FtSE Member News: Kasper Manager voted in as Kent & Medway Vice-Chair!

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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