others that are...
Read more
Hearts of Gold: Reflecting on Foster Care Week 2023
Hearts of Gold: Reflecting on Foster Care Week 2023
Foster Care Week, observed from September 10-16, is an annual celebration acknowledging the incredible contribution our volunteer foster carers make to the lives of children in out-of-home care. The theme...
Read more
Q&A with the trainer: Trauma-informed supervision
Q&A with the trainer: Trauma-informed supervision
Over the recent decades, we have seen leaps in research and practice promoting the importance of taking a holistic trauma-informed approach to caring for children and young people with trauma....
Read more