Now in the process as being assessed as Foster Carers – same sex couple Stewart & James share their experience of why they want to foster a child and what attracted them to The Children’s Family Trust… “The reason’s we want to foster are, as a couple we feel we have so much to give a child or children that need some support as they go through or have been through some difficult times. I have a daughter and I’ve fostered before when in a previous relationship and I feel I made a difference to the children’s lives when they came to stay with me and my wife. Although my current partner, James does not have any children of his own he has always wanted to benefit a child’s life in some way. When we met, he instinctively thought of my daughter as being his own and he sees her as his responsibility and shows his love towards her. We chose the Children’s Family Trust simply because they popped up on my Facebook feed and at the time we were considering fostering, but as a couple we were worried as being gay males that this may not be possible. We know that everyone is considered as “equal” but we were still unsure. After speaking to Julia Robertson, Registered Manager of the North East Team, we were reassured that being a gay male couple would not be a barrier to us fostering. We don’t feel that being gay should stop us from fostering but we understand that we are not the stereotypical idea of a family; however we still have a lot of love, time, support and guidance to give a child who needs it. We realise that if we are approved as foster carers, we may come in for some discrimination from others who do not agree with this as there is no female figure within our home, however society seems to be more accepting of LGBTQ individuals and we hope that they will see us as the loving and caring couple that we are – a couple who are able to provide the love care and stability that a child needs to support their development.” At The Children’s Family Trust, we believe that giving a safe and loving home to a child is the most important thing a Foster Carer can do. If you think you, or someone you know, have the passion & qualities to become a Foster Carer, please contact us on 0300 111 1945 to find out more. Source: http://thecft.org.uk FtSE Member News: Action for Children - Young care leavers meet Nicola Sturgeon in Edinburgh7/3/2017
The views of more than 200 young people with experience of Scotland’s care system were presented to the Scottish First Minister, the Right Honourable Nicola Sturgeon MSP at a special event in Edinburgh. She talked with 50 young people in person and then received boxes of postcards with the views of other young people supported by us. The event is part of a series which will allow the First Minister to hear from 1,000 looked after young Scots. This will feed into the Scottish Government’s “root and branch” review of the country’s care system. "We support upwards of 800 young Scots who have been through the care system and their views are crucial to this review. They are the experts on the system and have seen first-hand the parts which worked while also experiencing the parts which have let them down." Paul Carberry, Director of Action for Children Scotland The First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “Children and young people are the best advocates for change and today I have heard some powerful stories that really demonstrate strength, courage and success in the face of circumstances that no young person should have to deal with. “We all have a role to play in supporting and listening more to our young people to ensure they get the same stability and life chances that the rest of us take for granted.” "Every child should have the best start in life and an equal chance to succeed. Yet, through no fault of their own, that’s not the case for far too many young people in care." First Minister Nicola Sturgeon Action for Children Scotland works with more than 800 young people who have been through the care system at services including residential and short-breaks, family support services and employability support. Paul Carberry, Director of Action for Children Scotland, added: “When the review of the care system was announced by the First Minister we welcomed it, particularly the pledge to listen to the views of care-experienced young people. "Our young people were thrilled to meet the First Minister and play their part in this very important review. She heard about their very real experiences which are important if we are to build of a care system which will better meet their needs and allow them to reach their potential." Paul Carberry, Director of Action for Children Scotland Source: https://www.actionforchildren.org.uk TACT CEO Andy Elvin gave oral evidence yesterday to House of Commons Education Committee, in connection with the Committee’s inquiry into fostering in England. TACT was invited to be a witness before the Committee following the charity’s submission of written evidence, which raised a number of issues in relation to fostering, including the systemic weaknesses in both local authority fostering teams and in present commissioning arrangements, and the need for foster carers to be recognised and respected as an authority on their child. Andy said: “TACT was pleased to draw the Education Select Committee’s attention to our innovative partnership with Peterborough City Council which is the first time a charity will take over a local authority’s fostering and adoption service. TACT also raised the lack of respect sometimes shown to foster carers by the professional network and the fact the foster carer should be respected as the expert on their child. And we were also pleased that the committee recognised the issue of excessive profit made by commercial agencies in the fostering market. “ TACT was joined on the witness panel by representatives for the National Fostering Agency, the Nationwide Association of Fostering Providers, Kent County Council and the Children’s Services Development Group. Jon Fayle – TACT’s Chair of Trustees, also gave evidence to the Committee, in his capacity of Vice-Chair for National Association of Independent Reviewing Officers. You can watch Andy and other witnesses give evidence to the Education Committee here. Source: https://www.tactcare.org.uk FtSE Member News - TACT among The Sunday Times 100 Best Not-For-Profit Organisations to Work For.27/2/2017
We are extremely proud that TACT has been recognised for the sixth year as one of The Sunday Times 100 Best Not-For-Profit Organisations to Work For. The award is based on the response of TACT employees to a confidential questionnaire on eight areas including how good the organisation’s leadership is, what they think of the organisation, opportunities for personal growth, relationships, pay and benefits and general well-being. Operating across England, Scotland and Wales, TACT’s core remit is to provide high-quality, child-centred fostering and adoption services. The charity also campaigns on behalf of children in care, carers and families. The outcome of the Sunday Times award revealed that TACT staff say work is never boring and is an important part of their lives. They also don’t feel tempted to take up a post elsewhere. Andy Elvin, TACT CEO said: ”TACT truly values its employees and I feel that The Sunday Times Award is testament to the high level of engagement we have with our staff, which results in the hard work, commitment and dedication that they show towards the organisation, the children we care for and to our wonderful adopters and foster carers. How we support and communicate with each other reflects the values that underpin our foster and adoptive homes” Andy added: ”The high quality training, support and attention to well-being that our staff receive is matched by the way in which TACT treats and values our foster carers. We understand how important it is to support, train and develop them to provide best possible care for our children and young people. We are very proud of our retention rates for staff and foster carers and this is reflected in the stability we achieve for our children” This year is a particularly exciting one for TACT as it will be taking over the running of Peterborough City Council’s fostering and adoption services, the first time a Charity has struck up such a partnership with a local authority. The Sunday Times Best Companies survey is the UK’s benchmark for rating and celebrating the very best employers to work for. For more information about the Sunday Times 100 Best Not-for-Profit Organisations to work for visit: www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/best100companies Source: https://www.tactcare.org.uk Community Foster Care has launched a project to support struggling parents. A dedicated social worker is on hand to help mums and dads who might have difficulty coping with with the demands of parenthood. After a referral to CFC from the county council’s social services team, a parent and child placement can be arranged with a trained foster carer from CFC where they are supported and assessed. CFC's Registered Manager, Lyn Taylor, said: “Some parents really need help when a baby comes along. They can find themselves isolated with no one to turn to. “By placing them with an experienced foster carer, both parents and children can thrive. Sometimes all they need is reassurance and someone to show them the ropes so they hopefully can continue alone and move on from previous experiences. “The alternative is a parent/child residential unit, which doesn’t suit everyone." She added that becoming a foster carer can be rewarding and life-changing. “Many people think they can’t foster, but the opposite is often true. There’s lots of help and training to get you started and constant support along the way.” Foster carers come from all walks of life and can be male, female or LGBT, single, married or divorced. They must be over 25 and in generally good health. Community Foster Care is a not-for-profit agency which provides foster carers for children all over Gloucestershire and Wiltshire. Source: http://www.communityfostercare.co.uk "I am highly motivated by the ambition that any child who needs help, gets help - so I’m really proud to be joining the team." This week, we have welcomed our Nick Jones as the new managing director of fundraising, communications and policy. Previously at Save the Children, Nick will develop and deliver strategy for 175 staff across the three directorates and become the fourth member of Action for Children’s executive leadership team. Nick will also lead on the charity’s business development activity, develop its supporter journeys and deliver a new stakeholder engagement strategy. Earlier this week, we caught up with Nick about his new role: "I applied to Action for Children as I passionately believe every child and young person should have the chance to fulfil their potential. It’s simply not right that children suffer neglect or abuse, or are held back because of disadvantage. I’m not embarrassed to say that when I first read Action for Children’s annual report I was truly humbled. It was clear to me that Action for Children is an incredible organisation doing remarkable things for children, young people and their families. I am highly motivated by the ambition that any child who needs help, gets help - so I’m really proud to be joining the team." Welcome to the team, Nick! Source: https://www.actionforchildren.org.uk Our Transitions and Leaving Care Adviser, Pete Johnson, attended an event at Manchester University called Supporting the Supporters on 15th February. The aim of the event was to provide information to foster carers, social workers, teachers and other practitioners about university places for young people in or leaving care. Just 8% of care leavers access higher education, compared to 50% of the general population (Rees Centre for Research in Fostering and Education, 2015). He reported that the day was ‘uplifting’, as it transpired that any looked-after child who is thinking about going to Manchester University and is unsure about what it might entail, practically or financially, can request a face-to-face chat with one of the student ambassadors. These student ambassadors are care leavers themselves, so they have practical experience of the whole application process and would be able to explain what support would be available. It was a group of these students that facilitated the workshops during the conference. They talked about their own experiences, challenges they’d faced and what has made a difference to them. There was also the opportunity to tour the campus and chat informally to both the Care Leavers and other people at the event. At The Foster Care Co-operative we have our own training programme, 'Raising Educational Aspirations', and the opportunity of this student input will be a valuable addition beyond that training. We are hoping that more universities offer this level of support and guidance to care leavers, to help make the transition to higher education more accessible and less daunting. More information about what Manchester University offer to care leavers can be found here: http://documents.manchester.ac.uk/DocuInfo.aspx?DocID=8259 Source: http://www.fostercarecooperative.co.uk Community Foster Care has received a grant to fund two workshops for children about what it’s like to be part of a family that fosters. The animation workshops will take place in Cumbria with two groups of fostered children and carers’ children. Sessions will explore issues such as how carers welcome a foster child into their home and how that affects both groups of children. By the end of the sessions, facilitated by therapist and animator Ginny Koppenhol, the children will have produced a short animated film which Community Foster Care will then be able to use as a training aid with prospective carers. The £460 donation was provided by the Santander Foundation, which offers Discovery Grants to UK registered charities for projects that help disadvantaged people in local communities. Community Foster Care, based in Peart Road, Workington, is an independent agency and registered charity which provides foster carers for children all over Cumbria and Lancashire. Registered Manager at Community Foster Care, Emma Weaver, said: “We’re delighted to receive this grant from the Santander Foundation. As the number of children in care continues to rise, there is no let-up in the need to find new foster carers and to make sure they have all the help and support they need. “This grant will help us to provide even more support to children who find themselves in care through no fault of their own, and to those who open their homes and hearts to help them.” Amy Slack, Manager at the Santander Foundation, said: “The Santander Foundation makes hundreds of donations every year to good causes throughout the UK. Our branch is committed to playing a key part in the community and we are delighted to be supporting Community Foster Care and hope the donation makes a real difference to local people.” Source: http://www.communityfostercare.co.uk The CEO’s letter I would like to start by wishing everyone a Happy New Year, even though we are now in February! At this time, each year David and his team are working hard preparing for our annual audit, often explained as ‘David’s very own Ofsted Inspection’! I have no doubt that this year, as with previous years our auditors will be focusing on the pressure on the fees we receive versus the severe restrictions placed on local authorities funding, this has certainly shown itself again in the contracts we have recently retendered for. The maximum fees local authorities are prepared to pay us continue to drop to point that was hard to imagine several years ago, fortunately, we continue to grow allowing our trustees to work toward improving the terms and conditions for our Foster Carers each year. Not always something we see happening in the bigger, more commercial for profit sector. As with any growing organization there is always comings and goings within staff teams as you will see later in this edition. For those who have left or are about to leave I would like to thank them for their contribution to The Trust and the children we care for and wish them well. I would also like to welcome the new additions to our staff team and sincerely hope they settle in and enjoy working for The Trust. Our new students are particularly welcome. It is always a joy to listen to their fresh and unfettered views and ideas and soak up their passion for wanting to make a difference. Looking forward, we are gearing up for a very busy year ahead. Having finally completed the refurbishment of our lovely new office in Hampshire our next office move will be in West Yorkshire. We currently occupy an office on the Nostell Priory Estate. A stunning location in Wakefield. However, after 3 years we have outgrown the space and require more room for both staff and our Carers. The move will take place in May and we are currently looking for premises in the Wakefield area. As I reported last year we have been going through a ‘rebranding’ exercise. The results are all in and we are about to launch our new logo and strap line along with various paraphernalia, all designed to give us an image that says we are a fostering charity, we work with children, we value our Foster Carers, we have a history and we are diverse. I’m delighted with the outcome and I hope you will all like it too. As we have now changed our logo our website will also require some updates too which we are currently working on. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Michelle and her team at Gough Bailey Wright for their help with the rebrand, much appreciated. It’s always exciting when we find a company to work with who are as passionate about ‘getting it right’ as we are! Our Aims and Objectives for this year remain the same as last year. The three ‘R’s, namely Recruitment, Retention and Raising our profile. We made a good start on this last year but there is still much work to be done. A big part of this is promoting ourselves through our website, our Facebook page and attending promotional events as well as advertising in specific ways using a planned approach. We have certainly seen an enormous increase in people visiting our website and contributing to our FB page. However, the recruitment of good quality Foster Carers who wish to foster as a vocation will always remain our greatest challenge. Operating in a market saturated with over 300 Fostering agencies alongside hundreds of local authorities means the choices for prospective Carers is ‘endless’. Our student Sarah Amey carried out a bit of ‘in house’ research for us and discovered that in Hampshire alone there are over 100 Independent Fostering Agencies. This represents one third of all agencies in the UK all in one county, including CFT! Fierce competition indeed. Our first trustee meeting of 2017 is coming up this month and I’m very happy to share with you all that our very own former CEO Tom Gormley will officially be sworn in as a trustee for the Trust! I’m sure you’ll join with me in officially welcoming him to the board and wishing him a very long and successful tenure, welcome Tom! I look forward to keeping you all ‘up to speed’ throughout 2017, but as always, my thanks and enormous gratitude for all you do for CFT, we couldn’t be CFT without each and every one of you. Warmest wishes, Marina Mulholland Source: http://thecft.org.uk One of our 16+ services in West London invited their local MP, Andy Slaughter, to visit the home so he could find out about the work St Christopher's do in his constituency. Staff spoke to Andy about some of the challenges young people face, especially relating to securing housing benefit and universal credit. He was really interested in finding out what support we offer to young homeless people and was impressed by our recent success stories. Andy was particularly keen to hear about our recent work with unaccompanied asylum seeking children arriving as part of the Dubs agreement. We pulled an empty building back into use with only limited notice and organised welcome packs for every young person to help them settle in. In fact he was so impressed by what he saw at Fielding Road that he mentioned his visit and praised St Chrustioher's good work at the debate on the Dubs amendment in Parliament. As well as being the Labour MP for Hammersmith, Andy also serves on his party's front bench as Shadow Justice Secretary. Well done to Service Manager Aisling Madden for arranging this visit! Source: http://www.stchris.org.uk |
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