THE Thames Valley branch of global accountancy and advisory firm Grant Thornton has chosen Parents And Children Together (PACT) as its charity of the year. Staff at the company’s Reading, Oxford and Winnersh offices voted PACT for its 2014/15 partnership from a short list of charities. PACT supports vulnerable families through outstanding adoption services, permanent fostering, award-winning therapeutic support and community projects in London and the south. The partnership was launched on Friday 20th June with simultaneous events at the company’s offices in Winnersh and Oxford. Staff enjoyed a pizza lunch and learned more about their new charity partner and the ways they can get involved and support the charity. Staff were asked to take on a Pact for PACT, which could be displaying an adoption poster in the local community; walking, running or cycling for PACT or even a sponsored sky dive. PACT Fundraising Manager Laura Senior said: “The partnership is already off to a great start with a raffle raising £850 for PACT. “Grant Thornton staff are also taking part in a World Cup sweepstake and are auctioning off items to raise money for FACTS therapeutic services for adopted and fostered children. “We will be inviting Grant Thornton staff to visit PACT’s specially equipped family therapy room in Reading to gain an understanding of how vital their support is.” Tash Pettiford-White from Grant Thornton said: “We are thrilled to have PACT as our new charity partner in the Thames Valley. Our people have carefully chosen PACT from a number of worthwhile charities and I think this is testament to how many families are touched by adoption and fostering and the wonderful activities of PACT.” “I am pleased from a personal perspective that PACT was successful as my husband and I adopted two children two years ago. PACT is a great charity that does amazing work finding children forever families” Any companies who would like to find out more about a charity partnership with PACT should contact Laura at laura.senior@pactcharity.org Source: http://www.pactcharity.org/news/189 PARENTS And Children Together (PACT), Oxfordshire County Council and Tower Hamlets are launching a new fostering service choosefostering this week to encourage people to consider fostering sibling groups. 59%* of children in care have brothers and sisters also in care and sadly there aren’t enough foster carers who can take in sibling groups. choosefostering is a new service which includes information, support and training for people who want to foster brothers and sisters and keep them together. This project has been supported by funding from the Department for Education. This innovative consortium has produced a recruitment campaign including a cinema advert which will air in selected cinemas in Oxfordshire, Berkshire and London from 21st March for two weeks and is available to view on the campaign website www.choosefostering.org. As well as the joy of caring for children, the role is supported with:
“This campaign aims to let potential foster carers know about the rewards and the support for those who love children and feel the time is right for them to foster. “Our current foster carers tell us that fostering sibling groups is hugely rewarding as brothers and sisters support each other and are usually more confident when they live together. “In fact, many of our experienced foster carers prefer to foster groups of children rather than a lone child and they thrive on a busy schedule and a full home. “I urge you to visit the website today or give us a call and find out more about fostering siblings.” Tower Hamlets Mayor Lutfur Rahman said: “We do all we can to keep brothers and sisters together when it is necessary for them to be taken out of the home of their birth family. “This new campaign shows how different organisations can work together for the interests of our local people.” Source: http://www.pactcharity.org/news/179 A gay couple have said they went to England to adopt because of confusion over the law in Northern Ireland. The Court of Appeal ruled that legislation which prevented gay, lesbian and unmarried couples from adopting children in NI was unlawful. It was the only part of the UK where the policy existed. However, Stormont's health minister plans to go to the Supreme Court to try to overturn that decision and get the ban reinstated. John Davis and Jason Scorer, who live in County Antrim, had hoped to adopt children from Northern Ireland, but with uncertainty over the legal position they were advised to consider other options. "We were very lucky that our original social worker in Northern Ireland had done a lot of homework before she came, to say that we could not move things any further forward," said John, who has lived in Northern Ireland for 20 years. "The problem is a lot of people may not be aware there is another option." They contacted adoption and fostering charity PACT (Parents and Children Together). It helped the couple, who are in a civil partnership, go through the process in England with the aim of giving children from there a home in Northern Ireland. John Davis said he and his partner were giving the children love and care: "There are children waiting in the system (in Northern Ireland) to find families but, unfortunately, we were not allowed to go down that route," said Jason. "And that is to the hardship of the children who are here." They adopted two boys at the start of the summer and they started primary school last month. "They are getting loved, they are getting looked after and they are getting cared for," said John. They say they know of other gay couples from Northern Ireland who are now considering going through the adoption process elsewhere in the UK, because the issue is still being debated in the courts. The Department of Health at Stormont confirmed that Health Minister Edwin Poots has now applied to the Supreme Court for leave to appeal against the Court of Appeal's decision that the ban was discriminatory. And he insisted the issue was about stability not sexuality. "Unlike other parts of the UK... we have a strong list of adoptive parents who want to take on adopted children," said Mr Poots. "I think we should be cautious about changing the system which actually provides the stability those children need. "It is not a human right to adopt a child for either a mixed-sex couple or a same-sex couple." Gay and lesbian groups, as well as organisations like BAAF (British Association for Adoption and Fostering), have criticised the minister's decision to continue fighting the issue in the courts. But he said surveys had shown support for his position. "What I look at it is where the Northern Ireland public are on these issues and what is in the best interests of the children," he said. "There is a lot of public opposition to it." In Belfast, there were people with strong views on both sides of the argument. Those against gay couples having the right to adopt argued that children needed both male and female role models and some claimed it was against their religious beliefs. However, many said that the only important thing was providing a stable home for a child, irrespective of whether the couple were married or their sexuality. "You could argue all day about the gay thing - whether it is right that someone who is gay should be gay," says John Davis. "But I believe it goes back to the loving, caring environment and stability that you can give these children, that they have not had up to this point." Source: www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-24416338 FtSE Member News: PACT Ambassador David Akinsanya gets behind PACT's Foster Care Fortnight campaign15/5/2013
Broadcaster, journalist and PACT Ambassador, David Akinsanya is backing PACT's Foster Care Fortnight (13-26 May) campaign. David grew up in care and spent time in prison but credits his social worker for giving him the determination to turn his life around at the age of 19. He is involved in voluntary work and is passionate about adoption and fostering, and acts as a mentor/respite foster carer for many children and young people in care. David said: “There are many children around today who have huge potential but have been given a challenging start in life and I have great respect for all the patient and professional social workers, foster carers, adopters and teachers that work to support children who are facing difficult times through no fault of their own. “Having been in care, I know only too well how important it is for those who end up being looked after to have kind supportive people in their lives. I urge those with space in their homes and hearts to become foster carers or adoptive parents to help give these youngsters a better start in life. That’s why I’m backing Foster Care Fortnight and charities like PACT.” PACT is currently recruiting foster carers to help meet the national shortage of 9,000 new fostering families. PACT is running information events for people to find out more about this rewarding vocation. To hear from a PACT foster carer, learn about the support and training on offer, and how to take the next steps to becoming an approved foster carer with PACT, come to one of our Foster Care Fortnight events.
David will be speaking at PACT’s Adoption & Fostering evening for people from the black and minority ethnic community on
A DESIRE to support and inspire disadvantaged children is thought to be the main reason people foster, a survey by an adoption and fostering charity has found. The survey of 100 people by Parents And Children Together (PACT) for Foster Care Fortnight™ found that 72% of responders suggested that people would be motivated to foster to help a child achieve in life. More than half of respondents had considered fostering at some point and over 60% had known someone who had fostered. The results of this poll are published by PACT during Foster Care Fortnight™ to share people’s ideas around the motivations and barriers to fostering. The Fostering Network estimates that 9,000 new foster families need to be recruited to provide homes for children who can’t live with their birth families. PACT’s survey also found that 21% of respondents would consider fostering children under five years old, but only 5% were interested in fostering teenagers. Other findings were:
“A number of people may be ideal foster carers but never had the prompt to come forward and find out more. Foster Care Fortnight can be that call to action, and I encourage anyone who knows they are good with children and would like to offer their time and skills in a very practical way to get in contact. “Our information events are a chance to hear from inspiring PACT foster carers about the difference they are making to a child’s life now and in the future.” To find out more about what’s involved come to PACT’s Fostering Information Afternoon on Thursday 23rd May, at 9 Southern Court, South Street, Reading, RG1 4QS, PACT’s Fostering Information Afternoon on Wednesday 29th May at Clapham Library, SW4 7DB, or PACT’s Fostering morning on Thursday 30th May at Sutton Central Library, SM1 1EA. For more information about fostering download a PACT Guide to Fostering at www.pactcharity.org/Fostering or call 0300 456 4800. Source: www.pactcharity.org/news/143 FOSTERING services run by charity Parents And Children Together (PACT) have been rated as 'good' following a recent Ofsted inspection. The report praised PACT's strong leadership and management which is driving the strategic growth of the service. The Ofsted inspection recognised the innovative approach which PACT takes to long term fostering including its innovative Dual Approval scheme (fostering with a view to adoption) and highlighted the therapeutic support services – FACTS - on offer to PACT foster families. Ofsted also found good examples of PACT’s safeguarding procedures and outlined the comprehensive programme of training undertaken by all PACT foster carers. The inspector found: “PACT has a lengthy and extensive experience as a voluntary adoption agency and the fostering element of PACT is able to draw upon the material and therapeutic resources of its adoption service in the support of fostered children. “The strength of this agency has been in its ability to recruit, prepare and support foster carers who will give a permanent, long term placement to children, with the possibility of them going on to adopt the children placed.” The report also stated: “Children benefit from being placed with carers who are well trained and prepared for the fostering task and who are focused on the needs of children and young people.” PACT’s fostering service was found to have a good balance of carers including those from ethnic minorities and a focus on helping its children to have good outcomes such as enjoying life and gaining a sense of achievement. Examples at the Ofsted inspection included children being part of clubs, going on holiday and improving in self-confidence. PACT’s Chief Executive, Jan Fishwick said: “I am delighted to announce that we hold a ‘good’ Ofsted rating for PACT’s developing fostering service. “This is testament to the professionalism of our team and our foster carers who are working extremely hard to grow the service so that we can help more children in need of loving and supportive families. “This independent assessment recognises that PACT offers a quality fostering service. Fostering is a hugely rewarding experience for carers and families who are able to open their homes to children who are going through difficult times. I urge anyone thinking about fostering to get in touch.” PACT’s next fostering information events are taking place on 5th February, 3 – 7pm, drop in at PACT’s Children Centre in Didcot; 18th February 6.30 – 8pm at Brixton Recreation centre; and 9thMarch 1 – 5pm, drop in at PACT’s office, 9 South Street, Reading. For more details about fostering with PACT visit pactcharity.org/fostering. PACT is a fostering and adoption charity that also runs children’s centres and community projects across the Thames Valley. Source: www.pactcharity.org/news/124 A CHILDREN'S charity is launching a volunteering programme that can help stay-at-home parents gain work experience.
Parents And Children Together (PACT) has launched a new schools programme that invites parent volunteers to work with their local school to support PACT and its work reaching out to families affected by poverty, homelessness, domestic abuse, as well as finding and supporting adoptive and foster parents. PACT is offering free training and advice for a network of parent volunteers who will run school fundraising initiatives, including collecting donations after assemblies and concerts, holding a “wear a PACT colour” day or organising a coffee morning to celebrate Mothers Day. Volunteers will also receive a certificate and reference from PACT. Parent volunteer Mrs Mafaz Ali from Winnersh said: “I am really looking forward to becoming a PACT Parent volunteer. "I’ve wanted to volunteer for a while, but was not sure how to do this in a way that suited me. “The PACT schools programme appealed to me as, not only will I be helping a charity that supports local families, but I will also be learning new skills and experiences that I can use when it is time to go back to work.” PACT has been building and strengthening families for 101 years and runs children’s centres and community projects across Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire. It also finds families for children in care through its adoption and fostering service in London and the south east. To find out more about the PACT Schools Programme contact Anna Fowler on 0118 938 7600 or email anna.fowler@pactcharity.org Source: www.pactcharity.org/news/114 THERE are an estimated 65,000 children in care in the UK, 4,000 of whom are waiting to be adopted.
But while the number of children being taken into care is rising, the number of adoptions has been falling since 2007, with just 2,450 in 2010, a decline of 10 per cent since 2007. The Government has plans to make adoption more accessible and last year introduced ‘league tables’ to challenge local authorities to ‘do better’ in finding new families for the children in their care. In 2011, Oxfordshire had 450 children in its care. Oxfordshire is faring reasonably well in the league tables, with 87 per cent of looked-after children found adoption places within 12 months, over the last three years. In bottom place was Hackney, with just 48 per cent found places. But Teresa Rogers from the county council’s adoption team, admits the challenges are many. She said: “Most prospective adopters are childless couples and hoping to adopt a child as young as possible with no special needs. Although there are quite a few young children needing adoption, their development has often been delayed in some areas. “We have older children who need to be adopted, groups of brothers and sisters we wish to place together, and some children who have a more significant developmental delay. “Our challenge is to help prospective adoptive parents progress from their first idea of the child they would like to adopt, to thinking about the children who are actually waiting to be adopted or who are likely to need an adoptive family in the near future.“ The Thames Valley charity Parents and Children Together (Pact), placed 62 children with families in 2011. And the agency, which celebrated its centenary last year, is aiming to increase the number of adoptions of older children in care, through its Dual Approval Scheme, which approves families for fostering, with a view to adopting. Shirley Elliot, Pact’s assistant director for Adoption, said: “Pact recruits people with the skills and experience to nurture children with complex needs. The agency’s therapeutic services, Facts (Fostering and Adoption Consultation and Therapeutic Support), can help severely traumatised children to come to terms with their early life experiences and to form attachments with their new carers. “And then, when the bond is strong enough and the child is ready, Pact’s team guide the family through the steps to adoption.” Mrs Elliot has been involved in adoption for more than 20 years. She said: “We talk about your motivation for adopting, you will have a medical, a CRB check and references will be taken, and then you will be given a place on one of our preparation groups, which enable you to mix with other adopters, ask questions and have training. “From here, with your own social worker, your home study will begin and take around four months. People find it quite challenging. It involves eight, two-hour meetings and will look at all areas of your life, and if you are with someone, your relationship too. “It challenges you and sometimes takes you to places you didn’t know were there. People sometimes wonder why they are asked questions about things that may seem very personal. But when a person has adopted, they understand why it has been so thorough, because they need to be prepared for all the challenges adoption will throw their way.” Many children put up for adoption have experienced neglect or abuse. Many will have trouble learning and forming relationships. And this will bring a host of challenges to adopters. At the end of the home study, the social worker writes a report which goes to the panel – a group of six to eight ‘experts’ who will decide if the person should be put up for final approval to adopt. Made up of professionals like doctors, teachers, and even those who have been adopted themselves, the panel sits for about 45 minutes. Mrs Elliot said: “It is a huge responsibility and one the panel does not take lightly. “But while they are very thorough with their questioning, they are not there to trip people up, or trick them. They want to place children with new families and when the adopters leave 45 minutes later, they will know whether the panel is recommending them for final approval.” Anne Bateman, 56, from Oxfordshire, is the panel’s newest member and was put up for adoption at three months old by her unmarried, Catholic, birth mother. She said: “Adopters these days are encouraged to preserve their adopted child’s heritage and faith and even to encourage them to maintain a relationship with any birth siblings. “That wasn’t the case when I was young. “Being on the panel is a huge privilege and I hope my experience of being adopted might give me some kind of insight.” ‘WE HOPE TO BE PARENTS NEXT YEAR’ Johnny and Caroline, (not their real names) from South Oxfordshire are part-way through the process leading towards adopting children. Johnny said: “We talked about adoption but planned to do it after we had biological children. “Two years into marriage we haven’t fallen pregnant and while that might still happen, we have decided to go forward with adoption.” “The social worker wants to know all about your own upbringing and how you were parented – and what you think about that. But it feels relaxed and really positive and that it is actually helping us with the challenges ahead. There is a good chance that our adopted child or children will have come from a difficult background and we want to make sure we can offer them the support they need.” Johnny and Caroline have a panel meeting in December and will soon start being ‘matched’ to prospective children. “Whatever happens we are hopeful that we will be parents by the start of next summer,” said Johnny. “Our children are out there, waiting for us and we just want to welcome them in and give them a loving home.” HOW DECISIONS ARE MADE BEFORE a child is approved for adoption, he or she will have been taken into care. In 2011, Oxfordshire had 450 children in its care. Teresa Rogers, for the county council’s adoption team, said: “A lot of work goes on to support and advise a family before care proceedings are initiated. “(But) if they are not able to go home in the near future, we begin the process of permanency planning. “This could be either a programme for a return to their birth family; a plan to place them with a member of the extended family, or family friends; or a plan for adoption or long-term fostering. “The child’s needs are first and paramount. “The social worker completes a detailed report and a senior manager must review this before making a decision on behalf of the local authority that the child ‘should be placed for adoption’.” She added: “However, for children in care proceedings, the final decision is made by the court, and if the court agrees that the child needs to be placed for adoption, then the court makes a placement order.” For more details about adopting through Oxfordshire County Council, visit: www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/cms/public-site/adoption For more details about Pact, go to www.pactcharity.org ‘IT COULD ALL BE SPEEDED UP A LITTLE’ Vicar of the parish of Sutton Courtney and Appleford, the Rev Helen Kendrick, and her husband Christopher, adopted an eight-year-old girl and her seven-year-old brother in 2009, through Pact. Mrs Kendrick, 46, said: “I think the adoption process could be speeded up a little. It took us around 18 months but I would say nine months to a year would be good. “It is a fine balance because you don’t want the children to be waiting too long to be adopted, but you also need to give the adopting parents enough time to prepare.” She added: “It is important changes are made to the system, because while the process is being held up, children are getting older and because of that many will miss out on the chance of being adopted.” A TEDDY BEAR WELCOME A GROUP of family lawyers have contributed to a scheme which gives newly adopted children a bear to start their life with their new family. Children adopted at Oxford County Court receive a teddy bear when they are formally adopted. Members of Oxford Resolution, a group of family lawyers, have sent a donation of £547.50 to the judges at Oxford County Court to help fund the scheme. Source: www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/9897107.The_quest_to_become__forever_families_/ PACT welcomes the government's commitment to improving adoption rates for young children and particularly the concept of 'foster to adopt'.
David Cameron’s vision for children to be fostered by people who go on to adopt them mirrors PACT’s own dual approval scheme, announced yesterday, where carers are simultaneously approved to adopt and foster. Families who are able to provide a secure and loving home for older children through fostering with PACT will be able to access therapeutic support for their child so that in time they can progress to permanently adopt them. Satwinder Sandhu, PACT’s Director of Adoption and Fostering said: “The research and evidence available from concurrency models in the UK clearly suggests that children placed under such schemes fare much better than children in traditional foster placements. “The evidence also suggests that the model allows much more meaningful work to be done with birth families, regardless of the outcome. “PACT absolutely believes in better life chances for all children and our own Dual Approval scheme which allows older children to be fostered with a view to adoption is a great example of this. “PACT welcomes anything the government can do improve permanence planning for all children and we now routinely discuss concurrent options with all our prospective adopters." PACT Chief Executive Jan Fishwick said: “As a fostering and adoption charity, we are best placed to achieve results quickly. We are encouraged by discussions with local authority children’s services who are increasingly open to these new approach to finding forever families for children. "We also call for effective support and processes from the judiciary service as critical to the success of these innovative new schemes. “I would ask anyone interested in becoming a concurrent or dual approved carer for PACT to contact out duty team today on 020 7492 3923." PACT’s dual approval scheme was launched yesterday (5th July) at BAAF conference on concurrent planning. The presentation by Satwinder Sandhu and PACT’s Assistant Director of Fostering Jean Smith was well-received and generated lots of positive interest and comment. Source: www.pactcharity.org/news/107 PACT’s plan is to dual-approve carers to both foster and adopt and provide a home for older children who need extensive therapeutic support before they can be permanently adopted.
Satwinder Sandhu, PACT Director for Adoption and Fostering, unveiled the scheme today (5th July) at BAAF’s Conference on Concurrent Planning in London. He explained that PACT’s dual approval scheme aims to help the older children in care, from around age six upwards, who are unlikely to be adopted and may need extensive therapeutic parenting before adoption can be considered. PACT recruits people with the skills and experience to love and nurture children with complex needs who can, in time, become a permanent member of their family. Satwinder said: “The dual approval scheme run by PACT can offer older children in care a successful route to a forever family, even when their age or needs deter prospective adopters. “PACT’s extensive therapeutic services, FACTS (Fostering and Adoption Consultation and Therapeutic Support), have helped severely traumatised children to express their feelings, come to terms with their early life experiences and to ultimately form successful attachments with their new carers. “When the bond is strong enough and the child is ready, PACT’s team guide the family through the steps to adoption.” Luke & Giselle Taylor, who have been just been approved by PACT to long term foster as part of the dual approval scheme are ideal candidates for this new approach. Mr Taylor has been a step dad to the two older teenage children in the family, and the couple have a birth son age 12. They are very nurturing people with excellent parenting skills. They also have lots of experience, through Mr Taylor’s work as a vicar, of supporting parents and children struggling with various emotional and practical issues. Gisele said: “We are keen to use our skills and experience to help a child who isn’t able to be adopted at this time and needs specific support and care to bond and consider becoming part of a family in the long term. “We have seen through our own eyes the effects of trauma on innocent children who haven’t been adequately cared for and the negative effects on their outlook on life. “But I also know that the right support and intensive care can make a huge difference, and if Luke and I can help just one child, we’ve got to do it.” She added: “It’s going to be a huge challenge to foster an older child but we are confident that being part of PACT’s team as foster carers, and with their access to expert therapy services, we will have the back up we need to cope.” Other speakers at the conference were: Margaret Adcock, Social Work Consultant; Alexandra Conroy-Harris, Legal Consultant, BAAF; Elaine Dibben, Adoption Development Consultant, BAAF; Karen Devine, Service Manager, Adoption & Permanence Service, Brighton & Hove City Council; Dr Carol Homden, Chief Executive, Coram; Jeanne Kaniuk OBE, Head of Adoption & Permanent Families Service, Coram; Perspectives from Concurrent Adopters PACT is a member of the CVAA, Consortium for Voluntary Adoption Agencies. For more information about PACT’s fostering and adoption services, including Dual Approval, phone 0800 731 1845, visit the website www.pactcharity.org or come to a PACT Information Evening on Tuesday 17th July at St Saviours Church, Pimlico, London at 6.30pm, Wednesday 5thSeptember at RISC, Reading at 6.30pm, or Wednesday 26th September at The Brix, St Matthew’s Church, Brixton at 6.30pm. Source: www.pactcharity.org/news/105 |
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