IMPORTANT - Bright Spots Surveys for Children in Care 

Devon County Council are working in conjunction with CORAM on a survey for our children in care which will help us explore and demonstrate the impact we are having on children and young people’s care experience and wellbeing.  

Please read the attached documents here which will give you more detail on the process and includes a copy of a letter that will be sent to all foster carers.  

The survey will commence on 19th February 2018 and run for 1 week. The majority of surveys will be completed in schools by the designated teacher, but where this is not possible, a trusted adult will be identified by the child’s social worker or IRO who will assist in getting it completed.  

Parents of children who are voluntarily accommodated under S20 will be contacted and given the option for their child to ‘opt out’ of the survey. We would kindly ask all carers to do all they can to support the completion of the surveys.

The Placement Support Team

Our Placement Support Team are here to support you and the young people in your care, and assist in stabilising their placement with you. The duty line, 01392 381491, is available between 9am and 10pm on weekdays, and between 1pm and 10pm on weekends and 9-6pm on bank holidays. All Foster Carers are welcome to call the duty line for support or advice.  

There are Family Practitioners based in all the localities who support placements. If longer term planned work is required, referrals can be made either by your Supervising Social Worker or the child/young person’s social worker, in conjunction with you as the foster carer, and we’ll find the right service for you all. 

CIC Awards 2018… nominations are closed!

On the evening of Friday 23 March 2018 at St James School, Exeter, we will be holding our annual event to celebrate the achievements of Devon’s Children & Young People in Care and Care Leavers.  This is a scheme to recognise and say ‘well done’ for real achievement for individual Children & Young People.  See full details via this link https://new.devon.gov.uk/educationandfamilies/young-people/children-in-care/children-in-care-awards  

Panto is more than a performance

Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences of Dick Whittington with us, one was published on the news centre, and we wanted to share the other highlights with you too!  

Eleven year old Amber explained that it wasn’t the first panto that she’d been to watch but she really enjoyed the evening because she loved hanging out with the other foster families, she loves watching plays and found it very funny…  

One of our carers Sarah said ‘Now these activities and events have been put on, it has enabled me get to know other carers and build relationships with them which is brilliant and much needed.’  

Jack, aged nine, had seen a different version of Dick Whittington at school before, he thought this one was really funny though and particularly enjoyed throwing the cupcakes, and when the coconuts were falling on the Dame Sarah’s head… 

Click here to read the full stories.