Family Resources’ Post

https://lnkd.in/evxTk79w The reductive nature of foster care recruitment marketing, the suggestions that ‘all you need is a spare room’ belies the complexity of needs foster carers are required to meet, and probably accounts for the fact that 1 in 3 foster carers are gone in 12 months or so. Fostering involves nurturing and championing a child, but it doesn’t entail the same level of parental responsibility as biological or adoptive parenting. While foster carers provide essential care and support, they typically don’t have the legal Parental Responsibility (PR) of being a parent and consequently are caring for that child under rules, regulations and plans dictated by others, this is a major factor in foster care and whilst parenting is a part of a foster carers role they are not parents Foster carers need to be equipped with the skills and knowledge to address the complex nuances of caring for a child who is not yours, one that may eventually return home or move on, it can be both rewarding and challenging, a mix of love, attachment and uncertainty as you navigate complex emotions and provide care and support to the child while also preparing for the possibility of saying goodbye. 👉It requires resilience, empathy, and a commitment to the child’s well-being, regardless of the outcome, however it also requires knowledge and education. Top Tip: The foster carer is the often the sole person consistently working with the child on a daily basis, sometimes there may not be any other intervention for weeks or even months within a complex system that is at present under immense pressure To read more and stay informed, sign up today to FosterWiki https://fosterwiki.com/ #FosterCareAwareness #FosterCarers #SupportingChildren #FosterWiki #FosterCarerEducation #Trauma #ContinuousLearning #FosterCare #FosterCarerJourney

One of the most common questions we receive at RSD Fostering is about the support that's available to foster carers. We understand that fostering can be both incredibly rewarding as well as challenging, and having the right support is crucial for both carers and the children they look after. Support Groups are invaluable for sharing experiences, gaining advice, and building a network of peers who understand the unique challenges and joys of fostering and often fall in to two types; > Foster Parent-Only Groups : These sessions provide a safe space for foster parents to discuss their experiences, seek advice, and support each other. The connection and understanding among group members often leads to long-lasting friendships and a strong support network. > Combined Parent and Child Groups : These sessions are designed to include both foster parents and the children in their care. They focus on building strong, positive relationships and addressing any challenges together as a family unit. Every registered foster carer is assigned a dedicated social worker. These professionals are there to support you throughout your fostering journey. Regular meetings and discussions with your assigned social worker are a cornerstone of the support system. These sessions allow foster carers to ; > Address Concerns : Whether in or out of placements, foster carers can discuss any questions or concerns they may have and through this ongoing dialogue any issues that arise can be promptly addressed and resolved. > Receive Guidance : Expert guidance is provided regarding best practices in fostering, helping carers navigate complex situations and providing advice tailored to their specific needs. > Emotional Support : The emotional well-being of foster carers is paramount and social workers will offer a listening ear as well as emotional support, helping carers manage the stresses and challenges of fostering. If you are considering becoming a foster carer, rest assured that you will be joining a community dedicated to your success and the well-being of the children you will help. To find out more, why not call and speak with our team. Care & Fostering Specialists Paris & Courtney are available by telephone during weekdays on 01752 717666 or alternatively, drop us an email and request a call back at [email protected]

***As this comes up regularly I thought I'd address it in a post*** "Why are you all so negative?" "Why can't we be more positive as it will put people off fostering?" I understand these concerns, I really do, and I know we all have positive experiences to share, however this platform is about addressing the issues in foster care to ensure that every child in care has the chance to live in a nurturing, loving, and skilled foster home. We are deeply concerned about the decline of foster care, driven by collective agendas, funding bids, profits, egos, greed, careers, charities, and politics. This frustration is why I founded FosterWiki and our Foster Carer's Forum group: to provide foster carers a platform for independent free speech, free from government or corporate influence, and to give us a collective voice to discuss, debate, and support each other. Our platform is dedicated to driving change, reform, and empowering foster carers across the UK. While many groups focus on celebrating the joyful moments of fostering, our mission is different. If this approach doesn't resonate with you, we understand and kindly encourage you to find a group that aligns with your perspective. The national public narrative often highlights only the positives of fostering. Recent campaigns, such as the two week recruitment campaign on "magic fostering moments" which generated extensive mainstream media coverage, presenting an overly positive view without addressing the challenges. This narrative is promoted by individuals who have never fostered themselves, raising questions about its authenticity. Many who are inspired by this positivity to become foster carers soon find it isn’t what they expected. Statistics show that one in three new foster carers leave within 12 months, often with lasting negative experiences. This toxic positivity suppresses the truth, leading to collective trauma, isolation, and unhealthy coping mechanisms within the industry. Fostering is at a critical juncture. If we do not address these issues, the system may collapse, potentially replaced by private children's homes run by profit-driven individuals with no experience in child care. Our groundbreaking FosterWiki Independent Foster Carer's Survey, with its 2,500 responses and 14,500 comments, highlights the urgent need to address these truths. We must fix the system before we can effectively recruit new foster carers. Our children suffer the most as they are moved from placement to placement, with foster families unable to cope with the realities that differ from their expectations. Full report here: https://lnkd.in/e4-PQ_Et #fostercare #crisis #reform

Skilling for the Future and The Foster Care System Nobel laureate James Heckman, prominent economist Raj Chetty, and many others have given skill-building top billing in my profession. The stakes are very high—particularly for the labor market outcomes that, for most of us, are the most consequential determinants of our incomes. This research program clearly points to early childhood—and youth as well—as when the payoffs to skill-building are high, exceeding those available even on risky assets like the stock market. Skill-building, while hard at any age, is harder in a turbulent environment. It matters, then, that one group who experiences what may be the most extreme turbulence is also composed of those most inherently able to build skills: children who move in and out of the foster care system. Understanding how that system works to execute the narrow task of protecting children—from their parents or custodians—is critically important, especially when it comes to properly calibrated major decisions, such as whether and when to place a child in foster care. To the extent that this process is not evenhanded, it’s yet another headwind that one group may face relative to others. The foster care system is one—I’ve now learned—that can be called a “multi-phase” system—whereby one’s travels through it are subject to decision checkpoints along the way. How to analyze such systems is not obvious, and requires work. My colleague Natalia Emanuel has done just this, and in her newly released paper in the venerable Quarterly Journal of Economics, she and her coauthors advance the conversation by providing guidance on how one can learn about the performance of such systems. They then apply their framework to study how the U.S. foster care system works—specifically focusing on how reports of maltreatment translate into investigations and then foster placements: “Using a sample of over 200,000 maltreatment allegations, we find that calls involving Black children are 55% more likely to result in foster care placement than calls involving white children with the same potential for future maltreatment in the home. Call screeners account for up to 19% of this unwarranted disparity, with the remainder due to investigators. Unwarranted disparity is concentrated in cases with potential for future maltreatment, suggesting that white children may be harmed by ‘under-placement’ in high-risk situations.” This clarifies that errors abound, and do so in both directions—trigger-happiness in separating Black children from their families and failures to separate White children soon enough. If you connect this to the stunting of learning opportunities, it spells consequential missed opportunities all around. If this is a topic that interests you, I invite you to read: Racial Discrimination in Child Protective Services, Liberty Street Economics Discrimination in Multi-Phase Systems: Evidence from Child Protection, The Quarterly Journal of Economics

Advocating for Children in Foster Care “As proactive, professional foster carers in today’s climate, it feels like we are constantly challenging the system just to secure the basic services that children are entitled to. We advocate for our children by championing their voices, protecting their rights, keeping them safe, and prioritising their individual needs. Yet, it can be disheartening when we are not recognised as fellow professionals in the decision-making process—even though we are the ones at home, caring for these children.” Carolyn Moody MBE, FosterWiki Ambassador Foster carers work alongside social workers, educators, healthcare providers, and other professionals to ensure that a child’s needs are fully understood and addressed. They play a critical role in meetings, reviews, and planning processes, continually advocating for the child’s best interests. Plans often drift with changes in staff, which makes it crucial for foster carers to be strong advocates during transitions. Their role includes ensuring consistency in plans, prioritising the child’s needs, and keeping the child at the center of all decisions. When a child turns 18, they face unique challenges transitioning out of foster care. Foster carers are responsible for preparing young people for this transition, advocating for the resources necessary to ensure a smooth shift into adulthood. While preparation starts early, the reality of adulthood can be quite different, underscoring the need for strong support systems. 👉It’s crucial that we get these life-changing decisions right. By doing so, we can help overcome the barriers and challenges that children in care face. 👉The Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO) has a duty to inform children about their right to advocacy. Advocacy is available whenever a looked after child needs support—not just when they wish to make a complaint. You can read more about how Foster carers advocate for children in care, just sign up to FosterWiki https://fosterwiki.com/ #fostercare #advocacy #childrensrights

https://lnkd.in/eS_uvCHK It seems over the past 24 years, significant challenges in the foster care system have persisted around allegations ‘In 2000 research from Wilson, Sinclair, and Gibbs (2000) highlighted that 60% of foster carers considered quitting after a stressful event, such as an allegation, a sentiment echoed by Gorin (1997). Many foster carers eventually leave fostering after an allegation, even if exonerated’ Link: https://lnkd.in/ePp2FuXS 2000 Fast forward to FosterWiki’s 2024 survey with a huge number of respondents, and issues continue.. 👉The fear of allegations continues to significantly impact foster carers mental health and their ability to perform their duties. 👉Over 80% of carers indicated that this fear affects their role. 👉85% believe allegations are not handled fairly, justly, or in a balanced way. Since, there has been a noticeable decline in the number of foster carers, and in foster care children need stability and consistent support for their emotional and psychological well-being 👉This calls for the urgent need for ongoing support and reform in the fostering system. We need transparent, fair, and balanced processes for handling allegations to protect both foster carers and children. 👉Despite efforts, persistent issues indicate that nothing to date is working. Now there is an urgent need for ongoing support and reform in the fostering system- an independent body! 🤔 #FosterWiki #Allegations #FosterCare #GE2024 #IndependentBody #Support

Meeting with the government now will be a very different story as we now have the empirical evidence to back up what we have been saying for years. With Key Findings in the landmark Independent Foster Carer's Survey this year, such as these, the need for reform has never been more evident: 👉 Nearly half (48%) of respondents reported that their providers do not, or only sometimes, comply with the law and national minimum standards. 👉 A significant majority (67%) stated that their frontline experience does not align with the organisation’s (Ofsted, Care Expectorate) ratings. 👉 Half of respondents (50%) had to report a concern or complaint about professionals within their fostering services in the last year. 👉 A substantial majority (80%) indicated that they are not always given available information about their child at the start of the placement. 👉 Over half (54%) of respondents stated that their children’s care plans are not always sufficiently up-to-date, followed, or effective. 👉 An overwhelming majority (82%) of respondents reported that the fear of allegations affects their fostering role in some way. 👉 A staggering 78% of foster carers report that their mental health has suffered because of their fostering role. 👉 A majority (63%) of foster carers do not feel able to ask for a break from their fostering role when they need it. The overriding point here is that foster carers can not continue to work like this, and without reform children and young people will continue to have dismal outcomes and bleak futures. Help us change this broken system together: https://lnkd.in/dF75XPvH

20 Lessons in the 20 Year Journey of a Foster Carer. 1. Take a chance, I looked after an amazing young person prior to being a foster carer, they started me on the journey. 2. Foster Care can keep you going through the hardest times, a break up but still a foster carer 3. Don't be afraid to be a single carer, when other parts of life go wrong fostering can keep going and keep you going. 4. Teenagers are awesome, they bring their challenges but don't all teenagers? - give them a chance. 5. You might meet someone who decides to start the fostering journey with you and once again you can do this as a couple! 6. I am the child's someone, their advocate and protector. 7. Cakes fix almost everything 😊 so bake a lot! 8. Social workers are human and under pressure, work with them and work at relationships, they are on this journey with you. This is not always easy and not every relationship is great. 9. Trauma is complex and can overwhelm you as a carer as we all want to fix. It can be so hard, it feels like we are not fixing. Remember it's a long game, you making a little difference or planting a small seed now may make a huge difference later - acorns take a long time to grow into oaks. 10. Selfcare - my solution sport, wore out my hips so swimming and gin (not together!) but it has taken me nearly all 20 of these years to recognise I need to try and find time for self. 11. Believe in every young person that walks through the door, give them a chance, love and the best care you can. 12. Guilt - guilt is huge, I carry the guilt of every time I think I got it wrong. Foster care is often learning on the job and not easy, I am sorry I have not always got it right. 13. Cake - told you that and chocolate is the answer to everything. 14. Young people will never stop amazing me, what they can achieve at times fighting the stigma of society - again give them the chance. 15. It's a lifetime commitment, we are now Nana and Papa to fostered adults children, joyous, I cried. 16. Professional, we are professionals, I have sat round the table with Scottish Government and my voice was valued as a foster carer - stand tall! 17. Failure, you get it wrong or are not the right person for the young person. Relationships are complex and not every child will match, no matter how hard you try, do not exhaust yourself. You are not a failure and may be helping a child by supporting them to move. 18. We are not perfect at parenting, accept we will sometimes get it wrong. Reflecting and changing is what is important here. 19. Stop feeling guilty when you say no to another young person coming to stay (I hate the word placement!) If it is not right for you at that time or not right for another young person staying then say no, park the guilt! 20. Just when you think you are getting ready to retire another opportunity arises, another young person's needs a home, say yes to a UAS Young person if you can, it's another amazing journey. 21. Bake more cakes!

https://lnkd.in/eGP_4QXz FosterWiki offers valuable insights from experienced carers, emphasising the importance of preparation beyond just having a spare room and a big heart. Fostering demands team work, excellent support and training, and genuine commitment from fostering providers 💯 Remember, fostering isn't parenting, it involves following policies and procedures, and working with birth parents 💯 Adequate preparation, trauma-informed care, as children are experiencing sadness and loss. Supervision and regular reflection is essential for navigating the challenges 💯 Give them time, you will know when they are ready, work alongside them,, champion, support and actively build connections to navigate both the rewarding and challenging aspects of their home life. A child will blossom given warmth, nurturing, care and support of a trauma informed foster carer. Stay by their side, serving as a consistent and stable presence in their lives and see what a difference this can make 💯 Understanding the balance including the tough realities of a foster carer's home life requires firsthand experience #fosterWiki #fostercarer #nfcq 👇

As we mark Foster Care Week, it’s important to highlight the essential role foster carers and child protection professionals play in safeguarding our most vulnerable children. Having worked in the sector for quite some time you realise the value and need for foster carers. At a time when the demand for foster carers and skilled professionals in the sector continues to grow, the need for passionate, well-trained individuals has never been greater. Working in foster care and child protection requires a unique combination of empathy, problem-solving, and resilience—and we are actively seeking those with this blend of skills to make a lasting impact on the lives of children and families. If you’re considering a career change or a step up in this sector, now is a crucial time to explore the opportunities available. There are many pathways into foster care work, whether you’re interested in direct caregiving, support roles, or the broader system of child protection. If you or someone you know is interested in contributing to this essential work, I’d love to chat about how you can be part of this life-changing sector. #FosterCareWeek #ChildProtection #CareersThatMatter