www.nairo.org.uk ## **Chairs Annual Report for NAIRO AGM, 29[th] April 1922** This has been another busy year for NAIRO when we have made further progress in achieving our charitable objectives of promoting the welfare of children in care. ## **The Covid Pandemic** Of course this years work has been overshadowed by the Covid pandemic which has seriously affected our national life generally and has had serious implications for children’s services, and services for children in care in particular. Happily the pandemic seems to be receding now and we are able to return to some kind of normality in relation to contact with children and their families. We have learnt much about conducting meetings and assessments using virtual meetings and no doubt some of the time saving efficiencies may be incorporated into future practice while retaining essential face-to-face contacts and meetings that is necessary. ## **Annual Conference** we held a highly successful online conference in March 2021 that have not held a further conference since then. We have been waiting to see which way the pandemic was going to see if we might return to a face to face conference. The new board will be giving urgent consideration to this and we hope to arrange a conference over the next year. ## **Training** Our training activity has been curtailed because of the pandemic. However, we offered 7 events online over the year. Two of these were for new and aspiring IROs, 2 about effective challenge and 2 about enhancing effective participation. We also provided a general overview of the IRO role for a particular local authority. The new board of trustees will be establishing the training programme for next year which will be published on our website. ## **The Children’s Social Care Review** The government has now commenced its review under the leadership of Josh Macalister previously of Frontline. NAIRO has many misgivings about the way this review has been set up and we have communicated these to government. Nonetheless we are engaging constructively with the review and seek to influence it in order to strengthen and improve the IRO service for the benefit of looked after children. We have made 2 responses to the review (with the help of a steering group composed of other agencies) which we have now submitted. We expect the review to be published soon and we will consider further action we will take when we see its recommendations.. ## **New Trustees** We are always looking for new trustees and if you are interested please do get in touch. We meet about four times a year to organise the activity of NAIRO. We are particularly looking for - people with website expertise - people with social media expertise - people interested in training - people interested in conference organisation - people interested in developing policy and practice Please do get in touch with us at info@nairo.org.uk if you would like to help in this way If you have any ideas about for NAIRO development or improvement, please do post them on the Google group members forum or email us at info@nairo.org.uk ## **Conclusion** All in all it has been a busy year for NAIRO overshadowed of course by the pandemic. We have sought to support our members through this difficult time and as we emerge from it we hope there may be some lessons from it which may have longterm benefits for our service. We believe, in spite of the difficulties, we have achieved much to protect and promote the rights and welfare of children in care, and we hope to be influential in improving IRO services over the next year. See our website for more information www.nairo.org.uk Good luck for next year! ## **Paul Smart and Jon Fayle** ## **Co-chairs of NAIRO** ## **April 2022** **----- Start of picture text -----**
NAIRO Treasurer Report for AGM on 29.4.22
Previous balance at 31.3.21 £3,873.18
Transactions from 1.4.21 to 31.3.22
Income Expenditure
Item Amount Item Amount
Members subscriptions £4,976.85 Business support £8,286.30
Conference fees £1,354.78 Payment to trainers £160.00
Training Fees £1,239.02 Room hire £65.00
Donations £50.00 Zoom subscription £143.88
Miscellaneous £146.00 Miscellaneous £174.21
Total £7,766.65 Total £8,829.39
Balance at 31.3.22 £2,810.44
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