Paul Adams, fostering development consultant at BAAF, says social worker consistency and approaches matters more than the number of visits. There is much in the government plans for long-term fostering that are to be welcomed. The fact that regulations and guidance will be amended to define long-term foster care as a genuine permanence option, that the role of foster carers within the review process will be strengthened, and that the issue of delegated authority will be considered at each review meeting are all positive developments. These steps will empower foster carers and have the potential to significantly improve outcomes for children and young people in foster care. However, it is disappointing that in other areas the government has decided not to move forward, and dropped proposals from the original consultation that could have supported these developments. For example, it would have been helpful to require local authorities to publish a permanence policy, as this is already recognised as best practice and would have brought struggling authorities into line with sector leaders. Similarly, the decision to not specify a particular process for decision making about permanence in fostering is disappointing. The fostering panel is an obvious vehicle for this work and is used as such in many local authorities. Using fostering panels for this would serve to emphasise the importance of these decisions and quality assure the social work practice. The Who Cares? Trust have expressed concerns about plans to allow for more flexible social work visiting. In recognising that the impact of ongoing social work input can be unsettling and disruptive in certain long-term fostering contexts, a real and genuine problem is identified, but the proposed solution – to reduce the frequency of visits – misses the point. What matters is not how often a social work visits (within reason), but the approach they come with when they do visit. Do social workers turn up as the ‘expert who knows best’, with arrogant demands and unhelpful and ill-informed interference, or do they recognise that their role is to work with the child or young person, and to support those who are permanently fostering (‘parenting’) the child? Do they empower the foster carers and promote a sense of stability and security, or do they undermine their authority, and create uncertainty? Do they work with children and young people to strengthen their sense of being a full member of that family, or do they encourage ideas of ‘moving on’ and ‘independence’ outside the family? Recent research emphasises that abuse in foster care happens even in ‘apparently settled placements’ and that ‘risks of non-disclosure can be heightened when children lack opportunities to confide in social workers’. We can only hope that serious case reviews of the future do not identify these changes in social work visiting requirements as having contributed to abuse going unchallenged. The nature of social work involvement in foster families is an important matter, and a social worker who visits only very occasionally is more likely to be viewed as an intruder on family life, as compared with someone who provides regular, helpful, and sensitive input. The answer to this problem is not to reduce the frequency of social work visits, but to address issues of consistency and performance. What matters most for children and young people, and their foster carers, is the quality of the relationship they have with the social worker and the role they play, not how often they see them. Paul Adams is fostering development consultant at the British Association for Fostering and Adoption (BAAF) Source: http://www.communitycare.co.uk/2014/10/30/reducing-social-worker-visits-long-term-foster-placements-misses-point/ Children’s minister in England, Edward Timpson MP, has thrown his support behind a new campaign led by The Fostering Network in partnership with Achievement for All, aimed at improving educational outcomes for London’s fostered children. London Fostering Achievement, an innovative new programme that is bringing together leaders, foster carers, teachers, young people and the wider professional network to improve educational outcomes for children living with foster families, and it is part of the Mayor’s London Schools Excellence Fund, funded by the Department for Education and the Greater London Authority. The programme will promote the important role of foster carers as ‘first educators’ of children in care and more than 2,000 foster carers and teaching staff across London will take part in the innovative and high quality training programme. The programme will work intensively with 27 schools to close the achievement gap between fostered children and their peers, improve behaviour and attendance, and strengthen school relationships with foster carers. We will also be providing masterclasses for foster carers, virtual school heads and other professionals across London covering a range of educational topics. Children in care traditionally do less well academically than their peers, with only 21 per cent in London achieving five GCSEs including English and Maths compared to a national average of 61 per cent of children in mainstream education. Edward Timpson, Minister for Children and Families, and whose own family fostered around 90 children, said: “Supporting foster children through school – whether it’s helping them with their maths homework, listening to them read or watching them play their first match for the school football team – is one of the most important things a foster parent can do. “The London Fostering Achievement is an exciting project which will help bring together professionals, teachers and young people to ensure that children in foster care get access to the best educational support from their first day at school right through to applying to university.” Source: http://www.londonfosteringachievement.org.uk/news/childrens-minister-backs-innovative-education-campaign/ London Fostering Achievement, an innovative new programme delivered by The Fostering Network in partnership with Achievement for All aimed at improving educational outcomes for children in foster care, was launched yesterday at City Hall, London. The programme is bringing together leaders, foster carers, teachers, young people and the wider professional network to improve educational outcomes for children living with foster families, and it is part of the Mayor’s London Schools Excellence Fund, funded by the Department for Education and the Greater London Authority. The programme will promote the important role of foster carers as 'first educators' of children in care and more than 2,000 foster carers and teaching staff across London will take part in the innovative and high quality training programme. Over the next year, the programme will deliver workshops across the capital for foster carers, school staff, social workers and other professionals. The workshops will support people in working together more closely to improve educational aspiration and achievement for children living with foster families. There will be 10 education champions who will share information and learning from the wider programme and work alongside local support groups to help foster carers feel more confident in supporting the educational needs of children and young people in their care. This will be available in five boroughs across London. The programme will work intensively with 27 schools to close the achievement gap between fostered children and their peers, improve behaviour and attendance, and strengthen school relationships with foster carers. We will also be providing masterclasses for foster carers, virtual school heads and other professionals across London covering a range of educational topics. Children in care traditionally do less well academically than their peers, with only 21 per cent in London achieving five GCSEs including English and Maths compared to a national average of 61 per cent of children in mainstream education. Lisa Belletty, programme manager for London Fostering Achievement, said: “While the work is already underway, the launch has been a superb opportunity for boroughs to come together with foster carers, young people and ourselves to see how the programme will move forward. We’re very excited about this work, and very optimistic that we can support foster carers and schools in helping children who are in foster care to achieve in education and give them the grounding to create positive futures for themselves.” The Mayor of London Boris Johnson said: “We set up the London Schools Excellence Fund to raise standards in teaching and attainment amongst pupils across the capital, regardless of background. London Fostering Achievement is going to make a big difference to the lives of children in care, by ensuring they do not fall through the cracks and are nurtured and supported to succeed at school and compete at the very highest levels when they are older.” Speakers at the event included president of The Fostering Network, Jim Bond, chief executive of Achievement for All, Sonia Blanford and Caroline Boswell from the Greater London Authority. The event also heard from young ambassadors Zion Zakari and Zoe Witherington, Colleen Gleeson, a foster carer and education champion from Islington and tri-borough virtual head Matthew Blood. You can find out more details about the programme on the London Fostering Achievement website. Source: http://www.fostering.net/news/2014/educational-programme-london-s-fostered-children-launched#.VElqvvnF81Z It's claimed the care system is turning its back on Newcastle's most vulnerable young people. One in three young people are leaving foster care 'too young' at 16 or 17-years-old. This is despite a survey showing that half the people of Newcastle believe 21, or older, is the right age to move out of the family home. The report 'Too Much, Too Young' comes from the charity Action for Children, which says vulnerable young people do not get the help they need early enough. "Young people who have had traumatic early lives, who struggle with learning disabilities or mental health issues are the ones who need the most care, but the state is turning its back on them. It’s ludicrous that teenagers who are still dealing with the legacy of abuse and neglect have to cope with adult responsibilities, like building a stable home, at an age when most of their peers are supported by parents. If we don’t rethink care so it acts less like a system and more like a parent then these problems won’t go away." – SIR TONY HAWKHEAD, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF ACTION FOR CHILDREN Action for Children is calling on all political parties to rethink the role of the state as a parent for children in care. Source: http://www.itv.com/news/tyne-tees/update/2014-10-15/are-newcastle-teens-leaving-foster-care-too-early/ One in three vulnerable young people is leaving care aged just 16 or 17, in sharp contrast to new polling which shows the UK public believes 21 or older is the right age to move out of the family home. Leading charity Action for Children warns that young people in the most difficult situations are not getting the right help early enough, leading to even greater problems. Sir Tony Hawkhead, chief executive of Action for Children, said: “Young people who have had traumatic early lives, who struggle with learning disabilities or mental health issues are the ones who need the most care, but the state is turning its back on them. “It’s ludicrous that teenagers who are still dealing with the legacy of abuse and neglect have to cope with adult responsibilities, like building a stable home, at an age when most of their peers are supported by parents. “If we don’t rethink care so it acts less like a system and more like a parent then these problems won’t go away.” For its new report Too Much, Too Young, the charity interviewed 31 of the most marginalised young people in England and Wales about their experiences of finding a home after care. While young people in foster care can now stay until they’re 21, many of those most likely to become homeless do not have the kind of stable placements that make this possible and leave much younger. In residential care the leaving age is still only 18. Researchers also found that without help with emotional stability, young people struggle with the demands of living independently, like staying up to date with bills and appointments. Leaving care to live with a family member was found to be a common experience, but can be difficult and lead to further instability. Action for Children is calling on all political parties to rethink the role of the state as a parent for children in care so that it:
Source: http://www.actionforchildren.org.uk/news/archive/2014/october/care-system-turning-its-back Progress Update – October 2014 We have set up a Foster Care Review implementation reference group, chaired by Sandra Paterson who also chaired the Foster Care Review, to oversee progress and to advise those involved in taking forward work on each of the recommendations. The reference group first met on 22 August. R1 Placement descriptors We have established a short life working group on placement descriptors for care planning, chaired by Marjory Booth of the Care Inspectorate, to take forward work on foster care placement descriptors and practice guidance. This group have now met on 18 August and 23 September and have agreed foster placement descriptors, to be published on this page in due course. R2 Database alternatives We have established a short life working group on alternative strategies to database benefits. Chaired by Willie Evans of JMP Fostering and member of the Fostering Network’s Independent and Voluntary Providers Forum, it will look at alternative options to a foster carer database. Its first meeting will be on 3 October. R3 Placement limits Scottish Government policy officials are working with their legal department to amend the Looked after Children (Scotland) Regulations 2009 to introduce a maximum foster care placement limit of 3 unrelated children with the exemptions described within the recommendation. R4 Learning and development framework We have commissioned the Scottish Social Services Council to develop a learning and development framework for foster carers. They are using consultants to scope qualifications held by foster carers and are setting up supporting Strategic, Technical and Children and Young People’s groups to support this work. R5 Foster care allowances We have undertaken some research on foster care allowances which looks at current methods used across the UK to determine the level of allowances. However, more robust evidence is needed to inform future direction in Scotland and we are considering further research on minimum standards of income for families in Scotland. R6 Foster care fees The recommendation related to fees for foster caring is being taken forward by local authorities and we will publish an update in due course. Background A National Review of Foster Care was completed in 2013, with a final report and six recommendations for improvement in:
Source: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/People/Young-People/protecting/lac/foster-care-review Fostering News: Three quarters of foster carers expected to make use of “staying put” arrangements9/10/2014
Most foster carers looking after young people aged over 16 expect them to stay for more than a year, with four out of ten expecting them to stay for more than three years according to The Fostering Network. Nearly three quarters of foster carers looking after young people aged over 16 expect them to stay for more than a year, with four out of ten expecting them to stay for more than three years according to The Fostering Network (TFN). The figures represent emerging findings from TFN research set to be published later this year. It is the first evaluation of the likely impact of the new “staying put” arrangements introduced in May. The findings were released to Community Care in response to the publication of government figures on looked-after children which showed that between April 2013 and March 2014 only 4% of care leavers remained with their former foster carers. Jackie Sanders, director of public affairs at TFN, said the figures showed why the change in law was essential. “It’s vital that local authorities now implement their statutory duty in England and we look forward to seeing an upturn in the number of young people staying put in years to come,” she said. The “staying put” arrangements, brought in by the government, allow young people to be supported in foster care up until their 21st birthday. Going forward Paul Adams, foster care consultant for the British Association of Adoption and Fostering (BAAF), said he felt “cautiously optimistic the number of children staying in care for longer would be much higher in one or two years”. “What we’re hearing is foster carers and professionals are very positive about it,” said Adams. “It’s an issue which has frustrated people for a number of years”. Research from TFN set to be published later this year has shown nearly three quarters of foster carers looking after young people aged 16 or over expect them to stay for more than a year, with four out of ten expecting them to stay for more than three years. Carried out after the change in the law, a spokesperson for TFN said the research was “positive news” as foster carers expect young people to stay with them as they approach 18 and beyond, taking advantage of the new staying put arrangements. Optimism about young people in care staying on past 18 is matched by hopes for the impact this will have on other figures released in the report, which showed that 38% of care leavers aged 19-21 were not in education, employment or training. Adams said he hoped more that more looked-after children staying with foster families after 18 would help improve these outcomes, but added: “I think it’s very difficult to try to predict how different cohorts within that group will benefit or whatever, in truth we just don’t know… there is evidence to show that a stable placement makes it more likely someone will be in education, employment or training.” Source: www.communitycare.co.uk/2014/10/03/75-foster-carers-expected-make-use-staying-put-arrangements Over the next few months as we move inexorably towards a general election the ECLCM campaign and it’s supporters have an opportunity to speak to politicians who, by and large have been deafeningly silent on the subject of children in care and specifically those leaving care. Children in Care becomes political news only when something goes badly wrong – the discovery of (yet another) disgraceful story of sexual abuse of children by carers; social workers apparently failing to take children into care with catastrophic consequences; social workers taking children into care unnecessarily – all well trodden media paths that are, in fact almost nothing to do with the children they are just news stories with more than a little impetus being given by the perennial tendency to attack the social work profession. Of course some of these stories are true and poor practice must always be exposed and answered for. But what about poor political practice when it comes to children in care? Such has been the failure of central and local government since at least the 1970’s to address the failings of the care system that surely an exposé will appear soon? Well it hasn’t so far and don’t hold your breath. There has been virtually no improvement in outcomes for UK children in care in those forty something years.
Why should now be any different? Well, in part that depends on you. If you choose to take the opportunity to engage with prospective MP’s and Local Councillors as they canvass your support then you really may be able to make a difference for children in and leaving care. If you can go to a meeting great or perhaps if someone comes knocking at your door you could ask them some questions which might include the following suggestions: Do you know how many children in care there are in your constituency/ward? Do you know how many children there are in care in the UK as a whole? What will you do for these children? How will you seek to improve outcomes for children leaving care so that they improve for the first time in 40 years? Do you believe in equality? Can you explain why children leaving residential care are not afforded an equal opportunity to stay put (remain in their placements) when children in foster care are? Have you signed the ECLCM campaign to gain equal rights for children leaving residential care? If not please do so. We appreciate that the key issues in the forthcoming election will be things like: The economy – how much better it would be if we didn’t have to pay for so many care leavers to be in prison rather than contributing to the economy? The NHS – how much money and what resources could be saved if so many care leavers weren’t in adult mental health wards? Education – How much better would it be if children in care had the same opportunities to go into further education? This list if not endless could go on for quite some time. Only politicians can make a difference and you will vote them in or not so it’s you who can make the difference. Please ensure that they are aware of ECLCM and indeed other vehicles for improving the lives of children in care. We have relatively few politicians following and fewer still supporting our campaign but if they read this blog then they will have plenty of time to get their answers ready for you! Alternatively you can write to your MP either by t is easy to find your local MP/local councillors contact details. You can use: writetothem.com which is easy to use and lists local MPs/councillors. All you have to do is enter your poscode. Or if you would prefer to post a letter, you can use our template letter which can be downloaded here. Source: everychildleavingcarematters.blogspot.co.uk ADOPTION charity Parents And Children Together (PACT) has launched a new service to help gay and lesbian people adopt a child. PACT’s new Inclusive Adoption service specialises and focuses on the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community in Brighton. The project has been funded by the Department for Education (DfE) to help find more loving and secure families for some of the 4,550 children in care. The project was launched yesterday (25th September) at PACT’s new office at Community Base in Queens Road, Brighton, and was attended by PACT adopters and representatives of local and LGBT groups including New Family Social – a support network for LGBT adopters. Speaking at the event, PACT Chief Executive Jan Fishwick said: “This is a very proud day for PACT. This is the official opening of our Brighton office – our fifth - and also the launch of our Inclusive Adoption Service. “PACT is proud of its excellent reputation amongst the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, and its thanks to a grant from the DfE that we have been able to extend our services to the Sussex area in order to attract much needed loving families for the 4,550 children in care in the UK today. “PACT is delivering this new service in partnership with New Family Social, a UK network for LGBT adoptive and foster families. “There are many people in the LGBT community who would like a family, and PACT wants to engage with those people to bust the myths associated with adoption, and demystify the adoption process. We have staff and volunteers who understand the common barriers that might prevent prospective adopters from the LGBT community from enquiring. “This is a very special occasion for PACT and we look forward to creating many more forever families for children currently in care.” The ribbon to officially open the service was cut by PACT dads Jacek Kacprzak and Andrzej Kubinski who adopted their two sons through PACT 18 months ago. The new Brighton office will be the fifth location for PACT’s adoption service. Current offices are located in Reading, Oxford, Pimlico (London) and Old Street (London). Anyone interested in finding out more about adoption is invited to attend an information evening at the Brighton office on Wednesday 1st October or Monday 24th November. To find out more or register to attend visit www.pactcharity.org/info. Source: http://www.pactcharity.org/news-events/latest-news/pact-launches-new-lgbt-adoption-service-sussex FtSe Member News: Community Foster Care is recruiting for a new fostering panel in Lancashire1/10/2014
Due to the growth and development of the charity, Community Foster Care is now looking to recruit independent panel members for its new fostering panel, to be based in CFC's Lancaster office. The panel will meet on a monthly basis and will be responsible for making recommendations in respect of applications to foster, dealing with foster carer reviews and quality assuring the work of the agency. Panel members should have a background in childcare, health, social work, education, health or foster care. Members do not need to have a professional social work qualification but must have relevant experience or have themselves been looked after. Panel members will receive training and professional development to support them in their role. For further information please contact Emma Weaver, Registered Manager, on 0800 0124278. Source: http://www.communityfostercare.co.uk/news/233/community-foster-care-is-recruiting-for-a-new-fostering-panel-in-lancashire |
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