The Fostering Network Wales has launched a report into the views of foster carers regarding what they believe is needed to raise the ambitions and educational outcomes of the young people in their care. The report, entitled What is Needed to Enable Looked After Children to Achieve in Education? was commissioned by Welsh Government and follows consultations and a survey with foster carers carried out by The Fostering Network. The report highlights the role of foster carers as first educators for the young people they are caring for, and the desire of foster carers to be increasingly involved in their fostered children’s education. Other findings of the report include: •Foster carers believe additional funding is needed and that they should be more involved in deciding how the existing Pupil Deprivation Grant is used. •Extra tutoring, professional support for emotional issues, and access to activities should be available to looked after children in all schools and provided flexibly to avoid stigmatising the child. •Foster carers need to be encouraged to access training and other forms of support which might include peer support. •More training about the needs of looked after children is required for education professionals who should also be encouraged to take up existing opportunities to better understand the needs of looked after children. •The impact of instability on children needs to be fully recognised and taken into account when decisions are being made about placements, changes of school, and respite care provision. •The importance of recognising the status and authority of foster carers within the children’s workforce. Maria Boffey, from The Fostering Network and one of the report’s authors, said: ‘Raising the educational outcomes of fostered children and young people is a priority for The Fostering Network, and it is critical that foster carers be consulted and engaged with any process or policy reform which seeks to do this. The Fostering Network Wales has expertise and experience in engaging with foster carers and looked after children to inform policy development, and we are delighted to have been commissioned by the Welsh Government to produce this report which will help shape the future of the education of looked after young people in Wales.’ Source: http://www.fostercarecooperative.co.uk/fostering-with-us/news-and-events/how-children-could-achieve-in-education/ Response to Cardiff University research findings on educational attainment of looked after children in Wales Fostering and adoption charity – The Adolescent and Children’s Trust (TACT Cymru), welcomes the research by Cardiff University on educational attainment of looked after children, and applauds the inclusive methods that have been used to capture the views and aspirations of children and young people. There are a number of issues and recommendations highlighted by the report that TACT Cymru fully acknowledges and supports:
For comment, more information and interviews please contact Laura Luxton – TACT Communications on l.luxton@tactcare.org.uk or telephone 07793 580 418 Notes to editors: Full Cardiff University Research Report: Mannay, D., Staples, E., Hallett, S., Roberts, L., Rees, A., Evans, R. and Andrews, D. (2015) Understanding the educational experiences and opinions, attainment, achievement and aspirations of looked after children in Wales. Cardiff: Welsh Government. Available athttp://gov.wales/statistics-and-research/understanding-educational-experiences-opinions-attainment-achievement-aspirations-looked-after-children-wales/?lang=en Source: http://tactcare.org.uk/news/tact-welcomes-cardiff-university-report-on-educational-attainment-of-looked-after-children-in-wales/ Industry News: Children's Services Co-operation Bill through the Northern Ireland Assembly11/11/2015
Action for Children Policy teamLast week the Children's Services Co-operation Bill finally completed its passage through the Northern Ireland Assembly. The Bill is aimed at all children and young people in Northern Ireland who rely upon services which are provided by the Northern Ireland Executive. Action for Children has been campaigning on the issue for many years, and helped to draft some of the clauses within the Bill. So we are delighted to finally see the legislation pass. We undertook a lot of work to help get the Bill passed. We gave evidence to the Scrutiny Committee examining the Bill, met with key civil servants, and lobbied MLAs from each of the Executive parties. Whilst this Bill will benefit all children and young people in Northern Ireland, it will particularly help children and young people in the care system, children and young people with disabilities, and, children and young people involved in the criminal justice system in Northern Ireland. Children and young people in care will have a tailored made plan made with them, involving the agencies responsible for their care and their transition on to other accommodation. Each of the separate authorities involved in the system will have to work together to ensure the best possible outcome for the child or young person. Also, for disabled children, the various departments within the Northern Ireland Executive will have to work together to ensure they get the care, education, and access to services they need to ensure they can fulfil their potential; and play a full part in society. "The passage of this Bill is fantastic news. It has the potential to transform the lives of some of the most vulnerable children in our society." - Action for Children Policy team The Bill will place a duty on each of the departments within the Northern Ireland Executive to co-operate in a joined up, effective and coherent manner in the delivery of services to children in Northern Ireland. At Action for Children have had many examples of our service users being let down because different departments within the Northern Ireland Executive had not communicated with one another. One example saw a young girl with special educational needs being unable to start school despite having a statement of special educational needs in place. The school she was due to attend was unaware that she had a statement because the Department of Education and the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety had not worked collaboratively with one another in the best interests of the child. At Action for Children we are looking forward to seeing the positive effects of the Bill improve the lives of the very many children and young people who use our services. Source: https://www.actionforchildren.org.uk/news-and-opinion/policy-and-campaigns-blog/2015/november/childrens-services-co-operation-bill-through-the-northern-ireland-assembly/ Almost 10 years ago in Parliament, I raised the subject of children being cared for and adopted by grandparents and extended kin (aunts and uncles, etc.) and the financial and professional help (or lack of it) that they then received from the State. This week, both the Government and City Council have announced plans to overhaul the adoption and fostering system so that many more children and young people in care can be placed more quickly with loving families in order to give them the security and stability to enable them to thrive. Despite all manner of pressures, Peterborough’s Children’s Services department’s efforts on fostering and adoption has improved over the last few years and has been rated as Good by Ofsted inspectors. Indeed the city has a very positive partnership approach with care providers particularly with foster parents but for the best of reasons – yes the long term interests of children but also financial pressures – it wishes to move vulnerable youngsters away from expensive and unsuitable “corporate parenting” in the form of residential care and placements often miles away from their social networks and extended kin towards better local family care. We know it’s been a shameful fact for many years that young people leaving care often do poorly in educational attainment, in the jobs market, find it harder to make relationships and are more prone to poor health, including substance misuse and mental health problems. At least we’re trying to tackle the issue now “at source.” It’s pretty obvious that the quicker these often vulnerable children from sometimes very dysfunctional families with extremely poor parenting, can be placed with appropriate families, the quicker they can begin the process of socialisation that builds their confidence and allows them to aim high in achieving their full potential. At present, just 10% of kids are released to families prior to the legal procedures associated with fostering, adoption and special guardianships being completed. Almost half the local authorities in England release no children to new families prior to the long, slow and bureaucratic system having been concluded. That’s wrong. David Cameron personally launched the proposals this week to double the number of children placed with foster parents and for adoption before the legal process is done. It’s good news and it’s a start but we have to speed up the process and get to grips with the slow court system and those local councils which are slacking. In human terms, that’s 500 more children who will settle more quickly with caring and suitable parents and that’s great news but we need to do more to do right by vulnerable kids for whom life has given a tough start. Source: http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/news/opinion/columnists/we-must-do-more-for-vulnerable-kids-1-7053008 The Duchess of Cambridge will be attending The Fostering Excellence Awards on 17th November, Kensington Palace announce. The awards are held to celebrate the achievements of young people, social workers, foster carers and others in the fostering community. Award winners will meet the Duchess of Cambridge at a special party and Her Royal Highness will be presenting the Fostering Achievement Award to three young people. The Fostering Achievement Award is an award that honours exceptional achievements by youth aged 16 to 24 who have been fostered themselves. Catherine was first introduced to the world of fostering earlier this year in January when she visited The Fostering Network – the UK’s leading fostering charity which is dedicated to improving the future of everyone who is fostered. The Fostering Network is an organisation that helps bring those who work in the fostering world together to assist fostered children and young people to bring out their best in themselves. The charity also celebrates the outstanding work that foster carers do and brings to light the need for people to come forward and foster. The 2015 Fostering Excellence Awards are a chance to celebrate achievements and successes withing foster care, also to share the inspirational tales of young people who have overcome the challenges faced during foster care. Not only those who receive awards are applauded but every single foster carer, local authority, social worker, civil servant, politician, fostering service, employer and organisation who dedicate their time to bettering foster care and who place children’s needs before all else are celebrated. A staggering 64,000 children live with over 52,500 foster families across the UK while their situations at home are unsuitable. Most of these children have witnessed abuse and neglect, or witnessed domestic violence or substance misuse. Foster carers are able to provide these children with the resources that they need, often giving them their first positive family life experience. This year there is a need for a minimum of 8,370 new foster families within the UK. Homes that can offer a place for teenagers, groups of siblings and disabled youth are at an even greater need. Source: http://royalcentral.co.uk/uk/cambridges/duchess-of-cambridge-to-attend-the-fostering-excellence-awards-55749 Foster care agency Community Foster Care is delighted to have achieved an overall ‘Good’ rating from Ofsted. The independent agency and charity, based in Staunton, provides professional foster care for looked-after children in Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Cumbria and Lancashire. Ofsted Inspector Paul Clark concluded that CFC provides “a good level of care for children and young people... who report that they feel safe and well cared for”. He awarded ‘Good’ ratings in four categories: outcomes for children, quality of service, safeguarding and leadership. He singled out the ‘hands-on’ support which Placement Support Workers provide for children with good therapeutic care and a large range of community activities. Consultation forums for young people ‘give them a voice in service provision and development’, he said. Foster carers are also given good levels of support, including an excellent out-of-hours service. Good access to training makes them feel part of the agency’s ‘fostering family’. “Foster carers report that they have regular and ongoing training in all key areas of their work and that supervision and support is of a high standard,” said Mr Clark. “This helps to provide young people with a level of care that ensures good outcomes.” He praised the way that the agency matches carers with children, providing detailed information so that both parties benefit. Community Foster Care also works effectively with placing authorities, schools and professional bodies, he said. He concluded that staff feel well managed, trained and supported by managers who are visible, available and approachable. Chief Executive of CFC, Hugh Pelham, welcomed the report. “We pride ourselves on the level of support we provide to both carers and children, and to our family ethos. It’s good to see that recognised from the highest regulatory authority,” he said. You can click here to access all Ofsted reports for CFC. Source: http://www.communityfostercare.co.uk/news-and-events/news/1124/we%E2%80%99re-glad-to-be-good-says-community-foster-care_ |
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