Parents And Children Together (PACT) has unveiled a new website to reflect its recent growth and success. The site at www.pactcharity.org has had a complete overhaul and now includes new adoption and fostering myth-busters and redesigned careers, news and information events pages. The launch of the new website comes after an amazing few months for PACT. The charity’s therapeutic support for adopted and fostered children was named Voluntary Adoption Service of the Year in the BAAF National Adoption Week Awards in October 2013. In January, PACT was rated as “outstanding” across all four assessed areas by Ofsted and, in June, it received the bronze award from Investors in People. And, hot off the press, PACT’s flagship community project – Alana House – won the Howard League for Penal Reform award for Community Programme for Women yesterday (15th July). PACT’s new website was designed by digital branding and communications agency Dusted and is a key channel in attracting potential adopters and foster carers. PACT’s Website Content Manager Tom McIlvenny-Cox said: “Our new website represents PACT now and where we are heading. "This is an evolving space for PACT and the services we offer and will continually be optimised and reviewed to make sure we remain leaders in our field, but also retaining the information we provide to our prospective adopters, foster carers and families.” PACT supports vulnerable families through outstanding adoption services, permanent fostering, award-winning therapeutic support and community projects in London and the south. Source: http://www.pactcharity.org/news-events/latest-news/new-website-pact Break is in the process of developing a new marketing strategy and as part of this have commissioned a survey from local company Zing Insights. The survey will help Break understand why people give to charity, how they give, when they give and how they like to be contacted by the charity. Filling in the survey will only take a few minutes and will give Break valuable information to continue to maintain and develop our services to change young lives. Once completed there is an opportunity to enter a draw to win an Ipad Mini. Please click on the link to complete the survey http://bit.ly/1gdCL0W Thankyou! - See more at: http://break-charity.org/news/news-stories/how-do-you-give-to-charity/#sthash.mlZg4cAA.dpuf Source: http://break-charity.org/news/news-stories/how-do-you-give-to-charity/ The revised guidance details the duty on local authorities and Virtual School Heads (VSH) to promote the educational achievement of the children they look after, including those placed out of authority. This guidance replaces statutory guidance issued in March 2010 and reflects the now statutory nature of the VSH role. Some of the key duties in the guidance include local authorities ensuring that VSHs are in place and that they have the resources, time, training and support they need to discharge the duty effectively. Local authorities must also have robust procedures in place to monitor the attendance and educational progress of the children their authority looks after, and Children in Care Councils should regularly share the educational experiences and issues raised by looked after children. Areas also covered in the guidance are pupil premiums, school admission, school exclusions and supporting transitions from care. Dr Lucy Peake, director of the Fostering Network, said: “Children who are looked after away from their parents can often need additional support in school, and it is pleasing that the Government is using virtual heads to help ensure that this can happen in England. “If local authorities can meet their responsibilities, then this is a very positive step forward in ensuring that all our children receive a rounded and thorough education.” You can read the full guidance, Promoting the education of looked-after children, on the Government website. Source: http://www.fostering.net/news/2014/education-guidance-revised#.U9jjqfldU1Z This is a unique and exciting opportunity to join us as a senior manager of the only not-for-profit Co-operative in England and Wales. We require the successful candidate to manage, develop and promote the Foster Care provision and support services in Wales in line with regulatory requirements and the FCC’s values and ethos. The successful candidate will be required to work from our Cardiff Bay office and travel frequently to areas in which our carers and social workers are located, primarily along the South Wales corridor, but also further afield. The role will include carrying out regular supervisions and performance reviews and contributing to the agency’s strategic development for Wales. Outstanding Interpersonal skills, proven fostering experience, strong management skills and a flexible approach to working hours are essential. Applicants must have experience in good quality assessment and hold a Diploma or BA in Social Work, it would also be desirable for candidates to hold a management qualification (FCC encourage and support ongoing management training and would support the successful applicant in obtaining further management qualifications). We welcome applicants from IFA’s and the Local Authority. The successful applicant would join a strong thriving region with an established carer support group and experienced social workers. We are a not for profit organisation, putting the needs of our children and carers first and look to appoint a manager who is as passionate about this as we are. Do you share our ethos and values? If so, we’d love to hear from you. For an application form, either download the application for ‘Social Workers’ from the website, contact Barbara@fostercarecooperative.co.uk or call 01684 892380. To obtain more information, or to discuss the role please contact: Derek Clode, Regional Operations Manager (Wales) on 02920 464348 Closing Date: 2nd September, 2014 FCC is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children; applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosures Barring Service clearance at enhanced level. CVs will not be accepted, all applicants must complete an application form. £40,000 per annum (negotiable for an exceptional candidate), 32 days holiday, excellent pension scheme. Source: http://www.fostercarecooperative.co.uk/fostering-with-us/news-and-events/could-you-be-the-new-regional-operations-manager-for-our-wales-office/ The Fostering Network in Wales is calling on children, young people and foster carers to complete a Welsh Government survey looking at the role of children’s commissioner for Wales. The survey will form part of a larger review of the role which will focus on the role and functions of a children's commissioner for Wales, the impact that the role has had, the suitability and effectiveness of the underpinning legislation, accountability and governance, and accessibility. Freda Lewis, director of the Fostering Network in Wales, said: “Wales was the first country in the UK to have a children’s commissioner, and it is a role that we hope will continue to evolve to keep on serving our children and young people, and particularly those in care. “By filling in this survey, you’re having your say on the future of what is provided for children and young people in our country. This is an opportunity that should not be missed.” Once responses are collated, a report will be provided to the Welsh Government towards the end of 2014 with recommendations on the future of the role. You can complete the survey here. Source: http://www.fostering.net/news/2014/children-s-commissioner-wales-survey#.U9jkfvldU1Z We are pleased to announce that TACT East London’s fostering service has been judged as ‘Good’ in all areas by Ofsted. The office, which covers areas including East London, North London, Essex and Hertfordshire, is described by Ofsted as a fostering agency that ‘supports children and young people to live and thrive in safe and stable placements’. According to Ofsted TACT East London is ‘clearly child focused and ensures that children and young people are offered sound support and are given the best opportunity to secure positive outcomes’. Ofsted also commented on ‘the clear leadership of the agency’, its ‘commitment to ensuring services are met for each child placed’ and that ‘foster carers and young people have close bonds that have been built between them’. Read the TACT East London Ofsted inspection report Find out more about TACT East London Source: http://tactcare.org.uk/news/tact-east-london-gets-thumbs-up-from-ofsted/ Barnardo’s warns that care leavers may end up sleeping rough unless they can get an alternative to B&B accommodation. Barnardo’s CEO Javed Khan says: It is shameful that so many vulnerable young people have nowhere decent to stay upon leaving the care system. B&B is far from ideal. But if its usage is to be banned, emergency back-up needs to be available. Care leavers rely on local authorities for support. Children’s services and housing departments need to find suitable lodgings for those in dire need of a roof over their head. Source: http://www.barnardos.org.uk/news/Barnardo8217s_warns_that_Care_Leavers_may_end_up_sleeping_rough/latest-news.htm?ref=97923 Action for Children responds to the Education Committee’s report on care leavers. Sir Tony Hawkhead, chief executive of Action for Children, said: “We know that thousands of care leavers are moving out before they are ready, leaving some of the most vulnerable at risk. “The average home leaving age is 24, yet young men and women who are dealing with severe challenges like the legacy of abuse and neglect, emotional and mental health issues, have to manage without support, some of them only 18. “The difficulties that these young people face don’t disappear overnight, so support must be more flexible and gradual to meet their needs, not cut off on their birthday. “Government should take these important recommendations seriously and work to give all care leavers the chance to achieve their potential.” When Action for Children spoke to care leavers about their experiences one young woman shared that at 16 she was given the option of staying in a homeless shelter with seven older men, three of whom had just been released from prison. Source:http://www.actionforchildren.org.uk/news/archive/2014/july/difficulties-care-leavers-face-dont-disappear-overnight The inquiry was launched because of concerns about the level and quality of support and care provided for older adolescents. The inquiry found that too many looked after young people moving into to semi-independent or independent living at the age of 16 or 17 are placed in a home that is neither safe nor suitable. A copy of the Education Select Committee report can be found here Echoing comments made by TACT earlier this week, the report states that “looked after young people’s move to adulthood needs to be a supported transition into independence rather than an abrupt step out of care,” and identifies a number of concrete steps that need to be taken to improve 16 plus care options. These include:
Source:http://tactcare.org.uk/news/tact-wholeheartedly-welcomes-the-education-select-committee-report-on-16-care-options/ A fostering agency is looking to recruit up to 500 foster carers in the East Midlands. Team Fostering says it has seen an increasing number of children and young people entering the care system. The agency will host an event in Mansfield on July 16 to encourage more foster carers to come forward. Helen McBride, a foster carer from Ravenshead, will speak at the event. She said: "Fostering was something we always wanted to do. There will be ups and downs and there will be challenges ahead but I would urge people to explore the idea and gain opinion from people like me who have done it." Team Fostering matches foster carers to children seeking new homes through local authorities for short stay or longer term care. Foster carers can come from any background but need experience of working with youngsters as a parent, guardian or in voluntary or paid work. The agency pays a generous fee because it asks that the main foster carer does not work. Walter Young, Team Fostering director, said: "There's a large number of children, mostly aged between 10 and 15 and often with complex needs, who need family placements and we require a wide and diverse group of foster carers in the East Midlands to support these children. "We also need people who can consider offering a home to siblings, so that they don't need to be separated just because they come into the fostering services." Team Fostering's recruitment event will take place at St Peter's Centre in Churchside at 6pm on July 16. It is one of a series of events being held in and around Nottingham. For more information, visit www.teamfostering.co.uk or call 01623 339338. Copyright (c) Press Association Ltd. 2014, All Rights Reserved. Source: http://www.northantstelegraph.co.uk/news/regional/agency-seeks-new-foster-carers-1-6179654 |
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