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Contents

1. Introduction
2. Supervising Social Workers
3. Out of Hours Telephone Support
4. Support Groups
5. Foster Carer Training
6. General Support
7. Finance

1. Introduction 

In the Lewisham Fostering Service there is a rigorous support strategy for foster carers which is outlined in Section 5, Foster Carer Training.

2. Supervising Social Workers

Every fostering household has a named Supervising Social Worker, who visits on a regular basis. Home visits are recorded using a standard format with copies provided to the foster carer following each visit. The Supervising Social Worker will also attend meetings such as Placement Plan and Child Looked After Reviews, and will conduct the foster carer's annual review and present to the Fostering Panel as required.

The Supervising Social Worker should be aware of the demands of each placement and must provide support via the telephone and regular Home visits. The Supervising Social Worker should also assess the needs of the individual foster carer and to identify where additional support and/or training may be required and facilitate this.

3. Out of Hours Telephone Support

Either the Service Manager or one of the Team Managers is always available "on call" via a mobile telephone number at all times when the office is closed. The Fostering Management Team offer telephone advice only. The Lewisham Emergency Duty Team (EDT) will continue to offer a service, should practical support be required out of hours.

4. Support Groups

The Fostering Service provides a variety of support groups to meet the needs of different groups of foster carers. These are: mainstream/general support group, new foster carers support group and men’s support group. The support groups provided are regularly reviewed by the foster carers and management to respond to identified needs.

5. Foster Carer Training

The Care Standards Act 2000 as well as Fostering Regulations and the National Minimum Standards 2011 give high priority to the training, development and support of foster carers. In Lewisham we are fully committed to providing Foster Carers with learning opportunities.

Foster carers are offered a range of training opportunities, which are detailed on Fosternets. Courses run in the daytime, in the evenings and weekends. These comprise "core training" as well as specialist courses for particular groups of carers, e.g. baby carers, male carers and children of foster carers.

In Lewisham we produce our own programme of training for foster carers and also share training with neighbouring boroughs. There is a range of 12 core training courses and these are mandatory for all foster carers to attend. 

We operate a rolling  programme which extends over a period of a year.  Foster carers are expected to attend some training during each programme. In line with Statutory Requirements newly approved cares must complete the CWDC Training, Support and Development Standards within 12 months of their approval and 18 months for family and friends carers. The Service Manager, Fostering, runs the CWDC Standards completion workshops.  Foster carers are provided with excellent technical and professional input and support to achieve completion of their CWDC Standards Portfolios. 

Supervising Social Workers are expected to discuss training with foster carers and encourage them to reflect on the training. This includes drawing out what is learned from training and looking at how this has changed and improved the foster carer's practice.

Future training needs should also be discussed by the Supervising Social Workers and foster carers, which in turn influences the training provided by the Fostering Service. All carers must have a Personal Learning and Development Plan and this should be reviewed every six months.

Any training attended will be entered into the foster carer's training record. The training record is used to monitor a foster carer's progress through core training and subsequent training and incorporated into the Annual Review.

Failure to complete the training programme or to attend training generally will  be included in the Annual Review and will be discussed at the Fostering Panel as part of the re-approval process.

Foster carers are also encouraged to attend training which provides the opportunity for joint training with Social Workers. Carers training includes the NVQ Level 3 Caring for Children and Young People.

Foster carers in Lewisham are also encouraged to become involved in co-facilitating training.   There is a formal selection and interview process for this, subsequent to which successful foster carers are provided with ‘Train the Trainer’ training.

There is also a formal mentoring scheme for new foster carers, which complements the practice of encouraging foster carers to "buddy up" in order to offer each other respite and/or support.

6. General Support

Foster carers are offered support by their local foster carers group. The Lewisham Foster Care Association, meets monthly  with the Fostering Managers and sits on a variety of Children’s Social

Care Divisional and Council bodies. To enable the Fostering Carers Association to undertake their work, the Fostering Service provides financial support in the form of an annual grant. Foster carers are also provided with free membership of the National Association and the Fostering Network.  Foster carers are provided with information reflecting the new Fostering Regulations and National Minimum Standards 2011.

7. Finance

Foster Carers Allowances

Each foster carer receives an allowance for each child that they have in placement. The amount a foster carer receives depends on the age of the child. Allowances are reviewed annually. Full details of foster care allowances are contained in the Fostering Financial Scheme,  which is reviewed and updated annually.

End