After foster carers, fostering services, politicians, celebrities and members of the public across the UK guessed who fostered during Foster Care Fortnight 2014, the Fostering Network is delighted to announce that next year’s campaign will take place on 1-14 June 2015. Foster Care Fortnight, the Fostering Network’s annual campaign aimed at raising the profile of fostering, provides an opportunity for fostering services up and down the country to get out into their communities and speak to potential new foster carers. In 2014 the campaign was extra special because the Fostering Network was also celebrating 40 years as the leading charity for all those involved in foster care throughout the UK. Jackie Sanders, head of media and campaigns at the Fostering Network, said, “This year’s campaign engaged people across the UK and shared information, knowledge and experiences of fostering. The fostering community really demonstrated the positive effect that foster carers can have on children in care. “We were thrilled with how local fostering services used the 2014 guess who fosters theme to engage with their communities, both on and offline to target the foster carers they need. What is essential now is that the hard work continues to turn the right enquiries into applications, and applications into foster carers. “We can’t wait for Foster Care Fortnight 2015 campaign, and we do hope you’ll join us in making it bigger and better than ever.” A series of resources will be available for fostering services in the Fostering Network’s membership in the run up to the campaign. To keep up to date with plans for Foster Care Fortnight 2015, and with recruitment and retention news throughout the year, fostering services can subscribe to the Fostering Network’s free Attracting and Keeping Carers blog. This monthly blog contains information and updates on local and regional activities and events to support the development of recruitment and retention strategies. To subscribe to Attracting and Keeping Carers, contact James Foyle, recruitment and retention consultant at the Fostering Network. Source: http://www.fostering.net/news/2014/foster-care-fortnight-2015-dates-announced#.U70OVfldU1Z After the great success of our short story competition last year The Foster Care Co-operative are proud to be launching this year's competition - which is open to both the foster children and the birth children of our fabulous carers. Entries can be submitted from today - with a closing date of Friday 19th September 2014 We are also pleased to announce that last year's entries have been compiled into a rather fantastic book! Source: http://www.fostercarecooperative.co.uk/fostering-with-us/news-and-events/fcc-short-story-competition-2014/ Community Foster Care has appointed a new Chief Executive. Hugh Pelham joins the independent agency, which provides foster carers for cared-for children, after three years with the Children’s Family Trust where he was both Regional Manager for the Children’s Family Trust and a Trustee. Since January this year he was also Policy and Research Adviser for The Adolescent and Children’s Trust (TACT), the largest fostering and adoption charity in the UK. Living with his partner, Angie since 1997, Hugh, 66, grew up in Essex and trained as a mental health nurse and a social worker. He has been working with children since the 1980s. He spent almost 20 years with local authorities before moving to the Third Sector in 2001. From 2001 to 2005 he was Chief Executive of East London Foster Carers before its merger with TACT. He then became Executive Director of Children’s Services for TACT for six years until 2011. “I’m very excited to be with Community Foster Care,” said Hugh. “The organisation has a strong history and an excellent reputation in good child care. The fact that it is a charity is important – I fervently believe that children’s services should be delivered in a public way. “Having met some of our team, I am struck by the quality of the staff and of our foster carers. They are very experienced and extremely well trained. I shall be making sure that quality and those high standards continue as we support local authorities in their work. “We must also do all we can to spread the word that there is a national shortage of foster carers in the UK as a whole, and Gloucestershire/Wiltshire is no exception.“ Hugh’s predecessor, Rebekah Pearson, who was a finalist in the Gloucestershire Women in Business Awards in 2014, has left the Community Foster Care after seven years to move to Norway. The agency, based in Staunton, is a registered charity and not-for-profit company operating in Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Lancashire and Cumbria. Established in 1999, it has nine staff based in Staunton, Gloucestershire, and seven in Lancashire and Cumbria. It was the first foster care charity to receive the Social Enterprise Mark in 2009. Source: http://www.communityfostercare.co.uk/news/197/meet-hugh-pelham-the-new-chief-executive-at-community-foster-care 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 Chief Executive £90,000 – £100,000 London, with regular UK travel This is a unique opportunity to join an organisation that has experienced considerable growth and has been voted once again one of The Sunday Times 100 Best Places to Work. With an income of £23 million and 165 staff, last year we helped 655 children and young people find caring foster homes. We are of proud of our achievements to date and are committed to continually growing and improving an organisation helping looked after children meet their dreams and aspirations. Our new Chief Executive will help drive forward excellence through the provision of high quality customer focused services, meaningful partnerships and effective policy and campaigning work. The Chief Executive will continue to grow the organisation, ensuring new opportunities are identified and developed into sustainable and diversified interventions; making certain TACT remains competitive, relevant and beneficial to the families, children and young people we support. The successful candidate will be commercially astute with proven strategic planning, business development and operational management experience, along with a passion for our cause and vision. You will be an inspirational leader with outstanding influencing and ambassadorial skills, working for the improvement of both TACT and the wider fostering and adoption sector. You will enjoy the challenges of leading a busy organisation and can evidence a successful track record of managing operations, people and resources. A background in fostering, adoption or social care is advantageous but not essential. To learn more about this role please download the candidate appointment briefing document, via Prospectus’ website: http://prospect-us.co.uk/jobs/details/hq00148368 For an informal and confidential discussion about the opportunity, please call Ami Jenick or Hanna John on 020 7400 6373 or email on ami.jenick@prospect-us.co.uk or hanna.john@prospect-us.co.uk Closing date: 22 June 2014 Source: tactcare.org.uk/about-us/work-with-us/vacancies The Department for Education has responded to its consultation on local authorities outsourcing children’s services. Under new regulations, local authorities will be able to delegate social care functions to mutuals, community interest companies and other not-for-profit organisations to deliver children's social care. Responding to the announcement, Kate Mulley, director of public policy at Action for Children said: “The freedom to outsource children’s services will allow local authorities to innovate and improve support provided to families. “Action for Children welcomes the Department for Education’s response and the safeguards it puts in place to ensure chosen providers possess the relevant expertise and experience required to deliver the best outcomes for children. “The wellbeing of children must be at the heart of any changes made." Source: http://www.actionforchildren.org.uk/news/archive/2014/june/childrens-services-outsourcing Salary - £50,037 to £55,532 Full time permanent post - 37.5 hrs p.w. Team Fostering is an ethical not for profit fostering agency with a strong reputation and track record for providing high quality, value for money fostering placements for looked after children. We pride ourselves on our values and we expect our staff to commit to and demonstrate these values in their everyday work. We are looking for an ‘outstanding and committed’ individual with at least 5 years experience in fostering services, 3 of which as a senior manager, to lead the provision and development of our fostering service in the North East region. You must have an understanding of the commercial drivers in today’s market place, the role of Independent Fostering Providers and their working relationship with local authorities, and be capable of successfully delivering new opportunities to enhance our Agency. The post holder will act as the Registered Manager and be responsible for the day to day management of all aspects of the service provided by the regional office. Working as an integral member of the senior management team, you will have a sound knowledge of current legislation, including regulations, guidance and standards, and will work to promote our ethical not for profit status. As the ideal candidate you will have demonstrable experience of formulating and delivering business development strategies within an independent fostering agency, and have the political astuteness and communication skills to challenge ideas and positively manage change. You will have a flair for influencing and negotiating in high pressure situations whilst building strong and lasting relationships with the ability to constructively lead, drive and influence internal and external stakeholders. You will be a person with the ability to provide insightful debate and recommendations to the Board through professional experience. Above all, you will have excellent leadership, strategic vision, communication and interpersonal skills and be hardworking, positive, and motivated to improve outcomes for looked after children. The post is based in North Shields however you will be required to work flexibly across the North East region. For an informal chat about the post please contact Vicky Davidson Boyd, Director on 0191 2576806 or Rosy Holden, Director on 0114 2617762. Application form Job description Person Specification Equal Opportunities monitoring form How to complete our application form Staff benefits Please note Team Fostering does not accept CV’s. All posts require an Enhanced DBS Disclosure Closing date: 9.00 a.m. on 14th July 2014 Interviews will be held on 29th and 30th July 2014. Please note if you are shortlisted for interview we will contact you via the email you have provided. Please ensure you check your emails regularly. If you have not been contacted within 2 weeks of the closing date you should assume your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion. Thank you for your interest in Team Fostering and taking the time to apply for this position. Source: http://www.teamfostering.co.uk/feeds/vacancies/assistant-director-north-east-region.aspx Base: Primarily in the Sheffield Office (Unit A, Arena Links, Broughton Lane, Sheffield, S9 2DD) Hours: Variable Monthly (depending on Panel Business) Responsible to: Assistant Director Pay: To be discussed Team Fostering is an ethical, not for profit, fostering agency with a firm commitment to ‘Putting Children’s Futures First’. We pride ourselves on our values and we expect our staff to commit to and demonstrate these values in their everyday work. An exciting opportunity has arisen within Team Fostering to appoint an Independent Chair for the Yorkshire and East Midlands Regional Fostering Panel. As an Independent Chair you will be responsible for contributing to the provision of a first class fostering service for children through the effective chairing of Fostering Panel meetings. Drawing on any relevant knowledge, experience and skills you will be required to ensure that all items of business are covered and that the monthly panel operates efficiently in accordance with Regulations and the policies and procedures of the agency. A sound knowledge of Fostering and the regulatory framework and standards surrounding it as well as evidence of a commitment to achieving positive outcomes for children are all essential qualities we are seeking for this post. You will also be required to contribute to the continuous development of the agency through working effectively with the Agency Adviser, the Agency Decision Maker and other Senior Managers. A formal induction programme is provided for the successful candidate as a requirement of this post. For an informal discussion please contact Dean Howson, Assistant Director on 0114 261 7762 or by email on dean.howson@teamfostering.co.uk Team Fostering is firmly committed to the principle of equal opportunities in employment. To obtain copies of Team Fostering’s Equality and/or Safeguarding Statement please contact us on the number below. Team Fostering is recognised as being part of the Positive about Disabled People scheme. Application form Job Description Person Specification How to complete our application form Equal opportunities monitoring form You can also request an application form by emailing hr@teamfostering.co.uk (Please note requests made by email may take up to 48 hours to process). Team Fostering does not accept CV applications. All posts require Enhanced DBS Disclosure Closing Date: 5:00 pm on Monday 23 June 2014 Interviews: 4 July 2014 Please note if you are shortlisted for interview we will contact you via the email you have provided. Please ensure you check your emails regularly. Source: www.teamfostering.co.uk/feeds/vacancies/panel-chair---sheffield.aspx FtSE Member News: Assessment concludes that TACT continues to provide customer service excellence19/6/2014
TACT Fostering and Adoption is extremely pleased that we have once again been awarded the Customer Service Excellence Standard. We were the first fostering and adoption service to achieve the Standard in 2009, and since then we have remained focused on providing an excellent service to meet the needs of our foster carers, adopters, young people and all of our partners. The five criteria of the Customer Service Excellence Standard are:
“TACT continues to embrace the principles of the Standard and uses it as an improvement tool. The assessment shows that TACT continues to meet all 57 elements of the Standard with 5 elements meriting a rating of compliance plus. There is clear evidence that Certification to the Standard is fully justified and well deserved.” “The assessor found that managers and front line staff are focused on putting customers at the heart of services and that TACT’s policies, procedures and practices support the right of all customers to expect excellent levels of service.” We are very proud of this achievement. Providing an excellent service is at the heart of our work to find loving homes for children and young people in care. Source: http://tactcare.org.uk/news/assessment-concludes-that-tact-continues-to-provide-customer-service-excellence/ FtSE Member News: Action for Children to fund foster placements with £1.2m social impact bond16/6/2014
A five-year scheme has been commissioned by Manchester City Council and funded by the Bridges Social Impact Bond Fund Action for Children has launched a £1.2m social impact bond to fund foster placements for children in residential care in Manchester. The charity said the five-year scheme, which has been commissioned by Manchester City Council and funded by the Bridges Social Impact Bond Fund, was the first SIB to fund foster placements. The project will involve moving an initial group of eight children with challenging behaviour from residential homes to foster placements with the aim of improving their conduct and life chances. Foster carers will be trained to provide "multi-dimensional treatment foster care", which helps young people with challenging emotional and behavioural difficulties move into family settings. The scheme aims to work with at least 95 young people over its five-year term. The council estimated that the scheme could save it up to £4.7m over eight years, and said that if it was successful it could be replicated. Social impact bonds are funded by investors who are reimbursed and rewarded with dividends if the project is successful but lose money if it is not. Action for Children already operates a similar scheme, which is not funded by a social impact bond, in Hampshire. David Derbyshire, director of practice improvement at Action for Children, said the charity was "leading the way in using social impact bonds to open up a valuable source of funding for children’s services and we are committed to working with more local authorities and funders in this kind of arrangement". Source: www.thirdsector.co.uk/news/1298167/action-children-fund-foster-placements-12m-social-impact-bond/ |
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