foster carers https://www.thefosteringnetwork.org.uk/ en The voice of young people is a vital foundation to building strong #FosteringCommunities https://www.thefosteringnetwork.org.uk/blogs/jasminer/voice-young-people-vital-foundation-building-strong-fosteringcommunities <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--title--blog.html.twig x field--node--title.html.twig * field--node--blog.html.twig * field--title.html.twig * field--string.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <span>The voice of young people is a vital foundation to building strong #FosteringCommunities </span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--uid--blog.html.twig x field--node--uid.html.twig * field--node--blog.html.twig * field--uid.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <span> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'username' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> <span lang="" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">JasmineR</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> </span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--created--blog.html.twig x field--node--created.html.twig * field--node--blog.html.twig * field--created.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <span>Thu, 05/18/2023 - 11:14</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'links__node' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * links--node.html.twig x links.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/tfnetwork/templates/system/links.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/tfnetwork/templates/system/links.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-introduction--blog.html.twig * field--node--field-introduction.html.twig * field--node--blog.html.twig * field--field-introduction.html.twig * field--text-long.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-introduction field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field--item"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%">The Fostering Network’s Director of Practice and Scotland, Jacqueline Cassidy, reflects on what #FosteringCommunities mean&nbsp;to&nbsp;carers as we enter the second week of Foster Care Fortnight™.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></p> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--body--blog.html.twig * field--node--body.html.twig * field--node--blog.html.twig * field--body.html.twig * field--text-with-summary.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p>The work of foster carers should be championed all year-round, and as we begin week two of Foster Care Fortnight™, it’s an amazing opportunity to shine a spotlight on the dedication and resilience of our carers, especially during challenging times. &nbsp;</p> <p>These two weeks are about celebrating foster carers, the children and young people they look after, and the wider fostering community. The community we build around fostering families is incredibly important, and we need to strengthen it so that carers can continue to help young people thrive. &nbsp;</p> <p>This years’ theme #FosteringCommunities got me thinking about what community means for foster carers. When I asked a foster carer about this, they told me: &nbsp;</p> <p>‘I could not foster without my fostering community around me for vital help and support.’ &nbsp; &nbsp;</p> <p>Another said: “It is important to be part of a community, to be included, we are a team.&nbsp;</p> <h3>Listening to #FosteringCommunities&nbsp;</h3> <p>It’s no secret that it takes a village to raise a child, so what can we do to strengthen that village from the core? &nbsp;</p> <p>To provide exceptional care for young people, it’s important that foster carers know they have the right support from services involved in the life of their young person. &nbsp;And what’s become even clearer through The Promise is hearing the voices of young people is vital in strengthening those services. &nbsp;</p> <p>At The Fostering Network, demonstrating our commitment to listening to children and young people has been a key driving force behind our new Young Person’s Advisory Board. This has given a platform for care experienced young people to share their views about living in fostering families – something which we didn’t have before.&nbsp;</p> <p>In the eight months since its inception, the group has already become a powerful voice for change, and we’re so excited to see where it goes from here. They cemented their voice at a recent meeting in Scottish Parliament, held to celebrate achievements of the Moving On project, which supports positive transitions through and out of foster care, as well as the board itself. &nbsp;</p> <p>The group delivered an empowering speech, which is a great reminder during Foster Care Fortnight the difference a strong, supportive community can make and how others must experience this in the future: &nbsp;</p> <p>‘All children deserve a safe, loving family to support them to thrive and fulfil their potential. As a group of young people, we know the changes we want to see may not impact us and our stories, but we feel able to use our experiences to influence changes for those who experience foster care in the future.’&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;– Young Person’s Advisory Board member&nbsp;</p> <p>We’ve also been listening to the voices of foster carers. We now have a regular programme of monthly meetings to discuss the issues facing foster carers in Scotland, which you are welcome to join. &nbsp;</p> <p>During Foster Care Fortnight, we’re providing learning and support opportunities in response to our conversations. &nbsp;We’re also campaigning for the changes to policy and practice that we know will make a difference to you.&nbsp;</p> <h3>Strengthening #FosteringCommunities&nbsp;</h3> <p>I’m so grateful for the openness of foster carers and young people when it comes to sharing their stories and experiences with us. Listening to you has helped us to develop our themes for Foster Care Fortnight. There are two strong themes that come to mind with #FosteringCommunities. The first is giving young people more space in the community and allowing them to use their voice to help strengthen foster care across UK. The second is ensuring foster carers have strong support system around them, such as access to mental health services like Fosterline Scotland, so they know they are not alone in their fostering journey – something we want anyone who is considering fostering to be aware of. &nbsp;</p> <p>It’s been so fantastic to celebrate everyone involved in fostering so far, and I am looking forward to continuing working on building strong #FosteringCommunities so our foster carers and young people can thrive. &nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-blog-tags--blog.html.twig * field--node--field-blog-tags.html.twig * field--node--blog.html.twig * field--field-blog-tags.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-blog-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field--items"> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/504" hreflang="en">foster carers</a></div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="flag.link_builder:build" arguments="0=node&amp;1=12653&amp;2=favourite_content" token="56KAt19CKC8QnRw99cFAcA_Lq_htU55X_OiAciP7zyM"></drupal-render-placeholder> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-comment--blog.html.twig * field--node--field-comment.html.twig * field--node--blog.html.twig * field--field-comment.html.twig x field--comment.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/comment/templates/field--comment.html.twig' --> <section> <h2>Add new comment</h2> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="comment.lazy_builders:renderForm" arguments="0=node&amp;1=12653&amp;2=field_comment&amp;3=comment" token="ez1_mvHwifXmAdIMiiLDcWvzl6CdeJHfHSoif_5dC-8"></drupal-render-placeholder> </section> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/comment/templates/field--comment.html.twig' --> Thu, 18 May 2023 11:14:18 +0000 JasmineR 12653 at https://www.thefosteringnetwork.org.uk https://www.thefosteringnetwork.org.uk/blogs/jasminer/voice-young-people-vital-foundation-building-strong-fosteringcommunities#comments Your education questions answered - pt 3 https://www.thefosteringnetwork.org.uk/blogs/emily-hall/your-education-questions-answered-pt-3 <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--title--blog.html.twig x field--node--title.html.twig * field--node--blog.html.twig * field--title.html.twig * field--string.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <span>Your education questions answered - pt 3</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--uid--blog.html.twig x field--node--uid.html.twig * field--node--blog.html.twig * field--uid.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <span> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'username' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> <span lang="" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">Emily Hall</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> </span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--created--blog.html.twig x field--node--created.html.twig * field--node--blog.html.twig * field--created.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <span>Mon, 03/21/2016 - 13:40</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'links__node' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * links--node.html.twig x links.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/tfnetwork/templates/system/links.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/tfnetwork/templates/system/links.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-introduction--blog.html.twig * field--node--field-introduction.html.twig * field--node--blog.html.twig * field--field-introduction.html.twig * field--text-long.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-introduction field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field--item">Today we're discussing Personal Education Plans, pupil premium plus and special educational needs.</div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--body--blog.html.twig * field--node--body.html.twig * field--node--blog.html.twig * field--body.html.twig * field--text-with-summary.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p>Written for social workers, foster carers, residential care workers and independent reviewing officers,&nbsp;<a href="http://www.fosteringresources.co.uk/?cid=1&amp;sid=11&amp;pid=527">A Guide to the Education of Looked After Children</a>&nbsp;aims to demystify the complexities of the education system and explore how the legal requirements should influence practice. We put your education questions to three of our fostering and education experts, Bernadette Alexander and Doug Lawson, co-authors of the education guide and Lisa Belletty, programme manager of The Fostering Network’s Inspiring Voices programme.​</p><p><strong>I don’t agree with my child’s Personal Education Plan, how much say can I have in the PEP?</strong></p><p>Carers are vital to the educational progress of their foster children and they are expected to participate fully in all PEPs. They, therefore, have a very important voice in the PEP and their views should be listened to.</p><p>Virtual school heads are responsible for PEPs being used as effective tools. If a foster carer does not agree with their child’s PEP, they should raise this with the virtual school head, discuss the reasons for their disagreement and what might be done.&nbsp; Furthermore, the PEP is a statutory part of the Care Plan so that any concerns about the PEP may also be raised during Looked After Child Reviews.&nbsp; It is very important for the wellbeing and educational progress of the child that the team around the child are 'singing from the same hymn sheet’ and this may sometimes involve compromise.</p><p>See section 8, The Personal Education Plan, in A Guide to the Education of Looked After Children for more information.</p><p><strong>What is pupil premium plus (PPP) supposed to be spent on and who gets to decide?</strong></p><p>Pupil premium plus (PPP) is a sum of money allocated to local authorities to be spent in a way that benefits the educational needs of looked after children.</p><p>The spend of the pupil premium plus should be closely aligned to the child’s Personal Education Plan and used according to their needs. This means that although the local authority is allocated a total amount based on £1,900 for each looked after child, some children will be allocated more or less than others based on their individual needs.</p><p>Pupil premium plus must be managed by the virtual school head, and they will be required to keep an account of spending and report annually on the use of PPP. Most virtual school heads will have developed a policy on its use for their local authority. PPP may be used to pay for interventions such as additional teaching assistant support, booster and revision classes for children who attract pupil premium or for enrichment activities.&nbsp; It may not be used to pay for interventions which the school would provide for all students anyway or to pay for items of uniform, lunches, trips or clubs which are expected to come from the foster carer’s allowance.</p><p>See section 9, Pupil Premium Plus, in A Guide to the Education of Looked After Children for more information.</p><p><strong>Can I ask for the pupil premium plus (PPP) to pay for equipment or activities outside of school?</strong></p><p>Please ask your virtual school head for a copy of their policy for a direct answer to this question.</p><p>The use of the PPP should be discussed at each Personal Education Plan meeting and recommendations for its use recorded in the PEP document.&nbsp; However, the virtual school head who manages the PPP will need to agree to its use, ensuring it is being used in accordance with the local authority virtual school’s policy and the Department for Education guidance.&nbsp; If the equipment or activities promote attainment and accelerate progress, it may be that the virtual school head will authorise its use, however it should not be used for activities or equipment that should be paid for from the foster carer’s allowance.</p><p>See section 9, Pupil Premium Plus, in A Guide to the Education of Looked After Children for more information.</p><p><strong>I think the child I’m caring for might have special educational needs, how can I get them diagnosed?</strong></p><p>According to data from the Department for Education, around two thirds of looked after children have some sort of special educational need.</p><p>I would suggest speaking to the child’s social worker and the designated teacher at their school to highlight and explain your concerns, and share your feelings at the meeting held to renew the child’s PEP. They should work with the school’s special educational needs coordinator (SENCO) to determine the needs of your foster child and how the school can best work to support them.</p><p>If the child in your care requires an assessment for an Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan, formerly known as a Statement of Special Educational Need, a request will need to be made to the local authority in which the child lives. This request can be made by a member of school staff, a person with parental responsibility or the child themselves if aged 16-25 years old.</p><p>See section 13, Special Educational Needs and Disability, in A Guide to the Education of Looked After Children for more information.</p><p>Read <a href="https://www.thefosteringnetwork.org.uk/blogs/emily-hall/your-education-questions-answered-pt-1">part&nbsp;1</a> and <a href="https://www.thefosteringnetwork.org.uk/blogs/emily-hall/your-education-questions-answered-pt-2">part 2</a> of the education blog series.</p><p>​​<strong>You can find more information, advice and guidance about the issues surrounding the education of looked after children in our new education guide. This essential guide is £12.50 for members of The Fostering Network and £25 for non-members. Order your copies today by visiting&nbsp;<a href="http://www.fosteringresources.co.uk/education">fosteringresources.co.uk/education</a>&nbsp;or calling 0844 335 1892.​​</strong></p></div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-blog-tags--blog.html.twig * field--node--field-blog-tags.html.twig * field--node--blog.html.twig * field--field-blog-tags.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-blog-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field--items"> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/1685" hreflang="en">education</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/504" hreflang="en">foster carers</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/1687" hreflang="en">publications</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/1678" hreflang="en">advice</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/1688" hreflang="en">guidance</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/1689" hreflang="en">education guide</a></div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="flag.link_builder:build" arguments="0=node&amp;1=10110&amp;2=favourite_content" token="1BWwmpcODuXWqGORO-DCfYhcGpfjr8vpocXQjAaQRwk"></drupal-render-placeholder> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-comment--blog.html.twig * field--node--field-comment.html.twig * field--node--blog.html.twig * field--field-comment.html.twig x field--comment.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/comment/templates/field--comment.html.twig' --> <section> <h2>Add new comment</h2> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="comment.lazy_builders:renderForm" arguments="0=node&amp;1=10110&amp;2=field_comment&amp;3=comment" token="BuSIN_D2gVBFQKZRUCb3QzKF-i6kNND5iluNsStfJGE"></drupal-render-placeholder> </section> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/comment/templates/field--comment.html.twig' --> Mon, 21 Mar 2016 13:40:41 +0000 Emily Hall 10110 at https://www.thefosteringnetwork.org.uk https://www.thefosteringnetwork.org.uk/blogs/emily-hall/your-education-questions-answered-pt-3#comments Your education questions answered - pt 2 https://www.thefosteringnetwork.org.uk/blogs/emily-hall/your-education-questions-answered-pt-2 <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--title--blog.html.twig x field--node--title.html.twig * field--node--blog.html.twig * field--title.html.twig * field--string.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <span>Your education questions answered - pt 2</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--uid--blog.html.twig x field--node--uid.html.twig * field--node--blog.html.twig * field--uid.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <span> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'username' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> <span lang="" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">Emily Hall</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> </span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--created--blog.html.twig x field--node--created.html.twig * field--node--blog.html.twig * field--created.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <span>Tue, 03/08/2016 - 12:50</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'links__node' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * links--node.html.twig x links.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/tfnetwork/templates/system/links.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/tfnetwork/templates/system/links.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-introduction--blog.html.twig * field--node--field-introduction.html.twig * field--node--blog.html.twig * field--field-introduction.html.twig * field--text-long.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-introduction field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field--item">Today we're discussing applying to school, who makes the decision, admission priority, and transition to secondary school.</div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--body--blog.html.twig * field--node--body.html.twig * field--node--blog.html.twig * field--body.html.twig * field--text-with-summary.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p>Written for social workers, foster carers, residential care workers and independent reviewing officers, <a href="http://www.fosteringresources.co.uk/?cid=1&amp;sid=11&amp;pid=527">A Guide to the Education of Looked After Children</a> aims to demystify the complexities of the education system and explore how the legal requirements should influence practice. We put your education questions to three of our fostering and education experts, Bernadette Alexander and Doug Lawson, co-authors of the education guide and Lisa Belletty, programme manager of The Fostering Network’s Inspiring Voices programme.​</p><p><strong>The child we’re caring for will be starting school next year, but we’re not sure if they’ll still be in placement - should I still be applying for a place at a local school?</strong></p><p>You should discuss school applications with the child’s social worker, and they or you should consult the authority’s virtual school head. It is important to make sure that every looked after child receives the best possible education suited to their individual needs and ensure that they don’t end up without a school place for a period.</p><p>It will usually be best to make a school application on the assumption that they will still be in placement by the time they start school or change schools. If things change, an application can be made to a different school if necessary. Looked after children have priority admission, even when a school is full, so they should not miss out.</p><p>See section 7, Admission to school, in A Guide to the Education of Looked After Children for more information.</p><p><strong>Do birth parents have a say in where a child goes to school?</strong></p><p>The placement plan should make clear who has the authority to make decisions about which school a looked after child should attend. &nbsp;</p><p>If the child’s permanence plan is for them to return home then their parents should be involved in deciding which school they should attend, because ultimately they will be living together. Even if the plan is for a child to remain in a long term placement, their parents retain parental responsibility and should be consulted about choice of school. However, if there is a care order the local authority decides whether it is in the best interests of the child to consult his or her parents.</p><p>School choices should be made in consultation with the virtual school head. Parents and local authorities can delegate decision making to foster carers, but because of their long-term impact decisions about school admission are likely to be made jointly by social workers, foster carers and parents.</p><p>See section 7, Admission to school, in A Guide to the Education of Looked After Children for more information.</p><p><strong>Do fostered children have priority admission for the local school?</strong></p><p>Looked after children have priority for the majority of schools and must be given admission even if the school is full.&nbsp;</p><p>However, there are some exceptions. If the school is of a particular religious denomination, priority may be given to looked after children of that particular faith, followed by other children of that faith.&nbsp; Other looked after children would thus come third on the school’s admission criteria.&nbsp; If the school was full, it would be unlikely that they would be admitted.</p><p>Some grammar schools select by tests.&nbsp; Where this is the case, the looked after child would be required to take the test and reach the required standard in it to be given admittance.&nbsp; They would then have priority.</p><p>It is important to choose the right school for the young person in your care based on their needs, to enable them to thrive and fulfill their potential.</p><p>See section 7, Admission to School, in A Guide to the Education of Looked After Children for more information.</p><p><strong>One of the children I look after is going to move schools – how can we expect their current school to help, will they provide information to the new school?</strong></p><p>When a child is moving school, their current school is always expected to provide information to the new school, whether they are looked after or not.&nbsp; Usually, the child’s file will be transferred electronically from the current school to the new one.&nbsp; All past Personal Education Plan Reviews will be included in the file.</p><p>When a child is looked after, it is the responsibility of the designated teachers in both schools to liaise so that all information about the child, especially that which may not be on their file, is transferred.&nbsp; For example, if the child has been attending one school for a number of years, the school is likely to have developed specific strategies for dealing with aspects of the child’s social, emotional and behavioural development.&nbsp;&nbsp; It is vital that the designated teacher of the current school passes these on to the new school so that time is not wasted getting to know the child’s strengths and weaknesses before such strategies are put in place.&nbsp;</p><p>When a looked after child is making the transition from primary to secondary school, it is good practice for the designated teacher of the secondary school to attend the summer term year 6 Personal Education Plan meeting in order to meet the child and their foster carer and to discuss the needs of the child and the support they will need with transition.&nbsp; For the looked after children who are likely to find this enormous change very difficult, it is good practice for the secondary designated teacher to&nbsp; invite the child to visit the school, get to know its geography and meet some of the child’s new teachers in addition to the usual new intake day for all incoming pupils.&nbsp; Where secondary schools run summer camps for its new pupils, looked after children should be given priority.</p><p>See section 7, Admission to School, in A Guide to the Education of Looked After Children for more information.</p><p><a href="https://www.thefosteringnetwork.org.uk/blogs/emily-hall/your-education-questions-answered-pt-3">Read part 3&nbsp;of the education questions blog series</a>.</p><p><strong>You can find more information, advice and guidance about the issues surrounding the education of looked after children in our new education guide. This essential guide is £12.50 for members of The Fostering Network and £25 for non-members. Order your copies today by visiting&nbsp;<a href="http://www.fosteringresources.co.uk/education">fosteringresources.co.uk/education</a>&nbsp;or calling 0844 335 1892.​</strong></p></div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-blog-tags--blog.html.twig * field--node--field-blog-tags.html.twig * field--node--blog.html.twig * field--field-blog-tags.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-blog-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field--items"> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/1685" hreflang="en">education</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/504" hreflang="en">foster carers</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/1687" hreflang="en">publications</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/1678" hreflang="en">advice</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/1688" hreflang="en">guidance</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/1689" hreflang="en">education guide</a></div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="flag.link_builder:build" arguments="0=node&amp;1=10109&amp;2=favourite_content" token="2ugSgzlGnvcRoz2JReys5iKj7za5iwtdGdjmHNcE6b8"></drupal-render-placeholder> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-comment--blog.html.twig * field--node--field-comment.html.twig * field--node--blog.html.twig * field--field-comment.html.twig x field--comment.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/comment/templates/field--comment.html.twig' --> <section> <h2>Add new comment</h2> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="comment.lazy_builders:renderForm" arguments="0=node&amp;1=10109&amp;2=field_comment&amp;3=comment" token="fg2qtpCYNn5Og4bVJ8x-bEpoy-fqp0sgFD0FOZ4FkY4"></drupal-render-placeholder> </section> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/comment/templates/field--comment.html.twig' --> Tue, 08 Mar 2016 12:50:00 +0000 Emily Hall 10109 at https://www.thefosteringnetwork.org.uk https://www.thefosteringnetwork.org.uk/blogs/emily-hall/your-education-questions-answered-pt-2#comments Your education questions answered - pt 1 https://www.thefosteringnetwork.org.uk/blogs/emily-hall/your-education-questions-answered-pt-1 <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--title--blog.html.twig x field--node--title.html.twig * field--node--blog.html.twig * field--title.html.twig * field--string.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <span>Your education questions answered - pt 1</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--uid--blog.html.twig x field--node--uid.html.twig * field--node--blog.html.twig * field--uid.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <span> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'username' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> <span lang="" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">Emily Hall</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> </span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--created--blog.html.twig x field--node--created.html.twig * field--node--blog.html.twig * field--created.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <span>Fri, 02/12/2016 - 11:11</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'links__node' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * links--node.html.twig x links.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/tfnetwork/templates/system/links.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/tfnetwork/templates/system/links.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-introduction--blog.html.twig * field--node--field-introduction.html.twig * field--node--blog.html.twig * field--field-introduction.html.twig * field--text-long.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-introduction field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field--item"><p>The Fostering Network works with foster carers and fostering service staff to try to eradicate educational inequality amongst care experienced children compared to their peers. <a "http://www.fosteringresources.co.uk/?cid=1&amp;sid=11&amp;pid=527">A Guide to the Education of Looked After Children</a> aims to demystify the complexities of the education system, and give foster carers the confidence to engage with schools and wider services to support the young people in their care to achieve their full potential.</p></div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--body--blog.html.twig * field--node--body.html.twig * field--node--blog.html.twig * field--body.html.twig * field--text-with-summary.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p>In February 2016 we&nbsp;asked foster carers&nbsp;directly about their education-related queries and concerns and&nbsp;put&nbsp;these&nbsp;questions to three of our fostering and education experts, Bernadette Alexander and Doug Lawson, co-authors of the education guide and Lisa Belletty, programme manager of The Fostering Network’s Inspiring Voices programme.</p><p>Read their advice below&nbsp;about starting school, designated teachers, and virtual school heads.</p><p>​<strong>How do I let a school know that a child is fostered and what information should I give them?</strong></p><p>The child’s social worker, in consultation with the virtual school head, should make sure that the school knows that a pupil is a looked after child, but it is important that you make contact with the designated teacher (see next question for more information on the role of the designated teacher) to establish a relationship and to make sure that the school has the information they need. The school will need contact details for yourself and the child’s social worker, and the child’s Personal Education Plan. The child’s social worker will make arrangements for the PEP to be produced or reviewed, and both you and the designated teacher should contribute to this.</p><p>See section 2, The Team Around the Child, and section 3, The Role of the Designated Teacher, in A Guide to the Education of Looked After Children for more information.</p><p>​<strong>The child I care for is struggling in school and some of the teachers don’t seem to understand their needs, who can I speak to to get more help?</strong></p><p>Every school has a designated teacher for looked after children. Their role is to champion the needs of all looked after children within the school, and to monitor their individual achievement and make sure that strategies are in place to meet their needs. If you haven’t already established a relationship with the designated teacher you should do so. Share your concerns and discuss how best to tackle these. The designated teacher may be able to help other teachers to better understand the child’s needs, and perhaps also to allay some of your worries.</p><p>You should also discuss your concerns with the virtual school head and make sure that they are addressed at the next review of the Personal Education Plan (PEP) which you can ask to be brought forward if necessary. The child’s social worker and your supervising social worker will also be able to support you to make sure that the child’s needs are properly understood.</p><p>See section 3, The Role of the Designated Teacher, and section 8, The Personal Education Plan, in A Guide to the Education of Looked After Children for more information.</p><p><strong>I’ve never heard of a virtual school head.&nbsp;What do they do?</strong>​</p><p>Each local authority is required by law to employ a virtual school head.&nbsp;They are specifically tasked with tracking, monitoring and supporting the educational attainment and progress of all the looked after children by the local authority which employs them, wherever they are living.&nbsp;They ensure that each child from nursery to age 18&nbsp;has an up-to-date&nbsp;Personal Education Plan (PEP) which records the child’s wishes and views, how they are achieving currently and what they and the team around the child need to do in order for the child to reach their target attainment.&nbsp;The PEP will include set targets for improvement and a SMART action plan so that everyone is aware of what they need to do for the child to progress. Virtual school heads may also commission extra support for the child.</p><p>In carrying out their role, virtual school heads work collaboratively, liaising with designated teachers, social workers, foster carers and key workers, independent reviewing officers, psychologists and any others involved in promoting the welfare of the child.&nbsp;They ensure that the team around the child are aware of how best to support the child’s education, including admission to school and transition from one key stage to the next and ensure that there is adequate training provided for these professionals.</p><p>See section 4, The role of the Virtual School Head, in A Guide to the Education of Looked After Children for more information.</p><p><a href="https://www.thefosteringnetwork.org.uk/blogs/emily-hall/your-education-questions-answered-pt-2">Read part 2 of the education questions blog series</a>.</p><p><strong>​</strong>​​<strong>You can find more information, advice and guidance about the issues surrounding the education of looked after children in our new education guide. This essential guide is £12.50 for members of The Fostering Network and £25 for non-members. Order your copies today by visiting <a href="http://www.fosteringresources.co.uk/education">fosteringresources.co.uk/education</a> or calling 0844 335 1892.​</strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p></div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-blog-tags--blog.html.twig * field--node--field-blog-tags.html.twig * field--node--blog.html.twig * field--field-blog-tags.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-blog-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field--items"> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/1685" hreflang="en">education</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/504" hreflang="en">foster carers</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/1687" hreflang="en">publications</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/1678" hreflang="en">advice</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/1688" hreflang="en">guidance</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/1689" hreflang="en">education guide</a></div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="flag.link_builder:build" arguments="0=node&amp;1=10107&amp;2=favourite_content" token="zEqoiVAz1nodzFOxYoPFDNQCfiM_IpBVOLbVkkLi9D8"></drupal-render-placeholder> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-comment--blog.html.twig * field--node--field-comment.html.twig * field--node--blog.html.twig * field--field-comment.html.twig x field--comment.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/comment/templates/field--comment.html.twig' --> <section> <h2>Add new comment</h2> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="comment.lazy_builders:renderForm" arguments="0=node&amp;1=10107&amp;2=field_comment&amp;3=comment" token="flBIyP-ANJX7XbNZvnLubkszAFhDb3QnhcabSzofHXI"></drupal-render-placeholder> </section> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/comment/templates/field--comment.html.twig' --> Fri, 12 Feb 2016 11:11:25 +0000 Emily Hall 10107 at https://www.thefosteringnetwork.org.uk https://www.thefosteringnetwork.org.uk/blogs/emily-hall/your-education-questions-answered-pt-1#comments Attracting and Keeping Carers - November 2014 https://www.thefosteringnetwork.org.uk/blogs/james-foyle/attracting-and-keeping-carers-november-2014 <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--title--blog.html.twig x field--node--title.html.twig * field--node--blog.html.twig * field--title.html.twig * field--string.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <span>Attracting and Keeping Carers - November 2014</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--uid--blog.html.twig x field--node--uid.html.twig * field--node--blog.html.twig * field--uid.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <span> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'username' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> <span lang="" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">James Foyle</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> </span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--created--blog.html.twig x field--node--created.html.twig * field--node--blog.html.twig * field--created.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <span>Wed, 11/19/2014 - 13:54</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'links__node' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * links--node.html.twig x links.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/tfnetwork/templates/system/links.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/tfnetwork/templates/system/links.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-introduction--blog.html.twig * field--node--field-introduction.html.twig * field--node--blog.html.twig * field--field-introduction.html.twig * field--text-long.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-introduction field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field--item">November began with the selected 12 English local authorities joining us for a workshop as part of the Department for Education funded project to Support fostering services to recruit more foster carers.</div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--body--blog.html.twig * field--node--body.html.twig * field--node--blog.html.twig * field--body.html.twig * field--text-with-summary.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p>Cheshire West and Chester, Cumbria, Durham, Kent, London Borough of Bromley, Luton, North Somerset, Peterborough, Rochdale, Stoke on Trent, Suffolk and Wolverhampton are now developing local action plans to help improve their recruitment and retention of foster carers, informed by the Values Modes insight and their individual benchmark report. They follow the 14 local authorities from last year who are now well into their local action plans. We will be reporting back on the findings from all 26 authorities involvement in the project and share the best initiatives in the New Year.</p><p><img alt="Foster Care Fortnight 2015" src="/sites/default/files/uploads/fcf2015_workshop_flyer_web.jpg" style="float:right; height:307px; line-height:18.0000591278076px; margin:5px; width:350px"></p><h2><em>Foster Care Fortnight</em>™2015</h2><p>Due to next year’s elections, we’ve taken the decision to move <em>Foster Care Fortnight</em>™2015 back from its mid-May slot to run 1-14 June 2015. The theme for 2015 will be Fostering, make the connection. This campaign has the potential to have the high visual impact of Get in the frame, the insight of guess who fosters and the strong message of 22 Minutes. We are aiming to achieve more than any <em>Foster Care Fortnight</em>™ that’s gone before. The Fostering Network will be running workshops in Birmingham, Cardiff, Glasgow, London and Manchester to introduce the theme and give you ideas on how to make the most of next year’s campaign. Book your place at a workshop on our website.</p><h2>A Hull lot of celebrations</h2><p>Many fostering services across the UK hold award ceremonies as part of their retention strategies and to publicly thank their foster carers for the commitment they make. <a href="http://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/Foster-parents-transformed-lives-children-Hull/story-23715528-detail/story.html">Hull City Council’s awards</a> for foster carers who have transformed the lives of children caught my eye for the two positive examples of fostering siblings. Both hint at the myths of who can foster without being explicit, the motivations and the positive impact on keeping siblings together. These points are used as a platform to identify the need for more foster carers for sibling groups in the area. Do continue to check within your existing foster carer cohort as to whether any have scope to take an additional placement, as well as expanding their approval range.</p><h2>Reducing visits missing the point</h2><p>Some strong, but very pertinent points from BAAF’s fostering development consultant, Paul Adams, on the <a href="http://www.communitycare.co.uk/2014/10/30/reducing-social-worker-visits-long-term-foster-placements-misses-point/">role of social workers in long-term placements</a>. I am very much inclined to agree with the assertion that reducing visit frequency does not address the issue. Foster carers are increasingly seen as skilled professionals caring for a looked-after child. Building and nurturing relationships, mutual understanding and respect are necessary criteria to develop and maintain a healthy, positive long-term placement. While acknowledging the need to allow a long-term fostering placement to develop as a real option for permanency and manage resources, there will inevitably be issues that need input provided by a skilled and experienced social work professional. The same criterion applied above to the foster carer-fostered child relationship also needs to be applied between foster carer and social worker to develop positive relationships and ensure positive outcomes regardless of the type of foster care provided.</p><h2>Teenage kicks in Doncaster</h2><p>The newly formed Doncaster Children’s Services Trust has joined up with Doncaster Rovers to develop the <a href="http://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/news/doncaster-rovers-team-up-for-fostering-campaign-1-6909996">‘Teenage Kicks’</a> campaign to encourage more people to consider fostering teenagers. This excellent initiative draws on parallels from some of the team’s youth players who have moved away from home to board with ‘host’ families in the local area, and the support that has benefitted them. While clearly not the same as foster care, moving in with a caring, supportive family has helped the players focus on their professional development and the club acknowledges the crucial role foster carers play.</p><h2>Medical fees update</h2><p>Thank you to everyone who responded to the request for details on the cost of foster carer medicals. Many GP surgeries appear to be honouring the BMA recommended rate set in 2006, but some have been charged significantly more. We are now in the process of analysing all the responses and considering the action needing to be taken. A further update will follow in the next edition.</p><h2><a id="IN-FOCUS" name="IN-FOCUS">IN FOCUS</a></h2><h3>Making good fostering assessments</h3><p>Fostering assessments are more often than not near the top of the agenda when talking fostering.</p><p>Fostering services are challenged internally to turn them around quicker and many question the need to be so in depth. I’ve heard a number of people say that (paraphrasing) more people would foster if the assessment wasn’t so intrusive.</p><p>Yet conversely, with foster carers increasingly seen as professionals in the team who care and children’s needs increasingly complex, it’s more fundamental than ever that the assessment remains a rigorous process for applicants to ensure only those with the requisite skills and aptitude are approved to foster.</p><p>We’ve discussed at length the mechanism of the two stage process but what actually makes a good fostering assessment? Identifying qualities is a useful starting point; foster carers need to be able, among other things, to listen, show warmth, help children feel part of a family, set boundaries, work effectively with others, to manage stress and difficult behaviour, use support when needed, provide empathy, and show resilience.</p><p>During fostering assessments, a failure to analyse and order information, inadequate corroboration and verification, omitting relevant medical details and possible partiality of referees have contributed to poor assessment practice, as have a lack of adequate exploration of applicants’ relationship, sexual orientation, parenting history, and absence of an employer’s reference. This highlights the fact that the role of the effective fostering assessor is to analyse and evaluate, to ask difficult questions and to not just enquire and support.</p><p>Undertaking a successful fostering assessment is a skilled and time consuming task but using effective tools such as The Skills to Foster material that support the process helps the assessor, the applicants and panel members.</p><p>But everyone is different. Everyone has a variety of life experience and life history which will sometimes leave an assessing social worker with a dilemma. The following are some examples of such dilemmas provided by The Fostering Network’s practice support consultant for the south east, Diane Heath. Consider what you would do in each situation:</p><h4>Family own a Pit Bull Terrier</h4><p>​Does your fostering service have a policy on approving applicants with this kind of dog? How old is the dog and what is its history? Has it ever bitten or attacked a person or another animal? Does it have experience of being around children? Strongly consider a dog assessment</p><h4>Applicant is a member of UKIP</h4><p>UKIP is a recognised UK political party. The party has a particular view on immigration and membership with the European Union, which not all supporters or members will agree with. Explore the individual’s attitudes to difference.</p><h4>Applicant's home backs on to a stream</h4><p>Is there a secure fence that separates the garden from the stream? How deep is the stream? Could an adult perform a wading rescue or is there rescue equipment available? Is the stream liable to flood and affect play areas or electrical equipment? What safety measures have the family taken with their own children?</p><h4>Applicant likes to drink two glasses of wine with dinner</h4><p>Is this every night?&nbsp;What are the guidelines on drinking, units per week? Do they ever drink more than this? What does the medical say i.e. does it concur with what the applicants have told you? Has the GP or Medical Adviser made any comment on alcohol intake? Does this put them over the driving limit – what would they do if they had to use the car in an emergency?</p><h4>Family does not have a washing machine</h4><p>​How do they currently manage washing their own clothes? Will they be able to cope with an increased volume of clothes that need washing? Or is this an issue that needs to be explored at all…?</p><h2>PS</h2><p>A slight detour into kinship care, which is not usually covered in this blog, but this article on the myth that adoption is the only stable way to care for children spiked my interest and will no doubt interest you. There appears a reduction in the number of children put up for adoption by local authorities and placement orders issued by the courts, and an increase in the number of kinship/family and friend placements. The Munby judgement in Re B-S served as a reminder that “family ties may only be severed in very exceptional circumstances”. Contrary to the former minister’s viewpoint that adoption was the most appropriate route for permanence, we’re reminded in this article of the value of other forms of long-term care.</p></div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-blog-tags--blog.html.twig * field--node--field-blog-tags.html.twig * field--node--blog.html.twig * field--field-blog-tags.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-blog-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field--items"> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/793" hreflang="en">recruitment</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/794" hreflang="en">retention</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/795" hreflang="en">attracting</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/796" hreflang="en">keeping</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/504" hreflang="en">foster carers</a></div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="flag.link_builder:build" arguments="0=node&amp;1=7866&amp;2=favourite_content" token="eOUBALeWdroP2huKGQEvk0sqz_qAQI9cZ6V5J51udwI"></drupal-render-placeholder> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-comment--blog.html.twig * field--node--field-comment.html.twig * field--node--blog.html.twig * field--field-comment.html.twig x field--comment.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/comment/templates/field--comment.html.twig' --> <section> <h2>Add new comment</h2> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="comment.lazy_builders:renderForm" arguments="0=node&amp;1=7866&amp;2=field_comment&amp;3=comment" token="BMeXgaw0GXX6aIk7TYDTzNY4VorJa06rYftgzLtebkE"></drupal-render-placeholder> </section> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/comment/templates/field--comment.html.twig' --> Wed, 19 Nov 2014 13:54:24 +0000 James Foyle 7866 at https://www.thefosteringnetwork.org.uk https://www.thefosteringnetwork.org.uk/blogs/james-foyle/attracting-and-keeping-carers-november-2014#comments Attracting and Keeping Carers - June 2014 https://www.thefosteringnetwork.org.uk/blogs/james-foyle/attracting-and-keeping-carers-june-2014 <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--title--blog.html.twig x field--node--title.html.twig * field--node--blog.html.twig * field--title.html.twig * field--string.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <span>Attracting and Keeping Carers - June 2014</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--uid--blog.html.twig x field--node--uid.html.twig * field--node--blog.html.twig * field--uid.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <span> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'username' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> <span lang="" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">James Foyle</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> </span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--created--blog.html.twig x field--node--created.html.twig * field--node--blog.html.twig * field--created.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <span>Fri, 06/20/2014 - 11:08</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'links__node' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * links--node.html.twig x links.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/tfnetwork/templates/system/links.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/tfnetwork/templates/system/links.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-introduction--blog.html.twig * field--node--field-introduction.html.twig * field--node--blog.html.twig * field--field-introduction.html.twig * field--text-long.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-introduction field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field--item">And breathe… or maybe not if you’re part of the team processing enquiries, doing home visits and more. But this is a good thing. Hopefully you’ve achieved your expectations and received enquiries from people who could become just the type of foster carers you need. If not, get in touch and tell me why.</div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--body--blog.html.twig * field--node--body.html.twig * field--node--blog.html.twig * field--body.html.twig * field--text-with-summary.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p>We’ve put together a short(ish) <a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/FCF2014evaluation">survey to evaluate this year’s Foster Care Fortnight campaign</a>. Please do spend a few minutes to feedback and help us plan future Foster Care Fortnights, your views do make a difference. I know I’m probably boring you with my next ask, but I can’t stress how important and useful the data tracking tool is, not only to us but potentially to you too to judge the campaign’s impact on recruitment. In the edited words of a sporting super brand, please, just do it :-)</p><p>This month’s blog shares some more of the other eye-catching activities from the fortnight and other news in foster care. With this month’s Fathers’ Day, IN FOCUS poses questions and ideas regarding men who care.</p><h2>Why I became a foster carer at 26</h2><p>We were thrilled to secure a slot on the BBC Breakfast sofa in the second week of Foster Care Fortnight, in no small part thanks to foster carer Nicola Lonsdale from Tameside. The story highlighted the need for younger people to consider becoming a foster carer and talked about Nicola’s decision to foster at the age of 26.</p><p>You can <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-27514646">watch Nicola’s interview</a> alongside the Fostering Network’s chief executive Robert Tapsfield. The story was also covered later the same day on Five Live with Robert and foster carers Gemma and Gordon Waters from West Lothian, with a follow-up last week on Woman’s Hour, again with Gemma, our director in Scotland Sara Lurie and tv chef and care leaver Lorraine Pascale. Lorraine featured in a one-off BBC production aired on Thursday 19 June called <a href="http://www.lorrainepascale.com/news/2014/06/11/the-truth-about-fostering/6128">Fostering &amp; Me</a>. The programme highlights the need for more foster carers while looking back on Lorraine’s experience in the care system.</p><h2>Men and fostering</h2><p>With the aforementioned Father’s Day falling in June, a number of fostering services have taken the opportunity to promote the need for men to foster.</p><p>Previous research suggests that women are more likely to make the decision to foster, however <a href="http://www.southyorkshiretimes.co.uk/news/local/male-foster-carers-in-doncaster-encouraged-to-come-forward-1-6666250">Doncaster has doubled the number of male foster carers</a> approved in the past year and are using Father’s Day as the hook to encourage more to come forward. <a href="http://www.northumberlandgazette.co.uk/news/local-news/fostering-service-s-call-for-more-men-1-6656479">Northumberland too are appealing for more men to come forward</a> and subtly make the connection with combining fostering with employment outside of the home (albeit clumsily stated as the ‘working partner’).</p><p>Nottinghamshire have taken it a step further by trying to address some of the <a href="http://www.eastwoodadvertiser.co.uk/news/local/being-gay-or-single-is-no-obstacle-to-fostering-1-6665624">common misconceptions</a>.</p><p>More ideas and considerations on recruiting and retaining male foster carers are included in the <strong>IN FOCUS</strong> section below.</p><h2>Fostering on the English Riviera<img alt="Torbay Foster Care Fortnight launch" src="/sites/default/files/uploads/torbay.jpg" style="float:right; height:202px; margin-left:10px; margin-right:10px; width:300px"></h2><p>Torbay Council teamed up with the events team at the English Riviera Wheel to launch their Foster Care Fortnight campaign, achieving some good local coverage.</p><p><a href="http://www.torquayheraldexpress.co.uk/Foster-care-fortnight-launched-Torbay/story-21089034-detail/story.html">Torbay’s launch article </a>stands out for me thanks to this quote from the senior member of staff: "There is a myth that teenagers are hard to foster, but at this age you can really help to transform a teenager's life. As young people we all had a key person, whether it was a teacher or a youth worker who made an impact on our lives and as a (foster) carer you can have a big impact too.”</p><p>Stimulating readers to consider their own experiences, or those of their own children, is a good way to connect and may prompt them to act.</p><h2>450 children in Bucks’ care system crying out for loving foster homes</h2><p>Not the best headline, but the rest of the article picks up for<a href="http://www.buckinghamtoday.co.uk/news/local/450-children-in-bucks-care-system-crying-out-for-loving-foster-homes-1-6073787"> Buckinghamshire’s drive for more foster carers during Foster Care Fortnight</a>.</p><p>Again, good targeting by the service stating the need for foster carers for teenagers, siblings and under-fives, and a nice quote from an existing foster carer about the positive impact fostering has had on her own children.</p><h2>Western Trust triples enquiries</h2><h2><img alt="Western Trust with the Fostering Network Northern Ireland staff" src="/sites/default/files/uploads/pj1_9679_fostering_network_launchweb.jpg" style="float:right; height:199px; margin-left:10px; margin-right:10px; width:300px"></h2><p>The Fostering Network Northern Ireland’s Foster Care Fortnight launch with the Western Health and Social Services Trust has already had a significant impact.</p><p>Following the successful launch, the Fostering Network’s director and assistant director, Margaret Kelly and Kathleen Toner, maintained the campaign’s momentum appearing on a number of local radio programmes.</p><p>Initial reports suggest that the Trust has more than tripled its enquiry rate during the fortnight, with a number of home visits lined up.</p><h2>Double baked</h2><p>Two lots of bake the difference and celebrating Foster Care Fortnight to report! First up Fostering Solutions, who have been teaming up with primary schools, scout groups and foster carers to design cakes, with the winners’ creation repli’cake’d by a local bakery.</p><p>The headteacher of a Norwich primary school who got behind the campaign said, “Our pupils thoroughly enjoyed working together to produce some fantastic creations, whilst learning new skills and the importance of fostering.”</p><p>At the same time across the border in Wales, Neath Port Talbot fostering service were presenting the Fostering Network in Wales with the cheque for the money raised as part of their bake the difference campaign, a fantastic total helped by the support of actor Michael Sheen.</p><div><img alt="NPT's cheque presentation for Bake the Difference" src="/sites/default/files/uploads/npt_btd_cheque.jpg" style="font-size:13.3333px; height:267px; line-height:18.0161px; margin-left:10px; margin-right:10px; width:400px"></div><figure><blockquote><p>We were so pleased that Michael Sheen agreed to support our event and help raise the profile of fostering. Having a local famous face at our event really brought in the crowds and encouraged members of the public to come and talk to members of the team to find out how they can be involved.</p></blockquote><figcaption><cite>Caroline Quint, recruitment and retention officer (pictured)</cite></figcaption></figure><h2>IN FOCUS</h2><figure><blockquote><p>The role of a foster carer can be both extremely rewarding and at the same time emotionally strenuous. Being a male foster carer has, arguably, even more challenges – there are those who wonder why any man would want to work with children, those who don’t understand what a wonderful role model a male foster carer can be and those who find it difficult to believe that men really can be in touch with their own emotions, let alone be capable of helping a child to deal with theirs.</p></blockquote><figcaption><cite>Alan Torry, foster carer, Men Who Care 2010</cite></figcaption></figure><p>I’m sure we’ve all read Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus to explore and explain some of the general differences between the sexes. But, unless I missed it, there wasn’t a section on foster care…</p><p>Many fostering services are targeting men to come forward and foster to offer specific skills and qualities to benefit fostered children. Fortunately we’re not starting from a zero baseline. A number of men foster on their own, in a same sex couple, or in a heterosexual couple. Those in a couple may be the primary carer, share the care, or take a back seat and let their partner take the lead.</p><p>I’ve been fortunate to meet male foster carers in each of these categories and like Alan, they all have a desire to help the children in their care. But each will require different information and have varying real or perceived barriers to address and overcome.</p><p>So when appealing to men to come forward to foster, there are a few things to consider:</p><h3>1. Current information guidance</h3><p>Review your existing material, is it suitably generic to appeal to a broad audience? Or is there value in producing specific ‘men and fostering’ information materials, such as a targeted information leaflet or a section on your website?</p><h3>2. What might be specific issues for men?</h3><p>If you choose to produce additional material, consider what the key issues may be for a man thinking of fostering, particularly if they’re single or in a same sex couple. In general, many consider it “odd” that a man would want to work in a caring profession, particularly with vulnerable children, so addressing these barriers and sharing positive stories of male foster carers is crucial.</p><p>Your service may allow foster carers to combine external employment with fostering, which could be a primary concern for a single male foster carer in particular. Be explicit with what your service will and won’t except, and perhaps include a user-friendly version of your combining fostering and other work policy, if applicable.</p><p>Be sure to detail the various support you provide, and the networks male foster carers can access to help them to foster. As Doncaster have done, as mentioned above, be clear as to why you need more men to foster, what they specifically can offer ie as role models, and why they should consider fostering for your service. Check out our <a href="/sites/default/files/public/resources/good-practice-guidance/men_who_care.pdf">Men Who Care</a> book which contains some incredibly emotive experiences of male foster carers.</p><h3>3. Are information sessions set up for men?</h3><p>Are your information sessions structured and branded to appeal and crucially engage men? Or if there is sufficient demand, could you consider men only information sessions similar to the ‘<a href="http://www.daddynatal.co.uk/">daddynatal</a>’ model to facilitate open discussion and networking?</p><p>Are there extra topics you need to discuss and add to the agenda; exploring the relationship between male foster carers and foster daughters perhaps.</p><p>Identify a confident and willing male foster carer, or a range of male foster carers, already in your service to use their experience to facilitate sessions and be an ambassador for support.</p><h3>4. How are you set up to support and meet the needs of male foster carers beyond approval?</h3><p>Once you’ve recruited them, how are you set up to support, train and retain male foster carers? Not all men fit the nightly pub visit stereotype (a foster carer probably even less so) but all will need help, perhaps extra help, to understand and express their own feelings, emotions, stresses, frustrations and dilemmas as well as those of the child.</p><p>Does it require a different approach from your social work team? Can you help establish specific support groups for men, organise events for a male audience? Consider also the timing of support groups and meetings as some male foster carers, either single or in a couple, will work outside the home; not everyone can accommodate 9am-5pm.</p><p>Men should of course be entitled and encouraged to attend mixed sex sessions (and if they are the primary carer be identified and respected as such) but seek out opportunities to ask them if they would value specific groups and empower them to establish and set the agenda.</p><h3>5. Are you really targeting men?</h3><p>The curveball. If your campaign call to action is specifically for single men or male couples to come forward then clearly yes, you are targeting men. But if it’s a generic message to men, what additional messaging are you including so perhaps women read it and share it with their partners.</p><p>Consider the spa industry. Historically marketed at women, a number now are trying to make it accessible to men, breakdown the stereotypes and counter the perception for the alpha males. These communications will be written to encourage men to come forward but targeted at women to seed the idea.</p><p>By no means am I comparing fostering to a spa break. The suggestion is to think outside the box and consider other industries where women are primarily seen as the ‘customer’ and how they communicate messaging to successfully broaden their audience.</p><p>You may already have male foster carer forums established. If so please do get in touch to share the details of the benefits you’ve discovered and lessons learned by emailing <a href="mailto:james.foyle@fostering.net">james.foyle@fostering.net</a></p><h3>PS</h3><p>Congratulations to the team at Hertfordshire who approved 83 new foster carers last year, resulting in a net gain of 46 new foster carers for the service.</p><h3>PPS</h3><p>On contacting Tameside fostering service recently, I was struck by the positive, enthusiastic, helpful and engaging manner of Emily in their placement team who took my call. While I was moved to feed this back to the service, this really should be the rule as opposed to the exception. Do take the opportunity to regularly mystery shop your own service from the perspective of a potential applicant to maintain and improve your offer.</p></div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-blog-tags--blog.html.twig * field--node--field-blog-tags.html.twig * field--node--blog.html.twig * field--field-blog-tags.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-blog-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field--items"> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/504" hreflang="en">foster carers</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/793" hreflang="en">recruitment</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/794" hreflang="en">retention</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/1548" hreflang="en">attracting and keeping carers</a></div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="flag.link_builder:build" arguments="0=node&amp;1=7484&amp;2=favourite_content" token="fPR3UyRVTrXg3XRxe89Z50wUzsuenBtJa9twMXZh5Jw"></drupal-render-placeholder> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-comment--blog.html.twig * field--node--field-comment.html.twig * field--node--blog.html.twig * field--field-comment.html.twig x field--comment.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/comment/templates/field--comment.html.twig' --> <section> <h2>Add new comment</h2> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="comment.lazy_builders:renderForm" arguments="0=node&amp;1=7484&amp;2=field_comment&amp;3=comment" token="gq9tD8BXqPMAMMjdthdiTF57rdUnEvNlnqA0Lo1Xq-4"></drupal-render-placeholder> </section> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/comment/templates/field--comment.html.twig' --> Fri, 20 Jun 2014 11:08:54 +0000 James Foyle 7484 at https://www.thefosteringnetwork.org.uk https://www.thefosteringnetwork.org.uk/blogs/james-foyle/attracting-and-keeping-carers-june-2014#comments Thank you for walking the difference https://www.thefosteringnetwork.org.uk/blogs/dom-tfn/thank-you-walking-difference <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--title--blog.html.twig x field--node--title.html.twig * field--node--blog.html.twig * field--title.html.twig * field--string.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <span>Thank you for walking the difference</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--uid--blog.html.twig x field--node--uid.html.twig * field--node--blog.html.twig * field--uid.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <span> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'username' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> <span lang="" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">Dom-tFN</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> </span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--created--blog.html.twig x field--node--created.html.twig * field--node--blog.html.twig * field--created.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <span>Mon, 10/28/2013 - 14:28</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'links__node' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * links--node.html.twig x links.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/tfnetwork/templates/system/links.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/tfnetwork/templates/system/links.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-introduction--blog.html.twig * field--node--field-introduction.html.twig * field--node--blog.html.twig * field--field-introduction.html.twig * field--text-long.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-introduction field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field--item">The Fostering Network would like to thank everyone who came to Walk the Difference along the River Thames yesterday, and everyone who kindly sponsored and supported the walkers.</div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--body--blog.html.twig * field--node--body.html.twig * field--node--blog.html.twig * field--body.html.twig * field--text-with-summary.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p>​<img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/uploads/rt_welcome.jpg" style="float:right; height:300px; margin:10px; width:190px">We had over 170 people – foster carers, sons and daughters, fostered children, friends and families and even a few pets – take part in the five mile sponsored walk through London, enjoying some unexpected – but glorious - sunshine and I think making some fantastic new friends along the way.</p><p>It was the first walk that we have done as a charity, although we have had amazing fundraisers take part in marathons and so on before, and so we were thrilled at the response. It was due to be raining but that didn’t stop anyone. People poured into Whitehall Gardens, adorned with orange, to meet and greet all the other walkers – and after a quick welcome speech from our chief executive Robert Tapsfield, we were off and heading towards Westminster Bridge.</p><p>The walk was five miles long and took in some of London’s finest sites, from Big Ben at the beginning of the walk to the beautiful Tower Bridge which marked the end of the walk, and so much in between.</p><p>It’s really easy to say that you know why you take part in a charity fundraiser – you want to help the charity to achieve its goals by raising money to help it continue. But as I walked with some amazing foster carers who told me about their experiences over the years, I knew that no matter how much both my feet ached and how much I longingly looked at Tower Bridge and the finishing line in the distance, I had to carry on.</p><p>Let’s face it, I could walk a million miles in my own shoes, but I am not sure I could manage a mile in the shoes of the inspirational foster carers I met on the walk.</p><p><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/uploads/fc_and_d.jpg" style="float:left; height:300px; margin:10px; width:225px">No one works at the Fostering Network because it’s a job, we do it because we&nbsp;are dedicated to working hard and trying to make life better for children in, or who will come into,&nbsp;foster care, foster carers and foster families all across the UK. We work as hard as we can knowing that there is a whole workforce of 50,000 foster families across the UK every day working even harder to make life better for vulnerable children in foster care.</p><p>To our new friends from the day, it was an absolute pleasure to meet you. To our old friends, thank you for your ongoing support. To everyone, we can’t wait to see you next year!</p><p>We can’t continue what we do without you, and so to everyone who decided that a windy, cold, and potentially wet, river walk was the best way to spend a Sunday morning in October, we thank you.</p><p>From the Fostering Network Laura, Andrew, Phil, Ros and Dominic (me!) walked as a team from the Fostering Network and if you’d like to kindly support us, you still can on our <a href="http://www.justgiving.com/walkthedifference">Just Giving page</a>.</p><p>If you want to know how else you can support the Fostering Network, please take a look at our <a href="https://www.fostering.net/fundraise">fundraising information</a> and if you want to find out how you can get involved in next year’s Walk the Difference, please email <a href="mailto:fundraising@fostering.net">fundraising@fostering.net</a></p><p>&nbsp;</p></div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-blog-tags--blog.html.twig * field--node--field-blog-tags.html.twig * field--node--blog.html.twig * field--field-blog-tags.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-blog-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field--items"> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/504" hreflang="en">foster carers</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/532" hreflang="en">Fundraising</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/543" hreflang="en">fostering</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/1022" hreflang="en">walking</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/1023" hreflang="en">Walk the Difference</a></div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="flag.link_builder:build" arguments="0=node&amp;1=6682&amp;2=favourite_content" token="1BgLyTuwXvjHbg5hJrtyUPIRgSKjv5VhHnHDs5-gEo8"></drupal-render-placeholder> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-comment--blog.html.twig * field--node--field-comment.html.twig * field--node--blog.html.twig * field--field-comment.html.twig x field--comment.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/comment/templates/field--comment.html.twig' --> <section> <h2>Add new comment</h2> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="comment.lazy_builders:renderForm" arguments="0=node&amp;1=6682&amp;2=field_comment&amp;3=comment" token="KOeiMv_IUVggjxyFDTmP1Z1tFkWzqv7bbyRJ_dztGg0"></drupal-render-placeholder> </section> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/comment/templates/field--comment.html.twig' --> Mon, 28 Oct 2013 14:28:45 +0000 Dom-tFN 6682 at https://www.thefosteringnetwork.org.uk https://www.thefosteringnetwork.org.uk/blogs/dom-tfn/thank-you-walking-difference#comments Attracting and Keeping Carers – June 2013 https://www.thefosteringnetwork.org.uk/blogs/james-foyle/attracting-and-keeping-carers-june-2013 <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--title--blog.html.twig x field--node--title.html.twig * field--node--blog.html.twig * field--title.html.twig * field--string.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <span>Attracting and Keeping Carers – June 2013</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--uid--blog.html.twig x field--node--uid.html.twig * field--node--blog.html.twig * field--uid.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <span> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'username' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> <span lang="" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">James Foyle</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> </span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--created--blog.html.twig x field--node--created.html.twig * field--node--blog.html.twig * field--created.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <span>Fri, 06/21/2013 - 09:53</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'links__node' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * links--node.html.twig x links.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/tfnetwork/templates/system/links.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/tfnetwork/templates/system/links.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-introduction--blog.html.twig * field--node--field-introduction.html.twig * field--node--blog.html.twig * field--field-introduction.html.twig * field--text-long.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-introduction field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field--item">What a fortnight. We will shortly be sending out a questionnaire to see how it went for your fostering service, but the initial feedback on this year’s Foster Care Fortnight campaign looks fantastic. Thank you to everyone who took part. Hopefully the campaign has generated enquiries and will continue to do so for the coming months. Our top tips section this week looks at how to engage new enquirers and keep in touch.</div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--body--blog.html.twig * field--node--body.html.twig * field--node--blog.html.twig * field--body.html.twig * field--text-with-summary.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p>Our DfE funded project to support fostering services to recruit more foster carers continues apace. Thank you to the fostering services that have shared it with foster carers, helping us reach our current 2,000+ responses. We do though need more responses, particularly from foster carers in Wales and also if your authority would like to be considered as one of the 15 this year to receive one-to-one support, so please do keep encouraging your foster carers to complete it.</p><p>The second survey, our new benchmarking survey,&nbsp;will be&nbsp;available&nbsp;shortly. As well as providing data on conversion rates, which I know fostering services are always keen to learn, this first of its kind survey will allow you to compare your fostering service’s performance across a number of metrics on a national and regional level, as well as with your statistical neighbours.</p><h2><strong>Foster Care Fortnight</strong></h2><p>Following on from the exclusive article in the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/how-foster-care-separates-siblings-8612398.html">Independent on Sunday</a>, the week began in earnest with the Fostering Network’s Vicki Swain appearing alongside care leaver Clare Marshall on BBC Breakfast discussing the benefits of stable fostering placements.</p><p><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/uploads/lorraine2.jpg" style="float:right; height:200px; margin-left:5px; margin-right:5px; width:251px">Other highlights included foster carer and ex-Liverpool and England international footballer Mark Wright and his wife Sue appeared on the Fostering Network’s behalf on BBC Breakfast discussing their fostering experiences. Celebrity cook Lorraine Pascale continued her support for the campaign, appearing for us on the Lorraine Kelly show discussing her experience of care, while Sky covered the need for more foster families to come forward in their news bulletins on launch day.</p><p>Politicians also came out in force, with a number willing to put themselves in the frame to support the campaign. Former home secretary <a target="_blank" href="http://pinterest.com/pin/563018676338212/">David Blunkett </a>got in the frame, as did the minister for children and families with responsibility for fostering in England, Edward Timpson, his Scottish counterpart Aileen Campbell, deputy minister for social services in Wales Gwenda Thomas and health minister for Northern Ireland, Edwin Poots in our <a target="_blank" href="/get-involved/championing-fostering/foster-care-fortnight">online gallery</a>.</p><p>Of course the real stars and the reason why the campaign came alive are those fostering services that took the theme and well and truly ran with it.<br>From Foster Swansea’s ’12 days to make a difference’ campaign, featuring a dedicated website and numerous tv and radio presenters snapped in the frame, and – my personal favourite as I’m now cycling to work in it – Birmingham’s ‘get in the frame’ t-shirts, the campaign achieved what I hope it would. We’ve engaged a variety of people in a fun but informative way to raise the profile of fostering and show the diversity of those who foster and support fostering. Give yourself a pat on the back!</p><p>What all this translates to in terms of figures is over 1,100 pieces of media coverage across the UK, comparable with last year. Our <a target="_blank" href="/get-involved/championing-fostering/foster-care-fortnight">online gallery </a>to date has over 900 visits and more than, 1,200 page views for the 25 foster carers, celebrities, care leavers and politicians we used as the main faces of the campaign.<br>Our <a target="_blank" href="http://pinterest.com/fosteringnet/get-in-the-frame-fcf-2013/">Pinterest board </a>attracted 324 more pictures “in the frame” and 65 followers. If you still have pictures of people in the frame who have not yet been pinned it’s not too late to be included. Please send them through to <a href="mailto:fcf@fostering.net">fcf@fostering.net</a> and we will pin them up.</p><h2>Foster Care Fortnight evaluation</h2><p>The <a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/FCF2013evaluation">evaluation for Foster Care Fortnight</a> is now available. Please take a few minutes to complete it and return to it <a href="mailto:fcf@fostering.net">fcf@fostering.net</a><br>I appreciate for some, depending on how enquiries are monitored, that Foster Care Fortnight can seem to skew conversion rates as a result of the widespread publicity and call to action. This is understandable as for many people, this will be an early stage of finding out about fostering and they need the time to consider the decision.</p><p>We are though still keen to track just how many people do enquire and proceed through their application during the year. As such, I’ve put together a short monitoring spreadsheet specifically for Foster Care Fortnight enquiries available at <a target="_blank" href="/foster-care-fortnight/resources#.UcG89PnvsaB">Foster Care Fortnight enquiry tracking spreadsheet</a>. Please do take the time to complete this as it will support us to better support you by understanding the impact of Foster Care Fortnight and help shape future Foster Care Fortnight campaigns.</p><h2>Supporting fostering services to recruit more foster carers</h2><p>In <a target="_blank" href="/blogs/james-foyle/attracting-and-keeping-carers-may-2013#.UcG9cPnvsaB">last month’s blog</a> I introduced our new project to support fostering services to recruit new foster carers. To update you on the developments since – we attended a ‘Partnership Learning Day’ with the DfE and those successful fostering services that have been awarded contracts to work in consortia across the public and independent sectors to find joint solutions to recruiting those children who are ‘hard to place’.</p><p>The event was a useful opportunity to meet those involved and learn the initial ideas of what these unprecedented relationships will be seeking to deliver. Similar days will be occurring throughout the year to update the progress on the respective projects – watch this space for updates.</p><p>As mentioned above, we have received a fantastic response from foster carers completing our <a target="_blank" href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/foster-carer-recruitment-survey">national foster carer recruitment survey </a>with around 2,350 responses so far. We are though still keen for more, particularly from those who want to be one of the 15 which benefit from the one-to-one support from the Fostering Network and iMPOWER. Please continue to encourage your foster carers to complete it as the data will be invaluable in allowing you to target, recruit and retain the foster carers you need.</p><h2>Amendments to fostering regulations</h2><p>The Department for Education has recently published new statutory guidance on the <a target="_blank" href="http://education.gov.uk/aboutdfe/statutory/g00225465/delegation-of-authority-looked-after">delegation of authority to looked-after children’s carers</a> and the <a target="_blank" href="http://education.gov.uk/aboutdfe/statutory/g00225430/assess-approv-foster-care">assessment and approval process for foster carers</a> in England.</p><p>The new guidance, which comes into force on 1 July, replaces paragraphs within the Children Act 1989 Guidance Volume 2: Care Planning, Placement and Case Review; and Volume 4: Fostering Services.</p><p>To help fostering services understand the amends to the assessment and approval process, the DfE has produced a <a target="_blank" href="http://media.education.gov.uk/assets/files/pdf/f/flow%20diagram%20-assessment%20and%20approval%20process.pdf">flowchart</a> illustrating how stages one and two fit together.</p><p>The amendments have been made so that pre-assessment (stage one) and assessment (stage two) stages can be carried out concurrently. If an applicant is deemed unsuitable at stage one, the application can be terminated even if stage two has commenced. The applicant has the right to complain but cannot apply to the IRM. This is only possible if the application is terminated at stage two.</p><p>Other key features of the changes include the use of personal referees. If an applicant has been an approved as a foster carer in the previous year, and that service provides a reference, there is no requirement (but still the ability) to interview two personal referees. Additionally, if a foster carer is transferring between services, applying to adopt, or an adopter is applying to foster, the agency has 15 days to supply the information.</p><p>If you have any queries with regard to the changes, please list them in the comments below or email me at <a href="mailto:james.foyle@fostering.net">james.foyle@fostering.net</a></p><h2>Don’t Move Me</h2><p>The Fostering Network has launched a new campaign to allow young people to stay with their foster carers beyond their 18th birthday.</p><p><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/uploads/fb-banner-dont-move-me-alt.png" style="height:148px; vertical-align:middle; width:400px"></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Championed by Wythenshawe and Sale East MP, Paul Goggins MP, and receiving wide cross-party support, the campaign is change the law so that young people in England can remain with their foster carers until the age of 21, if both parties agree.</p><p>An amendment to the Children and Families Bill was tabled by Paul Goggins, and signed by 21 MPs ahead of the report stage of the Bill in the House of Commons. Ann Coffey MP spoke to the amendment, and in reply children’s minister Edward Timpson MP said that he could look again at legislation in future, if recent guidance did not make a difference.</p><p>The average age for most young people to leave home across the UK is 24 years. Where the placement is stable and positive, being able to stay longer with their foster carers could make a difference to a young person’s academic achievements, provide a secure base for entering into the workplace or generally smoothing the transition into adulthood.</p><p>The Fostering Network will be taking forward this campaign as the bill enters the House of Lords. The new guidance may already be leading to a change in your practice. We would also like to hear your views on how a change in the law would impact on your fostering service in terms of retention and recruitment of foster carers, and how we can work together to look for new ways of recruiting and retaining the foster families needed. Either leave a comment on this blog or email <a href="mailto:james.foyle@fostering.net">james.foyle@fostering.net</a></p><h2><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/uploads/learnign_and_development_scotland.jpg" style="float:right; height:186px; width:139px">Recruitment and retention forums in Scotland</h2><p>An action for the Fostering Network following last month’s event with the Scottish Government is to develop a recruitment and retention forum to enable sharing of good practice, ideas and opportunities for joint working in Scotland. A working group is being established, and there’s still time for people to be part of this if they would like, while you can also be part of the wider forum by getting in touch with the Fostering Network Scotland’s Sarah McEnhill at <a href="mailto:sara.mcenhill@fostering.net">sara.mcenhill@fostering.net</a></p><p>Elsewhere, we have a new <a target="_blank" href="/get-involved/training-consultancy">learning and development leaflet</a>, showcasing all of our in-house training offers in Scotland, including a number of courses to support foster carers.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h2>Fostering Communities project</h2><p><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/uploads/building_relationships_wales.jpg" style="float:left; height:237px; margin-right:5px; width:172px"></p><p>Bridgend CBC foster carers recently came together in a training session in June, as part of the Fostering Network Wales Fostering Communities project, to focus on storytelling and attachment.&nbsp;</p><p>Project manager Maria Boffey said: ’It might seem that storytelling is just a fun activity for very young children, something that they do before they learn to read for themselves. However, it can be one of the most powerful tools you can imagine to use with children of any age to help develop important cognitive skills for learning about the world and for also learning about dealing with feelings and relationships. It can be particular useful for foster children and helps strengthen their relationship with you. Above all, it’s fun and surprisingly easy to learn.’</p><p>Bernadette Guy, social worker, said: ‘This event was a departure from our more traditional method of learning about attachment. Not only was it fun but also gave an opportunity to tackle some thorny and difficult issues in a relaxed atmosphere. My feeling was that attendees left with an array of practical tools whilst also benefiting from being able to share their experiences and tips.’<br>A free copy for members of the guide<a target="_blank" href="/sites/default/files/resources/publications/building-relationships-through-storytelling-31-10-12.pdf"> Building Relationships through Storytelling:&nbsp; A foster carer’s guide to attachment and stories</a> is available.</p><h2>Northern Ireland family fun day</h2><p>Saturday 25 May 2013 saw 50 Foster Carers and Young people taking part in our family fun day at Lough Neagh Discovery Centre.&nbsp; This was a joint venture between the Fostering Network and the Public Health Agency. The day began with a Zumba workshop enjoyed by attendees and staff alike.&nbsp;</p><p>This was followed by a fruit themed arts workshop for the young people while foster carers had the opportunity to take part in a discussion on the health needs of looked after children with Kathleen Toner, Deputy Director and Doris Dickison Advice and Information Officer.</p><h2>IN FOCUS</h2><p>As last year’s survey of fostering services showed, those that take part often see a spike in the number of enquiries they receive. Initial feedback from fostering services such as Gloucestershire, which doubled monthly enquiries, and Foster Swansea, suggest that trend is set to continue.</p><p>In periods when fostering services are contemplating a campaign, it is important to consider all stakeholders involved, including those internal ones who will be responsible for fielding initial enquiries and distributing information packs. Apportioning sufficient resources to staff phones and extra information sessions in periods of higher levels of enquiries is a major exercise. Let’s look at some of the other important points to consider…<br>Six top tips for handling initial enquiries</p><ol><li>First impressions count – A cliché but so relevant in an increasingly competitive market place. Gone are the days when prospective foster carers will persevere and call you several times before receiving a response. Make sure there is a dedicated member of staff on hand to answer the call within a specified amount of time. And be clear in your communications about when your office will be open to receive calls, so as not to disappoint enquirers.</li><li>Consider the skills required to take the call – Many fostering services prefer to have someone with a social work qualification handling initial calls. However it is often sufficient for a non-practitioner to be handling initial calls, provided the fostering service has a clear script for initial enquiries.</li><li>Ask the right questions&nbsp; – Although fostering services are keen to encourage people to put themselves in the frame to become a foster carer, it is important to establish whether the enquirer would be suitable to foster. Certain criteria, such as not having a spare room or a criminal record, may prevent people from fostering, so be clear from the start in order to be efficient with resources and avoid raising expectations.</li><li>Be selective – the assumption that ‘bigger is better’ is not always the case. By doing a detailed needs analysis, you will know the make-up of your local looked-after children population. If you have sufficient foster carers for 0 to 5s for example, if the enquirer is only expressing an interest in this age group and isn’t presenting the skills or is reluctant to foster other groups, thank them for their interest and signpost them to an alternative service.</li><li>Be flexible – This is two-fold. Firstly, many will not be aware of your fostering service’s requirements with regards to jobs outside the home. In the interim the enquirer may have a full-time job, which they may be willing to scale back in future, but for the initial visit, offer them the flexibility of a time that suits them. Additionally, not everyone that enquires wants to start the process straight away. Often we hear of people feeling rushed through the process, “I only wanted to find out what it would involve, now I find myself starting training!”. Strike a balance of encouraging, but giving enquirers the time to make a life changing decision.</li><li>Following up – Following on from the above, how can you engage those that only request an information pack? For starters, capture their email address to include them on any newsletters you produce or forward them dates and invite them to information sessions. If you’re producing a new campaign, email them some of the marketing literature to remind them of who you’re looking for…hopefully them! Again, strike a balance between reminding them you’re there with being overbearing and turning a good prospect off.</li></ol><h3>PS</h3><p>Recruitment forums exist across England as an opportunity for fostering services to come together to share information, hear about the latest from the Fostering Network and look at opportunities to develop joint working initiatives.</p><p>In the next phase of establishing forums, I’m looking to hear from local authority foster carer recruiters in:</p><ul><li>East Midlands</li><li>West Midlands</li><li>Yorkshire and Humberside</li></ul><p>who would like to form a forum in their respective area.</p><p>To register your interest or for more information, please email me at <a href="mailto:james.foyle@fostering.net">james.foyle@fostering.net</a></p></div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-blog-tags--blog.html.twig * field--node--field-blog-tags.html.twig * field--node--blog.html.twig * field--field-blog-tags.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-blog-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field--items"> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/504" hreflang="en">foster carers</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/505" hreflang="en">fostering services</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/543" hreflang="en">fostering</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/793" hreflang="en">recruitment</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/794" hreflang="en">retention</a></div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="flag.link_builder:build" arguments="0=node&amp;1=6249&amp;2=favourite_content" token="gdfuezsWOGZ50c_fkfGns0lNUvtW27eP-4Uafy-kq04"></drupal-render-placeholder> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-comment--blog.html.twig * field--node--field-comment.html.twig * field--node--blog.html.twig * field--field-comment.html.twig x field--comment.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/comment/templates/field--comment.html.twig' --> <section> <h2>Add new comment</h2> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="comment.lazy_builders:renderForm" arguments="0=node&amp;1=6249&amp;2=field_comment&amp;3=comment" token="Z6MGmiyMVnnAKQWP-8ty5_d4eaXkhzLgZnDPY3JgTdI"></drupal-render-placeholder> </section> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/comment/templates/field--comment.html.twig' --> Fri, 21 Jun 2013 09:53:58 +0000 James Foyle 6249 at https://www.thefosteringnetwork.org.uk https://www.thefosteringnetwork.org.uk/blogs/james-foyle/attracting-and-keeping-carers-june-2013#comments A foster carer discusses the positive effects of staying in care https://www.thefosteringnetwork.org.uk/blogs/dom-tfn/foster-carer-discusses-positive-effects-staying-care <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--title--blog.html.twig x field--node--title.html.twig * field--node--blog.html.twig * field--title.html.twig * field--string.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <span>A foster carer discusses the positive effects of staying in care</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--uid--blog.html.twig x field--node--uid.html.twig * field--node--blog.html.twig * field--uid.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <span> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'username' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> <span lang="" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">Dom-tFN</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> </span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--created--blog.html.twig x field--node--created.html.twig * field--node--blog.html.twig * field--created.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <span>Fri, 06/07/2013 - 15:48</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'links__node' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * links--node.html.twig x links.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/tfnetwork/templates/system/links.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/tfnetwork/templates/system/links.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-introduction--blog.html.twig * field--node--field-introduction.html.twig * field--node--blog.html.twig * field--field-introduction.html.twig * field--text-long.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-introduction field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field--item">My wife and I are registered foster carers and are in favour of the amendment to the Children and Families Bill that would allow young people in foster care to remain with their carers until the age of 21, if both the young person and the carers were in favour of such an arrangement.</div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--body--blog.html.twig * field--node--body.html.twig * field--node--blog.html.twig * field--body.html.twig * field--text-with-summary.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p>One young man we fostered stayed with us beyond his 18th birthday, and was able to move on to independence in his own time, judging the point at which he was sufficiently mature to enter into a house-sharing arrangement.&nbsp; He was able to manage his money, hold down a job, and has recently married and is doing a great job carrying for his own children.&nbsp;</p><p>I feel our care for him beyond 18 was part of the solution for him finding his feet in the adult world, and making a success of his life.&nbsp;</p><p>I contrast this with another teenager we cared for who left on her 18th birthday, desperate to achieve independence. Ten years later she is still struggling with the poor decisions she then made, having cost the state a small fortune in health and social care costs, and having done irreparable damage to her health.&nbsp;</p><p>I believe that for all children leaving care, the ability to stay with the family they have grown up with is a reasonable right that each should be offered.&nbsp; Independent research has demonstrated that the longer a young person can stay with a foster family, the more successful they are later on.</p><p>This change to the law is not only justified on equity grounds - all of these children, by definition, have been dealt a very poor hand as youngsters, and the typical young person now leaves home at the age of 24 - it is also likely to be cost-effective for the taxpayer.&nbsp;</p></div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-blog-tags--blog.html.twig * field--node--field-blog-tags.html.twig * field--node--blog.html.twig * field--field-blog-tags.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-blog-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field--items"> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/321" hreflang="en">campaign</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/326" hreflang="en">foster care</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/504" hreflang="en">foster carers</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/918" hreflang="en">care leavers</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/919" hreflang="en">Don&#039;t Move Me</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/920" hreflang="en">Parliament</a></div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="flag.link_builder:build" arguments="0=node&amp;1=6206&amp;2=favourite_content" token="KhqGmjqt9hz2D6Ikl_UyIbIJIIJFKkeDOD9Zv_U5UFA"></drupal-render-placeholder> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-comment--blog.html.twig * field--node--field-comment.html.twig * field--node--blog.html.twig * field--field-comment.html.twig x field--comment.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/comment/templates/field--comment.html.twig' --> <section> <h2>Add new comment</h2> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="comment.lazy_builders:renderForm" arguments="0=node&amp;1=6206&amp;2=field_comment&amp;3=comment" token="6gBxtJsE-jRlUqgbmkhZ4SrYmJEIYWYGjcP2UVbrSUY"></drupal-render-placeholder> </section> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/comment/templates/field--comment.html.twig' --> Fri, 07 Jun 2013 15:48:14 +0000 Dom-tFN 6206 at https://www.thefosteringnetwork.org.uk https://www.thefosteringnetwork.org.uk/blogs/dom-tfn/foster-carer-discusses-positive-effects-staying-care#comments