Stable foster care placements are being put at risk because councils are trying to drive down costs, a study has found. A report by the Nationwide Association of Fostering Providers (NAFP) found evidence that some councils are forcing foster carers to apply for special guardianship orders (SGOs), a more permanent form of placement that costs less money. There was also evidence that local authorities were pressuring agency foster carers to move in-house so they are paid directly by the local authority. A National Audit Office report puts the cost of councils’ own foster care provision at between £15,000 and £57,000 a year, compared with between £18,000 and £73,000 for other providers’ foster care. The report was put together based on the findings of a survey with 19 foster parents. In some cases agency foster carers reported that social workers had told looked-after children living with them that their current care arrangements were too expensive. “It is evident from this survey that there is a small but significant number of cases, spread over a wide area, where children have had a stable and beneficial placement threatened for purely financial reasons,” the report states. “It is likely that the cases that we have identified are the tip of a larger iceberg. “There may have been a reluctance about bringing forward cases, for fear of damaging relationships with local authorities, and possible commercial detriment. Carers also reported being told that if they didn’t move in-house or switch to a special guardianship arrangement the child would be moved. There were also claims that adoption plans were pursued for children even when they were settled in a long-term foster placement. Harvey Gallagher, NAFP chief executive, said: “This is similar to what we are hearing with our meetings with independent providers throughout the year. “It is a small number of councils doing this, but they are spread out nationwide. “In some cases a special guardianship arrangement may be in the best interests of the child, but the fact remains that a foster carer will get less support from that and they are easier and cheaper for a council.” He added that in some cases councils believe moving a carer from the independent agency sector in-house would cut costs. “But we have done a lot of work around costing and the data shows that the cost situation is not clear-cut,” said Gallagher. Gallagher said calculations by councils on costs do not take into account additional costs around support, training and administration. The NAFP report also found that independent reviewing officers (IROs) too often failed to challenge councils around their placement decisions. The organisation is calling on the Department for Education to set up a system of monitoring cases where concerns are raised that placement decisions may harm a child’s welfare. According to latest government figures, the use of SGOs, an order made by a court under the Adoption and Children Act 2002 that gives legal guardian status for non-parents, has rocketed in recent years. Between April 2013 and March 2014 a total of 3,330 SGOs were issued, compared with just 1,290 in 2010. Source: http://www.cypnow.co.uk/cyp/news/1151383/councils-cost-cutting-jeopardises-foster-placements During Foster Care Fortnight 2015, The Fostering Network will be celebrating the lives of children and young people in foster care, care leavers, and foster carers and their families with a series of celebration days. We will be shining a light on each of the four nations in which we work, and we will be sharing blogs, tweets and pictures telling the stories of fostering in those countries. During the fortnight we will also look at how sport, faith, the arts, sexual orientation, education and much more adds to the diversity of fostering, in addition to specific days where we’ll celebrate the achievements of young care leavers. Jackie Sanders, director of public affairs at The Fostering Network, said: “This year’s campaign is all about making a connection with foster care. We want to use Foster Care Fortnight to celebrate all that people bring to our community, so that people can understand what fostering really brings to the children and young people who are in foster care right across the UK.” You can contact your fostering service to find out what is happening in your area this Foster Care Fortnight. Take part in the charity’s social media campaign by printing off the ‘my connection to fostering’ placard, taking a picture and posting it on Twitter or Facebook using the hashtag #FCF2015 between 1-14 June. You can also support Foster Care Fortnight by signing up to the Foster Care Fortnight Thunderclap. Source: https://www.fostering.net/news/2015/foster-care-fortnight-theme-days#.VWXSgPlVikp A small survey by the Nationwide Association of Fostering Providers found some carers believed their placements were being threatened Foster carers have raised concerns that local authorities are attempting to break up children’s placements to save money. A small snapshot survey by the Nationwide Association of Fostering Providers (NAFP) found some carers for independent fostering agencies believed their placements were being threatened for financial purposes. This has involved local authorities attempting to move children to ‘in house’ placements and pushing for special guardianship orders (SGOs) or adoptive placements, the 9 foster carers claimed. Councils breaching law The Association’s report stated: “It is evident from this survey that there is a small but significant number of cases, spread over a wide area, where children had a stable and beneficial placement threatened for purely financial reasons.” The report concluded that the local authorities involved in the cases were in breach of law, regulations and guidance, while foster carers said councils were threatening good attachments and children’s placements for “no justifications except it was cheaper”. “We were told ‘the carers have been told to take an SGO…Or adopt them’ if they don’t ‘the children may have to be moved to in house foster carers,’” the report said. Criticism of IROs The level of independence possessed by Independent Reviewing Officers (IROs) was also challenged by respondents. IROs, installed to scrutinise and challenge council care plans, told carers they were part of the team within local authorities so “their hands were tied and they couldn’t do anything”. Criticisms made about IROs include that they agreed with social workers, agreed budgets come first and had no influence. Harvey Gallagher, chief executive of the NAFP, said that despite the small sample size, the survey reflects the experiences of foster carers and agencies across the country “for some time”. Priorities “The most distressing part is that the needs of children seem to be some way down the list of priorities in some cases, certainly behind the drivers of short term cost savings and finding permanence outside of the care system,” he said. Gallagher welcomed efforts by Government to encourage support and permanence through long term fostering, but is concerned about IROs being torn between the priorities of their local authority and what’s best for children: “Sometimes these two things are not the same,” he said. A spokesperson from charity The Fostering Network, said “that a fostering placement, regardless of whether it is with a local authority or independent fostering provider foster carer, is right for a child then it should be supported and encouraged to flourish”. They added: “The only reason a child should only ever be moved is if it is in their best interest.” Source: http://www.communitycare.co.uk/2015/05/15/councils-trying-break-foster-placements-due-cost-claim-carers/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter The Fostering Network Northern Ireland welcomes the appointment of Simon Hamilton MLA as health minister for Northern Ireland, and is calling on him to make children, and fostering, a priority over the course of his time in office. Margaret Kelly, director of The Fostering Network Northern Ireland, said: “Simon brings to this role a wealth of experience in the Northern Ireland Assembly, and as Minister for Finance. He knows some of the challenging fiscal realities that are affecting families across the country. We hope that he uses this knowledge to prioritise the needs of looked after children and fostering so that all children have an equal chance of a positive future. “We want Northern Ireland to be the best place for a looked after child to grow up, and we call on Simon to bring forward the fostering regulations, and to ensure that standards for foster care in Northern Ireland are developed, so that as a society we can make this a reality. “The Fostering Network Northern Ireland is hugely ambitious for our looked after children, and we look forward to working with Simon and the wider fostering community to continue to make positive change in the future.” Source: https://www.fostering.net/news/2015/welcome-new-northern-ireland-health-minister#.VVn3zvlVikp London College of Fashion, University of the Arts London and the British Association for Adoption and Fostering (BAAF) are delighted to announce that, for the first time, they will be collaborating on the charity’s annual “Bag Ladies” designer handbag auction to raise funds to help find permanent families for thousands of children who are waiting to be fostered or adopted. Three students from LCF’s BA (Hons) Cordwainers Fashion Bags and Accessories: Product Design and Innovation course are designing bespoke, one off handbags, which will be sold on the night giving guests the chance to own a bag by a star of the future. While students from the BA (Hons) Fashion Public Relations and Communication are working alongside BAAF on press and social media ideas for the event. Bag Ladies 2015 will be held on the evening of Wednesday 1 July 2015 from 6:30-9:30pm at Royal Bank of Scotland’s Bishopsgate headquarters. Up to 300 women will come together for a lively night of bidding for and winning designer handbags in auctions and a fun raffle. Supporters such as Victoria Beckham, Lanvin, Dior, Stella McCartney, Alexander McQueen, Net-a-Porter and Harrods, as well as several of the UK’s leading fashion editors, have previously donated bags and accessories. The evening is organised and supported by many people for whom adoption means a great deal and is hosted by BAAF patron and celebrity hairdresser, Andrew Barton, who is himself adopted. Professor Frances Corner OBE Head of London College of Fashion, UAL said: “I am delighted that our talented bags and accessories students are designing beautiful bespoke pieces to help raise vital funds for the BAAF, who support some of the UK’s most vulnerable children and young people.” Caroline Selkirk, BAAF’s Chief Executive said: “We are thrilled to be collaborating with the students from the London College of Fashion and know that they will bring an exciting and vibrant element to the auction. With their help we hope to beat last year’s total of nearly £40,000. All the money raised will help the thousands of children who are unable to live with their birth parents to be found a safe, secure and loving family.” Tickets can be bought at www.baaf.org.uk/content/bag-ladies-2015 Source: http://www.baaf.org.uk/node/7824 FtSE Member News: TACT Yorkshire joins forces with other agencies to recruit more foster carers11/5/2015
TACT joins with the region’s fostering providers to find more carers for West Yorkshire’s children TACT and other Foster care providers from across West Yorkshire are joining forces next month to try to recruit more foster carers for children who are looked after by local authorities across the region. There is a shortage of foster carers across West Yorkshire with all five local authorities and independent fostering agencies having few to no approved families to look after teenagers and/or those with more complex needs. Across the whole of Yorkshire and the Humber we need a further 720 families to come forward. People from across West Yorkshire who are interested in finding out more about becoming foster carers, are invited to come along to an information evening at the first direct arena in Leeds on Monday 8 June between 5pm and 8pm. Those attending will be able to get specialist advice from fostering teams from two West Yorkshire local authorities and 14 Independent Fostering Agencies. The joint event has been organised as part of Foster Care Fortnight (1st to 14th June) to help people from across the region discover more about fostering and the different options available to them. Across West Yorkshire there is a particular shortage of foster carers for teenagers, children with disabilities, sibling groups and parent and child fostering, although the event will be suitable for anybody interested in learning more about all types of fostering. Each provider will have an expert and existing foster carer on hand to discuss what options are available by fostering through them, including what support packages they offer and what allowances and fees they pay. Councillor Judith Blake executive member responsible for children and families at Leeds City Council said: “It is in the best interests of the children in local authority care across our region that we work together to find the best foster carers out there. We have arranged this event, at which many of the main foster care providers in West Yorkshire will be represented, so people can have as much choice as possible and can easily see which type of providers suits their needs best. “Fostering is extremely rewarding but can be very challenging so it is vital that people are able to find out as much as possible about the process and what it is really like to be a foster carer before they take the plunge. This event will be a great opportunity to discover all of the options open to them and make sure they are fully informed and ready for the challenge.” The foster care providers who will be represented at the event are: Action For Children Barnardo’s Bradford Council Cambian Group Children’s Family Trust Classic Foster Care Families Fostering Foster Care Associates Fostering Solutions Leeds City Council Orange Grove Foster Care Parallel Parents Swiss Foster Care TACT Team Fostering Tree House Care Visit Foster 4 Leeds or call the dedicated foster care recruitment line on: 0113 2477443 for more information. Source: http://tactcare.org.uk/news/tact-yorkshire-joins-forces-with-other-agencies-to-recruit-more-foster-carers/ A review into allegations that Norfolk foster carers were unfairly treated is being extended, to allow more people to come forward. The independent review is looking into foster carers’ concerns that children were wrongly removed from them by Norfolk’s social services department. Norfolk County Council was only looking at cases since 2012, but foster carers who looked after children before then have come forward, saying they would like to contribute. Now the investigation will review all incidents since 2010. Ian Parker, a former chief executive of Middlesbrough council, who is leading the investigation, said: “We want to ensure that this review gives as many people as possible the opportunity to come forward and share their views, so that we can have a full picture of what the fostering service looked like and make any appropriate recommendations. “There was always the flexibility to explore more cases and the review team has decided that it is in the best interests of both foster carers and the council to extend the scope so that the service can begin to move forward with confidence.” Norfolk County Council started the multi-agency review in March to look at historical complaints relating to alleged unfair treatment of foster carers. The update comes just days after Peter Barron, a team manager in Norfolk County Council’s children service’s department, was dismissed for gross misconduct. His dismissal was understood to have related to a recommendation Mr Barron made to remove a four-year-old boy from a foster carer in 2010 in which he made statements which appeared not to be backed up by evidence. So far 23 foster carers have come forward and the deadline for cases to be brought to the review’s attention is May 29. As a result of issues raised by foster carers, the council is also carrying out a separate internal review to standardise practice between in-house carers and those working for foster agencies. Members of the council’s children’s services committee will also hear an update on an internal review into fostering when they meet on May 12. Source: http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/review_into_allegations_that_norfolk_foster_carers_were_unfairly_treated_to_be_widened_1_4067731 As National Children’s Day UK approaches (May 17), we’d like to take this opportunity to remind your readers of the thousands of cared-for children in the United Kingdom who are in need of foster care. The special day, established by the United Nations in 1954, is all about the importance of children and how they have special rights and freedoms to help them grow into happy healthy adults. For cared-for children, those rights are doubly important. Unfortunately, however, they are too often denied the right to one of the fundamental starting blocks in life — a safe place to call home. That’s because there is a desperate shortage of foster carers in the UK: another 8,600 foster families are needed. Swindon is no exception: we need dozens more families to help provide a safe place for children who find themselves in care through no fault of their own. Community Foster Care is one of the agencies to which children with complex difficulties are referred in the county. Day after day, our band of fantastic foster carers open their home and their hearts to youngsters who are vulnerable, frightened and in need of understanding and stability. If any of your readers have been considering fostering, please remind them that there is plenty of help available to get them started. HUGH PELHAM Chief executive Community Foster Care, Staunton, Gloucestershire, GL19 3NY Source: www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/yoursay/12942883.Foster_carers_needed Break is seeking new Trustees to join the Break Board. As supporters of Break, could you spare the time to steer and guide the charity - you would be doing something amazing to #changeyounglives. Find out all about the role Find out all about the role - Break Company Profile, Trustee Job Description, Person Specification - See more at: http://break-charity.org/news/news-stories/do-something-amazing-join-our-board-of-trustees/#sthash.eOYBjNMq.dpuf Source: http://break-charity.org/news/news-stories/do-something-amazing-join-our-board-of-trustees/ Kasper Fostering is an active member of local and national foster care Forums which aim to share, develop and maintain best practice and up-to-date knowledge between fostering service providers. The Agency has been a member of the Kent and Medway Forum for independent fostering providers since 2002. It was originally set up in 2000, and some 30 Kent and Medway fostering agencies are now represented within the group. At the Forum's latest event in April, Kasper Fostering Registered Manager Lin Redman was unanimously voted in as the group's new Vice Chair. Forum Chair Ian Dixon, CEO and Registered Manager at Xcel 2000 Fostercare Services, said of the news, "I am delighted that Lin has been unanimously elected as Vice Chair of the Kent and Medway IFP Forum. The Forum is the most positive and proactive across the UK and Lin has been instrumental in supporting the development of it. I have absolute confidence in Lin’s ability to manage the demands of being a Vice Chair, in both local and National meetings, whilst representing the IFPs as a whole and promoting the incredible work we do." The Kent and Medway IFP Forum exists under the auspices of Fostering Network and is one of eight Forums across the UK. The chairs of each Forum attend the National Steering Group once a quarter bringing together national issues and feedback relating to each regional area. As Vice Chair, Lin will continue to focus on working together in partnership with Local Authorities and other agencies within the Children's Services sector to raise standards "I was invited to stand for the role by the Chair and am delighted to have been voted in by Forum members." "I also chair the best practice group which was set up as a sub group of the Forum to work on specific projects on behalf of the sector. The best practice group has been asked to look at a variety of aspects - including the missing from care protocols and procedures, to giving consideration to the best ways of preventing and managing the most vulnerable children who are at risk of CSE." The Forum in Kent is the most active, positive and productive across the UK and has been asked on numerous occasions to ‘share its secret’. As Ian Dixon surmises, "It’s easy; like-minded people who are committed to best practice and not afraid to discuss difficult topics as competitors. This has come about through the consistency of the group, the Best Practice Group and the supportive relationships that have developed over time." Source: http://www.kasperfostering.org/news/kasper-manager-voted-in-as-kent-medway-vice-chair!/ |
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