|
Fostering Devon Newsletter 05/11/2018
 |
A letter from Jo Olsson
Dear Foster Carers,
First, let me say thank you for your continued support to children in care in Devon. Without your passionate commitment, resilience and sheer hard work, the potential for care to be the life changing and life enhancing experience for children that it can be, would be much reduced.
This year has been fraught as we negotiated the process of restructuring the allowances we pay to foster carers. For some of you, the outcome is extremely challenging as you work out the personal implications of the changes and make the individual decisions that are right for you and your families. For some, the process has been deeply upsetting as foster carers have felt divided and in conflict with each other as well as with the Council.
The Council has made its decision; the next phase is about working together on the detail before implementation from January 2019.
It can be very difficult to recover from a bruising encounter, but we have to. Children come into care with unimaginably painful experiences and the responsibilities we jointly and collectively hold for them makes it incumbent on us as adults and as professionals to resolve any differences and move forward together.
I have every confidence that the Fostering Service in Devon will continue to thrive and to serve well the children for whom we are responsible, and I look forward to continue working with you.
Jo Olsson, Chief Officer for Children’s Services
|
|
 |
Fees and Allowance Update
Thank you to everyone who took part in the Fostering fees allowance consultation. Cabinet approved the new fee model on 10th October 2018. You can view the model that was agreed here https://devoncc.sharepoint.com/:b:/s/PublicDocs/ChildSocCare/Ecd8U6BhT2tCqvacM9S_qa4BOZa_iF1RlJPiLI6ArOAjag?e=LLUiTu
The new model will recognise the individual needs of the child in care and reward carers at the same level for the duration of the placement. It will encourage carers' personal development through training and participation at support groups.
It was agreed that, following the implementation date, the current allowances will be protected for the duration of the placement. Birthday, Holiday and Festival allowances will be paid as separate lump sum payments around the relevant date, and as such the weekly payment will reduce accordingly.
Work is now underway to finalise the detail of the model before assessments of children and young people can begin in early December, in preparation for the new payments which will take effect later in January 2019.
We will continue to keep you updated via the newsletter. If you have any questions please do get in touch via the fostering mailbox (childsc.fosteringregisteredmanager-mailbox@devon.gov.uk) or speak to a social worker.
 |
|
Bright Spots
You may remember earlier in the year we asked you to support young people as they were asked to complete a Bright Spots Questionnaire.
The information gathered is really informative and has again highlighted the difference that great foster care can make.
Young people will receive 'You Said, We Will' cards once dissemination to staff is complete and they will be shared with them via their social worker and IRO's.
|
About IMO
IMO is a new peer-led digital platform exclusively for children in care and care leavers. It has children's voices at heart, and all of it's content has been created by or developed with input from children in care, for children in care.
The hub is regularly updated with new blogs, vlogs, podcasts, articles and campaigns. It also features a promotional section called 'free stuff', where we are giving away fantastic freebies and exclusive offers. We have worked hard to secure from companies including Google and the Victoria and Albert Museum, among others.
We have just updated the FREE STUFF section on IMO with some fantastic freebies, all exclusively available to children in care and care leavers in your area. Please share this site and these offers with your young people. Check out the website to find more information about IMO or to apply for the free stuff, some of which are listed below.
Current ‘free stuff’ offers include:
• Birchbox make-up and bracelet
• Year-long subscription to Headspace meditation and mindfulness app
• Goodies from Skinnydip London and Google
• A free edition of The Week Junior Magazine
• Premier League tickets
|
|
 |
North Devon Social Worker wins National Fostering Network award
Lindsay Hartley Russell is a member of Devon County Council’s Fostering team. She was inspired by walks that her and her children enjoyed on family holidays, so began arranging walks for foster carers and their families. This also allowed carers and children to meet up socially.
The first walk was a year ago, and since then they have arranged walks during each school holiday, taking in different locations across North Devon and Torridge.
The walks help to create happy memories for the Foster Carers and the children they care for. It brings them together and creates a sense of well-being and belonging.
For helping to create these opportunities, Lindsay was nominated by a Foster Carer, and now has won a prestigious award in this year’s Fostering Network Awards. She received her award at Fostering Network’s annual awards ceremony in London.
“They give the Children opportunities to meet others in care and realise that they are not alone and begin to make new friends.”-Caroline Maund-Foster Carer
“Congratulations to Lindsay! Really well deserved! She’s a great example, drawing upon personal experiences and happy memories to help bring some normality to the lives of children in care. It’s those shared moments that children do remember and that will help shape their own lives as they grow older.”-James McInnes, Devon County Council cabinet member with responsibility for children’s services.
|
|
 |
 |
|
Quids4Kids
Quids4Kids provide specialist advice to a range of people including care leavers and foster parents.
You can view their website here https://www.cabdevon.org.uk/quids-for-kids/ to find out more or to fill in an enquiry/referral form if you're interested.
|
 Refer A Friend Scheme - up to £500 when you refer a friend to foster
As you are a foster carer you will know how personally rewarding it is to help shape a child’s future. So if you are passionate about what you do, and can think of a friend or family member who would be a great foster carer, why don’t you tell them about our Refer a Friend Scheme?
You could receive up to £500 for every person you refer if they become an approved foster carer for Fostering Devon – click here to read more.
|
 |
|
Support Groups
Please click here for the Support Groups Calendar.
|
Training Manual
For the 2018 / 2019 Training Manual - please click here
Fostering Devon Key Contacts
Strategy Group Members
Peer Guides
Devon Duty
 
Got something interesting or important you’d like to include in the newsletter? Fostering Devon Newsletter will be issued fortnightly. Please send newsletter items to fosteringassessmentsadministration-mailbox@devon.gov.uk
|
