Our Philosophy
We know that currently in the UK, many children’s homes lack a clear framework for their practice
and this contributes to children in residential care being at greater risk of poorer outcomes in a range of areas from education to criminalisation and mental health and wellbeing.
In a system focused on risks and protecting children in care, this can mean we focus on what children don’t have, rather than what they do. This focuses all our attention on correcting the child’s ‘faults’, rather than their strengths, skills, abilities and what they want to achieve in life.
“Everything I have ever done wrong is on a piece of paper. Everything I’ve ever done right isn’t.”
Jack, 15. Liverpool
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Social Pedagogy offers a strengths-based, reflective discipline that supports a number of key principles (Petrie et al. 2006):
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A focus on the child as a whole person, and support for the child’s overall development.
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The practitioner seeing herself/himself as a person, in relationship with the child or young person.
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While they are together, children and staff are seen as inhabiting the same life space; not as existing in separate, hierarchical domains.
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As professionals, pedagogues are encouraged to constantly reflect on their practice and to apply both theoretical understandings and self-knowledge to their work and to the sometimes-challenging demands with which they are confronted.
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Pedagogues should be both practical and creative; their training prepares them to share in many aspects of children’s daily lives, such as preparing meals and snacks, or making music and building kites.
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In group settings, children’s associative life is seen as an important resource: workers should foster and make use of the group.
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Pedagogy builds on an understanding of children’s rights that is not limited to procedural matters or legislative requirements.
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There is an emphasis on teamwork and valuing the contributions of others — family members, other professionals and members of the local community — in the task of ‘bringing up’ children.
Our Values
The ethos of social pedagogy, complemented by co-production work with Care Leavers in the Liverpool City Region has helped us form a core set of values. We’ll be using these throughout our recruitment, staff team management and to support us in establishing the way we all behave in Juno homes.
We do it as Equals:
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We listen well and are kind to each other
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We focus on what people can do, not what they can’t
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We learn, grow and develop together
We are Real:
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We genuinely care about each other
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We don’t overcomplicate things
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We’re open and honest about what is and isn’t working
We’re one Team:
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We share responsibilities and decision-making wherever we can
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We’re not afraid of putting in the hard graft
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We know we can’t do it all alone, so we build great relationships where everyone can use their skills
We bring Joy:
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We make sure every child experiences delight and happiness
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We celebrate success
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We have a lot of fun while we get things done.
