Fostering News - Suffolk County Council

May 2011 ISSUE 03
News: from the
Suffolk
Support Groups
Fostering News
In this issue:
Sue’s Message
2
News frrom the North 3
News from the South 4
News from the West
5
Link News
6
FRAT News
7
SFCA News
8
Training News
9
News from the County 10
Upcoming Events
11
Children Who Foster 12
In Brief:
Foster Care fortnight
CPD online
162-CYP-281010
Foster Carer Charter
Children who foster
Thorpe Woodlands
adventure centre
Sue’s: Message
Change is in the air…
With the winter behind us I am sure you and your family are all looking forward to getting out and about enjoying the warm spring
sunshine. In the Fostering Service we are all gearing up for Fostering Fortnight (16th – 29th May 2011) our biggest recruitment
activity of the year and we are always looking for foster carers to join us in promoting fostering for Suffolk. If you haven’t become
involved before this is your chance to take part. Why not come along to the Family Fun Day on Saturday 21st May at Tower
Ramparts Shopping Centre Ipswich. See website for more details: www.suffolkfostering.com
The new financial year which started on the 1st April, has also brought in changes that will affect you as carers, including the start of
the new fostering payment rates. I am delighted that this year we have been able to continue to demonstrate our ongoing
commitment to our carers by matching the Fostering Network recommended fostering allowance rates for 2011-2012 (5%
increase). A more detailed and updated Schedule of Allowances for 2011-2012 will be available shortly. You will find this information
on the Fostering page of the Suffolk County Council website
www.suffolk.gov.uk/CareAndHealth/FosteringAndAdoption/Fostering/FosteringServiceInSuffolk
New practice guidance for foster carers and new National Minimum Standards (NMS) and a Foster Carer Charter (see page 11)
were also introduced on the 1st April. We are very pleased with these changes and excited about what this means for our
partnership working with you. I would encourage you all to take a look at these on the Fostering Network site www.fostering.net
I am currently organising some new learning events for foster carers across the County around the new standards and the Foster
Carer Charter. Look out for more information on the learning and development website
www.suffolk.gov.uk/EducationAndLearning/WorkBasedLearning
I look forward to seeing some of you at our forthcoming Long Service Awards at Ipswich Town Football Club on Sunday, 22nd May
2011. Please invite me to your Support Groups, I am happy to come and talk about the changes to the NMS and catch up on your
news and views about fostering for Suffolk County Council.
With best wishes
Sue
Important new number:
Out of Hours for all carers 0808 800 4005
Sue Lowndes
Head of Fostering Service
Email Details
Please complete and return to Shaleha Miah, Suffolk County Council, 8 Russell Road, Ipswich IP1 2BX
Name of Carer:
Email Address:
@
Or email your address to [email protected]
2
Suffolk Fostering News ISSUE 02
News: from the North
Welcome
Children who Foster Group
Firstly we would like to extend a warm
welcome to all the new foster carers in the
North of the County. The Northern area
foster carers have been busy getting
together in groups and trying to make links
with each other.
Thanks to Georgie who designed our recent
poster for the February half term activity!
We are always happy to hear of new ideas
and activities for the group and look forward
to seeing you all in the School holidays.
Deben Support Group
The Deben Support group enjoyed a Body
Shop party in November 2010 and
continued to keep busy this year by having
a number of guests attend, including Jo
Dixon, Early Years Librarian, and Trevor
Cade, Children's Guardian.
Date for your diary: Annual Picnic at
Dunwich Heath. This will be held on
Saturday 16th July, from 11am onwards.
Come along and join in the fun!
Further ideas for activities, topics of
discussion and guest speakers are welcome
and we will do our best to support this –
please contact Debbie Welham on
01728 403174 or email
[email protected].
We look forward to seeing group members
(new and old!) throughout 2011. The group
meets every third Wednesday of each
month at Rendlesham – please contact
Debbie Welham on 01728 403174 or
email [email protected]
Dove Support Group
The group meet regularly at the Laxfield
Baptist Church, and the next meeting will be
on the 5th May 2011 – please contact
Ani Karia on 01728 403112 or email
[email protected].
Blyth Support Group
The Blyth Group has been pleased to
welcome a number of new members. The
group has had some very interesting
speakers including Stephen Amer, Manager
of Beccles library, Linda Gower from
LACESS and a Health Visitor.
Contact Sue Cotton for details on
01728 403174 or email
[email protected]
See invite on page 12 for the Thorpe
Woodlands adventure centre 25 June.
Are you a young person
whose family is fostering?
Would you like to link up
with other young people in
the same situation?
A couple of young people whose parents
are foster carers have recently asked if they
can be put in touch with others living locally
and in the same situation as themselves,
perhaps to share experiences on-line, to
speak on the phone, or meet up face to
face should enough people be interested for
an ‘event’ or activity to be arranged.
We are keen to set something up in the
North of the county if possible. So if you are
part of a ‘family who fosters’ in this area, are
between the ages of around 15 to 21, and
interested in making contact with others in
the same situation, then contact
Annie Richardson at West House, Street
Farm Road, Saxmundham,
telephone 01728 403174 or e-mail
[email protected].
Please send us your contact details (email
address/ telephone number) and we will get
back in touch with you. We would also be
pleased to hear any ideas you may have
about how best for people to be linked up
with one another.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Waveney Support Group
Once again the Waveney Support Group
was busy with the Christmas activities, and
the raffle draw helped raise funds for all the
children’s activities and summer outings.
The Christmas party was very successful
again with both adults and children joining in
the games. The group also had a Christmas
card competition for the first time.
The group is now planning speakers for the
rest of this year, and have already had a
children’s Guardian talk to the group about
her role. Because of the success the group
had with the Christmas activities, it has
been suggested to have a similar activity for
the Easter Holiday. The group would
welcome any suggestions as well as ideas
for the summer outings. Contact Laura
Gavrila for further details on 01728 403185
or email [email protected]
Men Who Foster Group
A group has now been set up for the men
who foster, which includes all the adult men
in the household. To date they have had
four sessions. The group meet at the
Shadingfield Fox, near Beccles, on the last
Tuesday of every month from 7.30pm. They
are hoping to have a guest speaker from
SFCA as well as a trainer regarding Safer
Care. Please contact Jenny Overett for
further details on 01728 403174 or email
[email protected]
3
News: from the South
Highfield Children’s Centre
Ipswich Support Group
Our Ipswich Support Group Meets on
the 1st and 3rd Monday of each month
at the Highfield Children’s Centre
between 9.30am-11.30am.
Topics for discussion and training to be
covered on the 1st Mondays will include:
• Introduction to children’s centres
• Infant massage
• Holistic play / treasure basket
• Minor illnesses
• Child development
• Safety in the home.
The 3rd Monday each month is a
chance for carers to get together and
have a chat over a cuppa.
Kinship Support Group
Our Kinship Support Group will meet at
Castle Hill Community Centre between
10am -12.00noon on the following
dates:
• Thursday 5 May
• Thursday 9 June
• Thursday 7 July
• Thursday 8 Sept
• Thursday 6 Oct
• Thursday 10 Nov
Come along and meet other kinship
carers and talk about the challenges
faced by fostering a child from your
own family.
Felixstowe Support Group
The Felixstowe Support Group hold
Informal meetings on the 1st Wednesday
of each month between 10am-12noon
at The Oaks Children’s Centre, Grange
Road, Felixstowe. If you would like more
information about any of the support
groups please contact
Rosa McCulloch, Fostering Support
Worker on 01473 583594 or speak to
your support worker.
4
Since we started using Highfield Children’s
centre for our support group meetings in
September word quickly spread about the
excellent facilities and our numbers have
doubled – some carers even travel from
Hadleigh and Felixstowe! The friendly
professional staff make each foster carer
feel welcome and valued. The provision of a
safe environment in which the children can
play encourages a relaxed atmosphere
where the carers can discuss issues,
engage in training and enjoy a chat whilst
keeping a weather eye on the children. The
feedback I have received from the carers
has all been positive.
In addition to the support groups foster
carers can access any facilities the centre
offers which includes Webster Stratton
based course “Enjoying your children”;
“Messy Play”; “Infant Massage” to name but
a few. Check out your local children’s centre
to see what’s on offer there.
Christmas Party 2010
Thank You Thank You Thank You to
everyone who helped to make our
Christmas party 2010 such a success. Over
60 youngsters and their carers/parents
attended and enjoyed the many activities.
The relaxed atmosphere, good company
and venue were an ideal combination. Santa
was on hand with his helpers and the
children enjoyed chatting with him and
receiving their presents. The organising
committee worked very hard so well done to
Meg, Ruth, Sue, Emma, Gillian and
Jeanette. Thanks also to the volunteers who
gave not only their time but also made no
charge for the equipment used in the
children’s activities.
Steph giving carers examples of Holistic
play items and treasure baskets ideas.
Please contact Rosa McCulloch for further
details.
[email protected]
Dates for Your Diary
Family Fun Day
This years family Fun day will be held on
Saturday 30 July at Highfield Children’s
Centre between 10am – 4pm. This day is
for the whole family to come along and
enjoy. We have use of both the outside play
area as well as indoor facilities.
More details will be issued nearer the time –
but please keep this date in your diary and
let us know if you can make it.
[email protected]
Suffolk Fostering News ISSUE 02
News: from the West
Western Events
Sylvia Webster
'Sylvia our Christmas fairy'
Last years Christmas Party 2010, was
another hugely successful event. There was
a change of venue to the Sugar Beet Social
Club at Bury, which provided a bit more
space for all the fun. Santa, as ever, was a
big hit and delivered presents to all the
children, helped by a very sparkly, authentic
looking, fairy (alias Sylvia), while ‘Magic Olly’
entertained the children and provided music
and dancing opportunities.
New coffee morning
Do you live in the Bury or
Stowmarket area? Come and join us
for coffee – all foster cares welcome
Contact Margaret Baker foster carer
01359 232272
or Sue Eastwood
01284 763979
Haverhill Support Group
The Haverhill carers support group meets
monthly on a Monday between 11am and
1pm at the Haverhill Arts Centre.
The group begins with an informal support
session followed by a guest speaker.
Some of the other speakers confirmed are
Linda Norris LACESS, Catch 22, an art
therapist, Jim Bond, Vice Chair of Fostering
Panel and Gill Morris, Business Support
Administrator.
The next meeting will be on Monday
23rd May 2011.
For more details please contact Nicole
Wolfe on 01284 758570 or email
[email protected].
Stowmarket
Carer's Support Group
The Stowmarket carers Support Group now
meets on the first Tuesday of the month at
'The Opportunity Group', Chilton Fields,
Chilton Way, Stowmarket, IP14 1SZ,
between 12.30pm - 2.30pm.
Please contact Sylvia Webster for details
on 01284 758465 or email:
[email protected]
Bury St Edmunds
Carers Support Group
This meets monthly, during the morning, in
carer's homes for coffee. Meeting dates and
venues are decided at the previous meeting.
For information about date of next meeting
and venue please contact either
Sue Eastwood, foster carer, on
01284 763979 or Sue Foster, foster carer,
on 01359 271933.
The group also meets every two months in
the evening, for discussions and mutual
support, at Bury St Edmunds Library.
The next meeting is on Wednesday 18 May
between 7.30pm - 9.30pm.
Town Plate Support Group
– Newmarket
This is an informal support group which
meets approximately every 6 weeks at All
Saints Church in Newmarket. The group is
also used as a forum for informal training
sessions. Recently we have used sessions
to discuss and complete standards in the
CWDC workbooks. Foster carers who
attend this group are eager to meet up with
support groups from other areas, and would
like to invite other groups to Newmarket.
Please contact Jo Chenery on 01284
758570 or email
[email protected] / Jan Stiff,
foster carer on 01638 731002 for more
information and future meeting dates.
Dates for your Diary
Summer event Wednesday
the 10th August venue to
be confirmed.
Christmas Party
Monday the 19th
December.
5
LINK: News
LINK News
Welcome to the Link page. If you haven’t
come across Link before, Link carers provide
short breaks for children with disabilities. The
importance of short break services was
demonstrated in a national news story earlier
this year. It highlighted the pressures on a
mother who no longer felt able to care for her
disabled daughter at home without short
breaks. It is always moving to hear of these
situations, and from time to time they do
receive coverage in the national news. (Please
see MENCAPS Breaking Point Campaign for
further information). We are very aware of the
big difference that Link carers make for
disabled children and their families, and as is
often the case the examples of carers’
commitment and support tend to receive less
publicity, through this page we try to show
this side. Each individual Link offers
something different, and one of the strengths
of the scheme is the careful matching of
carers and families, which often results in long
term support and friendship.
Share the Care week promoted by the
Shared Care Network took place this year
between 21 – 27 March this year, so you may
have noticed more publicity about this service
then.
Welcome back Viv
We would like to send good wishes to Viv
Aspinall (Acting Manager) who made a
speedy recovery from her recent hip
operation and has returned to work. David
McGee has kept everything running
smoothly in the meantime and we have all
appreciated his support.
Get involved
We always welcome your contributions for
this newsletter, so please contact Sarah
Miller-Williams if you have something to
include in the next issue.
Tel No: 01728 403174 or E-mail
[email protected]
6
We would like to thank Sebastian for this
great picture. Sebastian has recently been in
hospital, so instead of his usual trips out
and about with his Link carer Sally, she has
been visiting him at home. Sally has helped
him with his homework and encouraged him
to do some drawing. We wish Sebastian
well, and hope that he and Sally will be able
to go and see some real trains again very
soon.
CWDC Workbooks
Support Group Update
Just a reminder to all Link carers that your
CWDC workbooks need to complete by
June 2011. A steady number of carers
have now completed theirs, whilst others
are making good progress. It has proved to
be helpful to many carers to reflect on their
roles and responsibilities. Would anyone
like to let us know how they have got on for
the next newsletter? All new carers will be
expected to complete a workbook in their
first 12 months and Link befrienders also
have the option to compete the workbooks.
The support groups for Link carers and
foster carers of disabled children have been
successful and there have so far been three
meetings, a summer picnic and a Christmas
party. They are a great way to meet other
carers, learn new things and to share stories
and advice about your experiences.
Our Christmas Party
Picture of the magician Bobz Ya Runcle and
his magic dove keeping the children (and
adults!) entertained
The first meetings of 2011 were in March in
Bury St Edmunds, repeated in the daytime
and the evening, where the topic was visual
and multi-sensory impairment. This was led
by a Link carer who works as an Advisory
Teacher in that area.
If there is a particular topic that you would
like to include at a future meeting or know
someone that you would like to invite to talk
to the group then please let us know. We
will soon be organising a summer event so
please speak to your social worker if you
would like to get involved.
and of course we had our very own Father
Christmas.
Suffolk Fostering News ISSUE 02
FRAT: News
What is FRAT?
Foster Care Fortnight 2011
FRAT stands for Fostering Recruitment &
Assessment Team! All foster carers who
have been approved within the last 5 years
will be familiar with the team, and have
passed through us before going on to one
of the area supervising teams. Anyone, who
has been with the Fostering Service for
longer may not be aware of who we are or
what we do. FRAT is responsible for
recruiting, training and assessing new foster
carers. The team also takes the lead on
family finding for children who need
permanent foster families. If you are thinking
of offering a permanent foster placement
please go to www.suffolkfostering.com and
follow the link to our children’s profiles page,
to see some of the children currently
waiting.
It is hard to believe that it is almost a year
since our last Foster Care Fortnight
campaign. Nevertheless it’s upon us again,
and will be taking place between 16 – 29
May.
FRAT also enjoys the support of our
approved foster carers and would like to
thank everyone that has supported the team
in the last few years. Foster carers have
helped us with recruitment events,
information evenings and preparation
training and making themselves available for
media interviews on occasions! There have
been some really lovely articles in the local
press and inspirational radio interviews
about the rewards and challenges since
becoming a foster carer. FRAT really values
the support of foster carers and always
welcomes the involvement of carers across
the country.
Can you help support this
year’s campaign?
Foster Care Fortnight is led by the Fostering
Network and is aimed at highlighting the
urgent need for more foster carers across
the Country. In Suffolk we have almost 800
children in care, of which the majority are in
foster care. There is always a significant
shortfall in foster carers, making this
campaign a key opportunity to raise local
awareness and generate new enquiries.
Following the success of our last few year’s
campaigns we will once again be back out
in the towns and communities of Suffolk
We are always looking for more of our
approved foster carers to help in the
recruitment of new carers, as we believe no
one is better positioned to talk about the
fostering task than you! The success of our
Foster Care Fortnight campaigns relies
heavily on the support of our existing carers.
Your help on our information stands and in
with our information stands, to talk to the
public and provide information about the
Fostering Service. These stands provide a
great opportunity for anyone that may be
thinking about fostering to come along, get
some information and talk to social workers
and foster carers about the fostering task.
Last years the team generated over 100
new enquiries during the 2 weeks, and this
year we would like to get even more! We
know that encouraging enquirers to take the
next step can take some time however, we
also know it is worth the investment as
already we have two applicants approved as
a direct result of last years campaign and
several more enquires going through the
process or still considering if this is the right
time to come forward.
our publicity is invaluable, and once again
we are appealing for your support. If you are
able to spare any time during the fortnight
and would be willing to help with any of our
stands we would really like to hear from you.
Please contact Stacey Everett to find out
more, and get details of dates and venues.
You can call on 01449 742862 / 07920
466275 or email:
[email protected].
Schedule of Information Stands:
Date
Venue
Time
Wednesday 18 May
Bury St Edmunds Market
9am – 4pm
New Foster Carers
Thursday 19 May
The Britten Shopping Centre, Lowestoft
10am – 3pm
The Following new foster carers have been
approved since January 2011:
Thursday 19 May
Sudbury (venue TBC)
10am – 3pm
Friday 20 May
Debenhams, Ipswich
10am – 3pm
Friday 20 May
Tesco’s Haverhill
10am – 3pm
Saturday 21 May
Tower Ramparts Shopping Centre, Ipswich
10am – 2pm
Wednesday 25 May
Bury St Edmunds Market
9am – 4pm
Thursday 26 May
Beccles (venue TBC)
10am – 3pm
Thursday 26 May
Asda, Ipswich
10am – 3pm
Friday 27 May
Debenhams, Ipswich
10am – 3pm
Friday 27 May
Sainsbury’s Mildenhall
10am – 3pm
Saturday 28 May
Sainsbury’s Bury St Edmunds
10am – 3pm
Tracey & Jason
Annette & John
Carly & Nick
Julie & Greg
Vanessa & Sean
Sarah & Steve
We also welcome back Kate & Ivy.
We would like to welcome our new foster
carers and wish you all the best in your new
role. We know how much you will contribute
to making a difference to looked after
children in Suffolk.
7
Suffolk Foster Care Association:
Leaving Care Catch22
Seminar
Supporting Foster Carers
In these times of change and financial
constraints it is even more important that
the Suffolk Foster Care Association
continues to provide a voice to its foster
carers with the aim of improving the
outcomes for the children we care for.
Meetings
We plan to use these meetings for you to
meet one another and to introduce different
topics of interest and to invite speakers – as
well as to report what your Association is up
to at that time. Please do let us know if you
have any suggestions or tell us who you
would like to hear from. We are also hoping
to invite members of the Corporate Parenting
Board along to take part in an “open surgery”
for one of the meetings.
Legislation
Those of you who have worked on NVQs
and the CWDC training standards will now
realise that there is legislation out there
intended to support our young people. We
need to make sure we keep abreast of it –
and use it to advance the causes of our
children and young people.
Suffolk has a Corporate Parenting Board and
a Children in Care Council – we all need to
work together. The Fostering Network, as
always, is a tower of strength in the work it
undertakes lobbying central government on
the issues affecting foster carers and looked
after children. Your Suffolk Foster Care
Association is now part of the Fostering
Network’s Eastern Regional Forum.
Get Involved
We are always delighted to hear from any foster
carers who wish to become more actively
involved. Tell us what you feel your strengths
are, and we are sure we can use them.
George Luker Chair, SFCA
[email protected]
Anna McDermott Vice Chair, SFCA
[email protected]
8
Recently the SFCA organised a seminar
with Catch 22, the charity with
responsibility for our young people leaving
care. It was a huge success bringing
together foster carers with an organisation
committed to helping our young people get
the best out of what is on offer. Two more
events will be held in Lowestoft and Bury St
Edmunds, please look out for dates.
The seminar was in response to feedback
from foster carers who were concerned
about the lack of information they had
received on what to expect for their young
people who were reaching the age of 16.
Catch 22 was commissioned in April 2009
to provide a comprehensive looked
after children and leaving care
service to young people in Suffolk.
A Catch 22 social worker takes
over responsibility for a child at 16
with a six month “handover” period
commencing when a young person
reaches 15 and a half.
Sixteen foster carers met with
representatives from Catch 22, YMCA and
Connexions on 10 February at Castle Hill
Community Centre in Ipswich. All had young
people in the target age range and all had
very different experiences of the process.
The day was an eye-opener for all
concerned. Catch 22 had mainly been
liaising with the Care Management Teams
and were surprised at how little information
had been reaching foster carers.
Di Ana Stewart, Service Manager of Catch
22 said: “This event provided an ideal
opportunity to meet with Suffolk foster
carers to explore a range of issues and gain
a better understanding of the different roles
and responsibilities. As Corporate Parents it
is important that we work in partnership to
ensure that looked after children and care
leavers receive the best service possible
based on the principle…Is this good enough
for my child?
Catch 22 is committed to taking on board
the feedback received from foster carers
based on their experiences. This will be
valuable in assisting us in making
continued improvements to Suffolk
16+ service“
New legislation comes into force
on 1st April 2011 which aims to
improve services to looked after
children and young people leaving
care. It will also support young people to
stay with foster carers where appropriate.
The Suffolk Foster Care Association plans to
set up a Leaving Care Liaison Group
comprising of foster carers, who will take a
lead role in ensuring that all foster carers
who need to have the information are fully
informed of what to expect for their
young people.
Now we know you exist – Brilliant!
This was just one of the evaluation form
comments following a Leaving Care
Seminar staged for carers by Catch22
and the Suffolk Foster Care Association.
Suffolk Fostering News ISSUE 02
Training: News
CPD Online
Distance Learning Books
(A new website to book training and
record professional development).
The biggest news currently is that Suffolk
Children’s Services is about to launch a new
workforce development database and online booking system.
Many carers are finding the distance
learning books particularly useful; to make
things easier for you, the fostering teams will
soon have a stock of the books and you will
be able to organise borrowing with them.
You will be able to discuss the content with
your worker and also how to apply the
learning to the children for whom you are
currently caring.
From April 2011 you will be able to:
• Register on the site yourself.
• View all training programmes offered to
CYPS staff and carers.
• Book course places.
• Log a continuing record of all training /
development undertaken.
For the first time foster carers will have the
same training system as staff and we hope
this will encourage you to explore the full
range of learning opportunities available.
To access the new site please continue to
use the link:
http://www.suffolk.gov.uk/CareAndHeal
th/FosteringAndAdoption/TrainingForFo
sterCarersLinkCaresAndAdopters.htm
As soon as our new system ‘goes live’ you
will be automatically connected and there
will be a much simpler and shorter
e-address for you to use. Happy Browsing
and please give us feedback on how you
find it.
There are six books in the series available to
borrow individually or you might like to work
your way through the set. A simple
questionnaire accompanies each book and
completion counts on your training record
as learning undertaken. The books link
closely with the CWDC Fostering Standards;
topics covered are:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Professional pathways is the online tool
developed by CWDC to guide you through
career development and training options.
Following the initial focus on common
learning and development pathways for
foster carers and residential childcare
workers, we hope to expand the tool's
resources to other roles.
Explore the tool and get started on your
learning and development journey at:
www.cwdcouncil.org.uk/socialcare/professional-pathways-etool.
Safer caring
Education
Attachment
Health
Contact
Behaviour
You can get access to these books by
contacting: Gillian 01284 758779 or
Teresa 01728 403133
CWDC Level 3 Diploma
The last newsletter contained information
about this new national programme: it has
now run very successfully in Suffolk with 10
people attending. It will be available again in
the autumn with two groups – one for
younger children and another for
adolescents. Look out for details on
the website.
You may have heard that the NVQ 3
qualification has now been replaced by the
Level 3 Diploma in Child Care. If you already
hold the NVQ then it remains valid as the
national qualification for foster carers. For all
others, we are now offering the Diploma
which focuses on the work you actually do
with children and families and seeks to
extend your understanding of the impact of
earlier experiences on development and
behaviour.
Linda James: Workforce Development
Manager (Social Care)
[email protected]
Sally Frost
Senior practitioner fostering services
[email protected]
Talk with your fostering social worker about
your readiness for the programme and we
will look forward to ‘signing you up’. You will
be allocated an individual assessor and the
qualification is one that you can take with
you into other areas of child care work.
Fostering Changes
Programme
CWDC Launch of
Professional Pathways
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News: from the County
Recent News
BME Support Group
A county wide support group is planned for
foster carers and adopters permanently
caring for children whose ethnicity is
different from theirs. The BME (Black and
Minority Ethnic) Support Group is being
launched on the 2nd March, with facilitators
from BAAF. It is hoped that this day will lead
to ongoing sessions to raise awareness and
where carers can exchange ideas about
how to meet needs arising from their foster
child’s cultural or ethnic differences. If you
would be interested in attending please
contact Julie Macer-Wright at
[email protected] or
County Buildings, Street Farm Road,
Saxmundham, IP17 1AL.
Brighter Futures
Brighter Futures is a monthly activity and
consultation group, which offers looked after
children of all ages across the county a
place to make friends and have an
opportunity to speak up and contribute to
the planning and strategies behind the
service that they receive from Social
Services, in a positive and fun way.
We aim to provide a monthly activity in each
area (North, South and West Suffolk) for two
age groups – ‘twelve and under’ and
‘thirteen and over’. We also have a
volunteering scheme for older young people
(aged 16+). Over the last few months, we
have gone roller-skating and hosted half
term activities including bowling and wall
climbing. Most recently we held an Easter
Egg Hunt Party!
Brighter Future
on Facebook
Brighter Futures is now
on Facebook!! This is a
space for young people
to find helpful information, communicate and
speak up about their experiences.
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Brighter Futures worked with Ipswich and
Colchester Museums Outreach Service and
the County Private Fostering and Asylum
Team to create the Click Project, a 3 day
intensive project accessed by a small group
of young people accommodated in Suffolk
after seeking asylum, unaccompanied by
adults, from Afghanistan and Eritrea.
A digital photography workshop with
professional photographer Isabella Pitisci
was the starting point to encourage the
young men to get creative. Over the next
two days we explored their community
taking pictures as we went to areas of
interest such as Christchurch Park and
Mansion, Ipswich Museum, Suffolk New
College, the Waterfront and finally a daytrip
to Felixstowe.
Advocacy
Do you know a
child or young
person who wants
help to get their
voice heard?
They may feel angry, scared or upset and
that they are not being listened to?
If the answer is yes, an advocate could
help them...
An advocate is someone who will:
Suffolk’s
Children in
Care & Care
Leavers
Council
Catch 22 and Brighter
Futures are working in partnership to
develop Suffolk’s Children in Care & Care
Leavers Council. We presently have about
12 young people involved who meet up in
the school holidays to discuss issues that
they then take to the Corporate Parenting
Board for action. We are always looking for
new members; young people who would
like to have their say & represent Suffolk’s
Children in Care. For more information,
please contact Julia Kett, Children's Rights
& Participation Officer.
[email protected]
The young men took over 3,000 pictures
between them and a selection of their work
went on display in Christchurch Mansion.
The images on display reflected their view of
Ipswich and the close bonds and unity of a
group of young people from different
cultures but with shared experiences.
• Listen to them
• Make sure what they want is listened to,
• Help them to speak up at meetings,
• Help them make a complaint if needed.
Bridget Warren, Children’s Rights &
Advocacy Officer provides advice and
support about children’s rights and advocacy.
For more information about any of the
above or to refer a young person to Brighter
Futures, the Children in Care & Care Leavers
Council or for an advocate, call our free
phone number: 0800 917 1119
Julia Kett, Children's Rights & Participation
Officer [email protected]
Income Support
Changes were introduced to Income
Support for some lone parents. Once your
youngest child reaches the age of 7, your
entitlement to Income Support may now
stop if you are only claiming it because you
are a lone parent. Foster carers however are
not affected by these changes and will be
able to claim if they continue to foster
children of any age. You will probably still
need to attend back to work interviews
approximately every 3 months, where you
should advise the agency that you still
continue to foster and they will update your
records. For more information visit:
www.direct.gov.uk.
Suffolk Fostering News ISSUE 02
The New Foster Carers
Charter
Currently, many foster carers and children in
care are facing obstacles to everyday
activities, like going for haircuts and
sleepovers, which can make children’s lives
more difficult and put off those wanting to
foster. The new Charter launched by
Children’s Minister Tim Loughton sets out
clear principles on how foster carers should
be treated, recognises their invaluable work
and aims to encourage more people to sign
up to be foster carers.
In particular, the Charter is designed to:
• make it clear that a foster child should be
treated as part of the family and their
views should be listened to and taken on
board
• help tackle myths that foster carers
cannot let their foster children do
everyday activities like sleepovers and
The Foster Carers Charter
Children come first
• Children in foster care deserve to
experience as full a family life as possible
as part of a loving foster family with carers
who can make everyday decisions as
they would their own child and with¬out
the child feeling that they ‘stand out’ as a
looked after child.
• Children must be given every support to
develop their own identities and
aspirations, fulfil their potential, and take
advantage of all opportunities to promote
their talents and skills. Above all, they
should be listened to.
Local authorities and fostering services
must
• Recognise in practice the importance of
the child’s relationship with his or her
foster family as one that can make the
biggest difference in the child’s life and
which can endure into adulthood.
• Listen to, involve foster carers and their
foster children in decision-making and
planning, and provide foster carers and
their foster children with full information
about each other.
• In making placements be clear about the
holidays without facing excessive
restrictions and barriers
• set out how foster carers should be
supported in their role, so they know
what to expect from their fostering
service and local authority – this includes
being provided with full information about
the child they are fostering
• help local authorities recruit and retain
foster carers and can be used as a tool
and guide for what foster carers can
expect.
The Charter is backed up by new
slimmed-down fostering regulations and
guidance, published in March, which
make clear to local authority fostering
services what their statutory duties are
and reduces unnecessary burdens
placed on them.
The number of children coming into care
has risen in recent years. There are
currently 64,400 being looked after in
England – over 70 per cent of these
children are looked after by foster
families. With a shortage of suitable
foster families, the Government is clear
that the status and experience of
fostering needs to improve so more
people will come forward to foster and
will carry on doing so.
The Charter has been jointly produced by
Government, fostering organisations,
charities and young children. It is part of
the Government’s wider programme of
reform to improve the entire care system
– including reducing barriers and delays
to adoption and improving the quality of
children’s homes. The overall aim is to
make sure that all children in care have
greater stability, less upheaval and a
better chance at a stable family life
Department for Education
continuing care or support there will be
(including for the child into adulthood), be
sensitive to the needs of the foster carer
and the child in making and ending
placements and have contingency plans
should the placement not work.
• Treat foster carers with openness, fairness
and respect as a core member of the
team around the child and support them
in making reasonable and appropriate
decisions on behalf of their foster child.
• Ensure that foster carers have the support
services and development opportunities
they need in order to provide their foster
child with the best possible care. That
includes liaising with lo¬cal foster carers
groups and seeking to respond to
problems and disseminate best practice.
• Make sure foster carers are recompensed
on time and are given clear information
about any support, allowances, fees, and
holidays they will receive including in
cases of dispute with the serv¬ice or
during gaps in placements.
attainment and physical and emotional
health and wellbeing and co-operate fully
as part of a team with other key
professionals in the child’s life.
• Support their foster child and do all they
can to make the placement work. Take
part in learning and development, use
skills and approaches that make a
positive impact and enable the child to
reach his or her potential. Support their
foster child to help them to counter
possible bullying and discrimination as a
result of their care status.
Foster carers must
• Provide positive adult role models, treat
the foster child as they would their own
child, and be a “pushy parent” in
advocating for all aspects of the child’s
development, including educational
For more information and to download a
copy of the Foster Carers Charter please
visit: www.education.gov.uk or to request a
copy contact Shaleha Miah on 01473
264058 or email
[email protected].
NI Contributions
Home Responsibilities protection has now
been replaced by ‘Carers credits’. Foster
carers should apply for carers credits which
will protect their state pension. The credit
applies to both the basic and state second
pension.
Please visit:
www.hmrc.gov.uk/ni/intro/credits or
call: 0845 302 1479 for further information.
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Children Who Foster!
l Do you live in a family that fosters children?
l Would you like to meet up with other children and young people who foster
and have a great day out?
l Are you aged between 7 -18?
l Would you like to try canoeing, archery or climbing?
If your answer is yes to these questions – then come and join us at the
Thorpe Woodlands Adventure Centre on Saturday 25th June!
There will be loads of activities for you to take part in and lunch will be provided!
Team challenges, Orienteering, Archery, Climbing, Canoeing, Crate Stack.
If you are older and over 125 cm tall you can take part in the High Ropes Challenge, Trapeze, and Jacobs’s ladder, Zip Wire,
Mountain Biking and Kayaking!
For more information see http://www.thorpewoodlands.org.uk/contact-us/
Interested? Ask your Mum or Dad to contact their Fostering Social Worker directly and look out for the invite coming through the post
or via email or alternatively you can contact Annie Richardson on 01728-403174
Important Dates
for your Diary
Long Service Awards
● Sunday 22nd May 2011
Foster Care Fortnight
● 16th-29th May 2011
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