FCC’s executive director, Ian Brazier, attended a meeting with FTSE (Fostering Through Social Enterprise) on 6th January. It was a very positive meeting, and it has been agreed that we, along with other not-for-profit fostering providers, should refer to ourselves as NFP Fostering Providers (not-for-profit fostering providers) rather than IFA’s (Independent Fostering Agencies). ‘IFA’ is a general term, and it refers to both profit and not-for-profit making fostering agencies. FCC is very proud to be able to differentiate themselves from those that commercially profit from the fostering services they provide and so reduce the level of funding available for the care of children. FTSE was established in 2007 and represents the views, perspectives and experience of a number of charitable and not-for-profit fostering providers. Source: http://www.fostercarecooperative.co.uk/fostering-with-us/news-and-events/not-for-profit-fostering-agencies-to-be-called-nfp-fostering-providers/ A growing number of new fostering families is needed during 2016 to ensure the provision of stable, secure and loving homes for fostered children in the South-East, according to figures published today by The Fostering Network. 1,100 fostering families are needed right across the South-East this year, to give loving homes and supportive family environments to children. The need is for 7,600 foster families in England, 800 in Scotland, 500 in Wales, and 170 in Northern Ireland. In particular there is an ongoing and urgent need for more foster families to provide homes for teenagers, disabled children, unaccompanied asylum seeking children, and sibling groups. Many foster carers who choose to foster these groups, who are traditionally thought of as ‘hard to place’, comment on how rewarding the experience is and how well their fostering service has supported them to develop and evolve their current skillset in order to give a home to children who could not live with their birth family. Despite the call for more foster families, all children who need a foster family have one. However, without more foster families coming forward during 2016 some children will find themselves living a long way from family, school and friends, being split up from brothers and sisters, or being placed with a foster carer who does not have the right skills and experience to meet their specific needs. There is then a significant risk that a child’s placement will breakdown, further disrupting an already traumatic childhood. Figures show that two in five (40 per cent) fostered teenagers are already living with their third foster family since coming into care, and one in 20 (five per cent) teenagers are living with their tenth family in foster care. # With a rising number of children coming into care, and around 12 per cent of foster carers retiring or leaving fostering last year, there is a need to not only recruit more foster carers, but also better utilise the current pool of foster carers to best meet the needs of the children and young people in foster care. Kevin Williams, chief executive of The Fostering Network, said: “Foster families in the South-East perform an invaluable duty on behalf of the state, one that really serves the whole community. Their work contributes not only to society now, but in the decades that will come as the young people who live in their care grow into independence and in turn become positive adults who give back to society. Foster families give children the opportunity of the childhood that they deserve, a childhood that otherwise they may not have had. “By recruiting more fostering families, we can provide the wide choice of potential foster family needed so that each child has the best opportunity of being matched with a foster carer who can meet their needs at the first time of asking. Prospective foster carers will receive training and support from their fostering service, but before they even start the process they need a range of skills and qualities including patience, the ability to listen, being a team player and advocating on behalf of a child, a sense of humour and much more besides. “We would encourage everyone who is keen to learn more about fostering to visit couldyoufoster.org.uk, find their local fostering service, and contact them to find out whether they can foster. Finding the right fostering service for you is vital so that you can have the most positive experience as a foster carer, and there are local authority and independent fostering services operating all over the country. Different fostering services offer different ranges of support to their foster carers, so do your research and take the time to find the right service for you.” Source: http://www.hastingsobserver.co.uk/news/local/more-than-1-000-more-fostering-households-urgently-needed-in-the-south-east-during-2016-1-7147074 As a same-sex couple we’ve always felt that expectations are much higher and that we have something to prove When we were first thinking of fostering, there were a number of reasons buzzing around our heads. Did we want to help make a difference? Did we want to help shape a child’s future? The main reason, that still stands today, was change. We wanted to bring change to a child’s life. We wanted to help someone who might not have had the best start in life and make a difference so they could be who they wanted to be when they grew up. We finally decided to go for it. It was a huge change in our lives. Add in the fact that we are a same-sex couple and there were additional challenges and experiences. There was always this image that if a couple was not male and female then they could not parent. There was always the feeling that expectations were a lot higher. Something had to be proved, not only to the social workers but also to the parents. We will always remember one parent who didn’t want their child to be raised by us. But through the support and guidance we gave the child we helped shape the parent’s attitude and views. By seeing their child was happy, was going to school and was seeing them during contact visits really made the parent think twice about same-sex foster carers. And for all the children and young people we have looked after, this has not been a problem. Even today with our 16-year-old, they don’t care that we are a same-sex couple; there’s no stigma. Before fostering, we were selfish and didn’t need to worry about anyone but ourselves. We could do anything we wanted, go out with friends, party till the early hours and not worry about the small things as long as bills were paid and money coming in. Little did we need to think about activities to do or how to manage behaviour. Gone are the days of watching Dexter or American Horror Story; only to be replaced with Scooby Doo and Clifford the Big Red Dog. Our lifestyle has changed; you really do become more active. I have discovered more about myself, what skills I had and what I needed to learn. In truth, there are still times when you wish it was just the two of you. There are dark days, times when a child will completely shut down and trash the house, and all you can think of is how much there is to clean up, and that this would never have happened before. But then wonderful things happen; our child became “star of the month” at school and was given a 100% attendance award. Things that wouldn’t have happened before, and it makes you so proud to think you helped make this happen. And there are the joyous moments when I see our child smile when I collect them from school, or when I take an interest in their schoolwork and go to parent’s evenings. You go through a huge range of emotions in the journey of foster care. I will never laugh as much, I will never cry as much, and I will never feel such a wonderful feeling as when the little difference we’ve made is recognised by our peers – and sometimes the parents. It’s about growing up and becoming that adult. That parent. That person, who, suddenly, has to communicate more than ever to help grow and develop your own relationship and that with the child. This is what makes a foster carer. It means never giving up, always standing by the child. Each day is different but with passion, drive, support and encouragement this is a career that lasts a lifetime and really makes a difference. The Social Life Blog is written by people who work in or use social care services. If you’d like to write an article for the series, email socialcare@theguardian.com with your ideas. Source: http://www.theguardian.com/social-care-network/social-life-blog/2016/jan/06/same-sex-foster-care-couple-expectations Efforts to tackle problems in fostering should be given equal weight to those in place in adoption, writes Andy Elvin of TACT Fostering and Adoption by Andy Elvin In November the National Association of Fostering Providers (NAFP), which largely represents commercial agencies, took three local authorities to court in a judicial review claiming their commissioning approach was unlawful. The NAFP claimed that, rather than looking for an “in house” local authority foster carer first (as happens in some cases), local authorities should send all referrals to all providers of foster care. The judge ruled against this position. NAFP took Leeds, Bristol and Suffolk to court and the Local Government Association joined the three councils as an interested party I do not know how much this action cost NAFP to bring, or how much it cost the three local authorities to defend, but it is all money that could have been better spent on vulnerable children. ‘Legitimate issues ’There are, nonetheless, legitimate issues about foster care provision that should be discussed between the Department for Education (DfE), Local Government Association, Association of Directors of Children’s Services, local authorities and independent fostering agencies. The Adoption Leadership Board has done excellent work in closing the gap between the number of children available for adoption and the number of adopters available. It has also very effectively promoted adoption and post-adoption support. That is why TACT is calling for a Fostering Leadership Board to be instituted on the same basis as the Adoption Leadership Board. This can bring stakeholders together and improve provision and practice; not through lawyers, but through dialogue, partnership and our shared aspirations for the children we all care for. Adopted children comprise 5% of the children who go through the care system each year. Fostered children comprise 75% of the care population, and a leadership board with ministerial and local government buy in is urgently required. The immediate issues are:
Source: http://www.communitycare.co.uk/2016/01/06/fostering-leadership-board-needed-tackle-issues-sector/ |
News & JobsNews stories and job vacancies from our member agencies, the fostering sector and the world of child protection and safeguarding as a whole. Browse Categories
All
|