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Welcome to the June edition of Fostering News. The Youth Service have been really busy during lockdown and they’ve sent in some lovely pictures of their creations with the young people in their care. There is also an important update from FLAG and the training co-ordinators regarding the TSDS.
A message from Julie Harrison, FLAG Chair;
“We would like to inform carers that the next FLAG AGM and Meeting which were due to take place on 1 June has been postponed and will be rescheduled at a time when the situation regarding the lockdown is clearer.
The position of FLAG Chair is open for nominations as I will be standing down from the position and anyone interested can speak with their supervising social worker or business support officer to contact myself for further information.”
All foster carers, regardless of length of service, are now required to complete TSDS workbook if you have not already done so. Your supervising social worker will be discussing this with you further in supervision.
There are seven TSD standards:
Standard 1: Understand the principles and values essential for fostering children and young people
Standard 2: Understand your role as a foster carer
Standard 3: Understand health and safety, and healthy care
Standard 4: Know how to communicate effectively
Standard 5: Understand the development of children and young people
Standard 6: Keep children and young people safe from harm
Standard 7: Develop yourself
Foster carers must evidence that they have met all these standards, where these apply to the child(ren) they are caring for. In each of the seven standards there are a number of topics that you will need to know about.
The TSDS will also be evidenced during supervision with your SSW, and annually via your annual review report. These can be cross-referenced within your workbook to provide the evidence required.
Support with completion of the workbook will be provided by your SSW during supervision. In addition, your fostering training coordinators will be providing opportunities for you to attend online workshop drop-in sessions. The first sessions will be taking place on 8 July. You can book to attend this session via My Learning My Career.
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The recruitment team have held their first online fostering information event during Foster Care Fortnight using Microsoft Teams. This was very successful and we are holding another one on the 10 June at 1.30pm. The details of how to join can be found on our Facebook page and our website, so if you know anyone who would like to come along and find out more about fostering please let them know.
The training co-ordinators have also held the Skills to Foster training virtually via Teams, meaning that the current cohort of prospective carers are able to continue their assessments and we won’t have to delay any of the applicants who are currently booked into panel.
During the pandemic our open access young people’s provision (youth centres and mobile youth provision) has been temporarily diverted and our work refocused to support Nottinghamshire’s most vulnerable young people.
Many of these young people are in foster care and this work has offered valuable diversionary activities during a strange and unsettling period and a valuable support mechanism for foster carers.
Youth workers have had to be creative, understand and develop young people’s interests and build relationships quickly with young people and foster carers alike.
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Across Nottinghamshire there have been activities as broad as chess matches, bike maintenance, bird watching, visits to outdoor education centres and sports, all from a social distance in line with government guidance.
These positive relationships and activities have allowed for young people to share their anxieties and ask questions and talk through issues affecting them - Covid-19 featured heavily as you can imagine. Here are some pictures of the activities just one of our youth workers (Andy Foulds) has facilitated over recent weeks with young people he has worked with and the fantastic art these young people have created.
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A huge congratulations to Ali Pickersgill, one of our family workers in the Fostering Service, on reaching her 25 year long service milestone. Ali was one of the first family workers employed when the role was first created and has worked with so many families and young children during her career, sharing her knowledge and advice to help foster families with the skills they need to support looked after children in their care. She is an asset to the service and we know many of you will want to join us in congratulating her and thanking her for her dedicated long service.
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