 Welcome to our June edition of Fostering News!
We have some exciting news about an upcoming event for our looked after young people with their foster families, an update around our support care policy and as always some useful links to upcoming training. Happy reading!
Do you have a young person in your care who loves musicals? Terry Galloway, former Nottinghamshire County Council care leaver, has organised a drive in movie for Children in Care, Foster Families, Children's Homes and Care Leavers.
Showing the highly anticipated In The Heights (PG) at Newark Showground on Saturday 3 July 2021 at 9pm.*
It is likely for places to book up quickly, so register your interest below!
*The film is a new release and the licence only permits projection which means it needs to be dark.
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The Fostering Support Care Policy has been updated, with the main changes relating to the expectation around the child’s social work visits and way Support Care is provided.
Support Care will be provided in one of three ways
- With a foster carer who is not connected to the main foster carer and who has been approved by the fostering panel for the task of Support Care (Regulation 26 Fostering Services Regulations 2011)
- With a temporary foster carer who is connected to the child/main foster carer and whose temporary approval has been approved by the child’s Service Manager and the Fostering Service Manager
- With a person connected to the main foster carer (e.g. with a relative or close friend), under delegated authority the foster carer can agree up to 4 consecutive nights, or for a period of up to 14 consecutive days as agreed by the Fostering Service Manager and Childcare Team Manager. In instances where children will be staying with connected person to the foster carer beyond 14 consecutive days, a Viability Assessment is required to agree the approval of connected person as temporary child-specific foster carer (for up to 16 weeks or further 8 weeks with agreement). If these arrangements become regular, then consideration should be given, and discussions held with the carer to establish whether they would like to become an approved child-specific support carer.
A child should be visited by their social worker, when in placement with an approved support carer, in accordance with Regulation 28, Care Planning, Placement and Case Review Regulations 2010
A joint visit by the Childcare Social Worker and Supervising Social Worker should be undertaken and discussions recorded regarding Safe Caring expectations, contact arrangements and any other relevant information.
A DBS certificate is required for carers in all categories. Any of the arrangements are to be included as part of the allocated 28-day support care allowance (see financial advice leaflet for additional information) and the fostering regular weekly allowance will be paid in recognition of the care provided.
For further information regarding changes to the Support Care Policy, please discuss with your supervising social worker in the first instance.
We were given a number of laptops, iPads and routers as part of the DfE’s Get Help With Technology During Covid-19 initiative. We also had some Nottinghamshire County Council “re-conditioned” iPad’s. The majority of these devices have now been issued and are helping children and young people stay engaged with their education and keep in contact with their Social Workers. However 50 laptops and 150 iPad’s have not yet been allocated to a vulnerable child. All children and young people with a social worker who do not have access to their own laptop/computer are eligible for an iPad or a laptop.
If you are caring for a young person who does not have their own device then please raise it with the child’s social worker as soon as possible.
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Every day, girls are contacted online by adults who try to manipulate or groom and sexually exploit them. Online grooming is a tactic used by adults who try to get close by building a relationship, trust, and emotional connection in the hope of manipulating, exploiting and abusing them. By raising awareness with girls about these dangers we can help to keep them safe. This website is aimed at giving girls reliable information and we think it’s definitely worth sharing with our looked after young people who might be particularly vulnerable to grooming.
The Council's Virtual Social Work Experience programme begins on 14 June for young people interested in starting a career in social work.
If you have a young person aged 14-18 in your care who is interested in social work and is looking for work experience, then please share this opportunity with them.
This exciting opportunity will take the young person on a journey from how to become a student social worker, all the way to being an experienced social worker.
They will meet workforce leads, social worker students, newly qualified social workers and experienced social workers. They will be able to speak to social workers in both Children’s and Adult services. It’s never too early to find out about a career in social work!
This is an excellent opportunity for anyone interested in social work. If you would like more information, please visit our Work Experience page or email work.experience@nottscc.gov.uk.
Applications close on Tuesday 8 June and the programme will take place from 14-18 June 2021.
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The Fostering Network’s State of the Nation's Foster Care survey is the most comprehensive survey within the fostering community and the survey findings are used to inform and influence the foster care agenda at a local and national level.
Their State of the Nation research acts as a yard stick for progress in key areas of foster care from one survey to the next.
By identifying the issues affecting those working in the fostering sector every day, they are able to provide a reliable snapshot of fostering in the UK and understand where improvements need to be made.
Their foster carer survey covers topics including:
- stability for children in foster care
- training, support and finances
- status and authority
- allegations
- views and attitudes towards fostering.
The University of Nottingham are offering two virtual information sessions for care-experienced students and would like to invite our young people to take part.
The aim of the event is to increase awareness around Higher Education for students who have spent time in care, and to provide an overview of the application process and support available.
The virtual sessions will cover a range of topics, including:
- Courses
- UCAS applications
- Personal statements
- Finance
- A virtual tour of our campus
- Q&A with our Care Experienced Student Ambassadors
Teachers will need to book on behalf of pre-16 students, however Year 12 students can book themselves onto the post-16 session using the booking links below. Please share this information if you have a young person who is considering applying for university.
- Pre-16 (Years 10 and 11) session: 22 June 10:00am-12:00noon.
- Post-16 (Year 12 and 13) session: 24 June 10:00am-12:00noon.
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Promoting resilience and recovery through therapeutic relationships mandatory training
We are continuing to develop our service as a therapeutic fostering service and continue to offer this training for our all of our foster carers. This 4-day virtual course includes the following sessions:
Session 1: What are relationships all about? Becoming attachment and trauma informed
Session 2 Part 1: Responding in the Moment (Check-in with yourself) - What do I bring to the interaction?
Session 3 Part 2: Responding in the Moment (Check-in with yourself) - What do I bring to the interaction?
Session 4: Responding in the Moment (Connect, Correct and Repair) - What do I do, how can my child experience a safe/attuned adult?
This is a virtual 4-day course and attendees are required to attend all 4 days in their group block in-order to complete the training, you will need to complete the online evaluation on My Learning My Career and receive a certificate.
There are still some spaces on the following courses
Please book your place via My Learning My Career.
- 20 July 2021 10am – 2.30pm
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