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STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

LOCAL AUTHORITY

FOSTERING SERVICE

2012

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STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

BIRMINGHAM CHILDREN, YOUNG PEOPLE & FAMILIES FOSTERING SERVICE

1. Introduction

This Statement has been produced in accordance with the Fostering Services Regulations 2011. Two Children’s Guides are also available and these give information about the Fostering Service in language and a format appropriate to the age-ranges for which they have been produced.

The Statement outlines the aims and objectives of the Fostering Service and the services and facilities provided by the Fostering Service.

This Statement has been subject to formal approval and is reviewed on an annual basis, as are the Children’s Guides.

The Fostering Service will provide a copy of this Statement or the Children’s Guides, upon request, to anyone working for the purposes of the Fostering Service, any foster carer or prospective foster carer of the Fostering Service and the parent of any child placed. All children in placement with foster carers will have the Guide explained to them in a manner commensurate with their age and understanding, and have access to the guide. A copy will be provided to them on request.

2. Aims and Objectives of Birmingham Children, Young People & Families Fostering Service

The purpose of the Fostering Service is to provide a range of good quality foster care placements to meet the needs of children and young people who are looked-after by Birmingham City Council, and to contribute towards those children and young people achieving positive outcomes, such as through being safeguarded, being healthy, enjoying and achieving within education and age-appropriate leisure activities.

The aims of the Fostering Service are:

To promote the life chances of children and young people looked after through careful matching with foster carers who provide positive alternative family placements which offer secure, stable and nurturing experiences.

To recruit, train and assess foster carers who reflect the diverse communities within the City and who have the ability to meet the assessed needs of the children and young people looked after.

To work in partnership with foster carers to provide the support they require to achieve the best possible outcomes for the children and young people they care for.

To promote the development of a skilled and trained fostering service in relation to staff and carers.

To promote the development of the service, incorporating best practice and lessons from research into practice.

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The objectives of the Fostering Service are:

To undertake a strategic recruitment marketing programme that ensures the ongoing need for foster carers is robustly communicated widely throughout the year, both within Birmingham and beyond city boundaries.

To ensure that children and young people have the opportunity to become securely attached to carers capable of providing safe and effective care throughout their childhood.

To ensure that foster carers receive regular supervision to assist in meeting the needs of looked after children and that this identifies and addresses training needs.

To ensure that the particular needs of connected persons carers are recognised and they are appropriately supported.

To ensure that children receive the education, health and social care they need.

To promote consultation and partnership working with children and young people, their families, carers and staff and also other agencies and corporate partners.

To respond positively to legislative and good practice developments and make any changes necessary to policy, practice and procedures.

To have in place a training programme which provides for the development of skills, knowledge and expertise of staff and foster carers.

To collate, analyse and learn from management information in order to plan and provide effective services for children and carers.

To foster closer working relationships with placing social workers to enhance partnership working, including in care planning for children.

To ensure children’s views are presented in statutory reviews, directly by themselves or by others. This is a key contribution by the Fostering Service to the actions required under the Improvement Notice.

To support and facilitate the completion by foster carers of the CWDC workbook so they meet the standards necessary to continue to foster.

3. Principles of the Fostering Service

The Fostering Service believes that it should:

Provide high quality care in a family setting for all children and young people who need it, and to aid their return to their own families wherever appropriate.

Ensure that the child’s wishes and feelings are actively sought and fully taken into account at all stages.

Ensure that the particular needs of disabled children are fully recognised and taken into account when decisions are made.

Ensure that the particular needs of children in Connected Persons placements and of their carers are fully recognised.

Promote equality and diversity by recruiting and retaining a wide range of foster carers able to meet the needs of looked after children. In determining each foster placement priority will be given to meeting the needs of the child or young person.

In placing children safely consideration will be given to the needs of all children in placement and ensuring minimal risk on placing children together.

In the planning and provision of placements to show respect for, and recognition of, the importance of ethnic origin, cultural background, religion and language of children and young people, their families and foster carers.

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In the planning and provision of placements to take into consideration the gender, sexuality and disability of the children and young people who are fostered.

Strive to provide continuity in the lives of children and young people who are fostered in order to maintain and develop their identity and education, promote their physical and mental well being and ensure they achieve their full potential.

Develop and maintain a partnership with parents and children, carers and their families, and social work staff, to enable them to meet the needs of each child.

Value and respect foster carers as partners in the fostering team.

Ensure that assistance is made available to every young person leaving foster care to live independently, and that financial and other support is made available to foster carers able to offer continued care and support to young persons during this transition and the critical period after leaving.

4. Standards of Care

The Fostering Service seeks to ensure that its policies, procedures and practice comply with the National Minimum Standards 2011 and the Fostering Services Regulations 2011. Also that the service’s practice reflects the Fostering Network’s Code of Practice in relation to the recruitment, assessment, approval, training, management and support of foster carers.

Supervision and appraisal of carers – all foster carers have a named link worker to provide support and supervision. A supervision format is used to record regular supervisory visits. This is geared towards the provision of information in respect of the child. Information can be extracted to facilitate the looked after review process, and there are specific areas which relate to the quality of the service provided. Each foster carer has an annual review which identifies issues around achievements, how needs have been addressed, any difficulties and how they were resolved, training needs, plans for the future and a health and safety check.

Supervision and appraisal of staff – all members of staff are supervised regularly in accordance with the Directorate’s supervision format. Staff appraisal through Performance Development Review is part of this format.

Collating and reviewing key information – the Directorate produces statistical information in relation to performance indicators and targets. The Fostering Service has a computer system (CHARMS) which assists in producing monthly statistical information relating to recruitment, training, assessment and approval of carers and recording long terms plans, matches and placements.

Other Monitoring Arrangements include the following:

The Child Protection and Review Service monitor’s arrangements made for children in care and care planning through regular statutory reviews of arrangements for children and young people. The Assistant Area Head of Child Protection meets regularly with the Head of Service, Fostering and representatives of BFCA support service to monitor the suspension of foster carers through the Suspension Panel. The Suspensions Panel meets every 6-8 weeks and is chaired by the Head of Service.

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The Fostering Panels consider all applications to foster and first reviews of foster carers. Panels also give advice in relation to performance issues when termination of approval of carers may be considered. Panels also comment on issues of good and bad practice through a system of notices of appreciation and notices of concern to line managers.

The Fostering Development Forum consists of managers from the Fostering Service, child protection and the Birmingham Foster Carer Association (BFCA). The Forum meets regularly to consider and consult on issues for development.

Citywide Specialist Service Performance Meetings and Fostering Service Management Meetings monitor a range of performance indicators.

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5. Fostering Service Position Within Birmingham Children, Young People & Families Directorate

Peter Duxbury Strategic Director

CYP&F

Amanda Lamb AD Children in

Care Provider Services

Paul Marshall AD Integrated

Services South Area

Janet Denny Head of Service

The Adoption Service

Jacquie Smith Head of Service The Fostering

Service

Lorna Scarlett AD Integrated

Services North Area

Gerard Jones AD Integrated

Services West & Central

Area

Kay Child AD Integrated

Services East Area

Jacqui Jensen Service Director

Integrated Services & Care

Steve Mennear Operations Manager CAMHS

Sally Taylor Service Director

Education & Commissioning

Peter Brammall

AD Education & Skills

Improvement & Early

Years

Chris Atkinson AD Children

with Complex Needs

Rachel Egan AD

Commissioning &

Performance

Carol Douch AD

Safeguarding & Development

Maxine Ellis

Contact Services

Residential Managers

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Fostering Service Management Structure (Including Team Delegation)

AMANDA LAMB Assistant Director Children in Care

Providers Services

JACQUIE C SMITH Head of Service

(Fostering Services)

JANET DENNY Head of Service

(Adoption Services)

KATE ADAMS Team Manager

Adoption & Fostering

ANITA EARL Team Manager

Assessment Team

JOYCE CAREY Team Manager

West / Central

Fostering Support

BARBARA GREGG

Team Manager

South Fostering

Support

MICHELLE GARDINER Team Manager

East Fostering & F&F

Support

REBECCA NORRIS

Team Manager

North Fostering

MARIA PENA-DIAZ

Business Support

Manager Fostering

VIVIEN MEADOWS Team Manager

A&F Recruitment

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Fostering Service Structure Chart

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Staff involved in the Fostering Service have a range of experience in children’s services, in family placement and in the recruitment, training and preparation of foster carers. Social work staff have knowledge of appropriate childcare legislation and Fostering Standards and Regulations.

Staff in the Fostering Service have enhanced CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) checks and are registered with GSCC (the General Social Care Council), where required. From 30 November social work staff will be registered with the HCPC, health and care professions council.

All staff have an understanding of the importance of the Complaints Procedure.

Staff come from diverse backgrounds and cultural heritage and promote equality and diversity.

The Fostering Service benefits from the retention of staff from a wide range of disciplines.

Each team may carry a proportion of vacancies at any one time; below is the staffing assignment.

The Fostering Service consists of the following staff: Head of Service, Fostering, the appointed manager of the Fostering Service. The Head of Service is line managed by the Assistant Director, Children in Care – Provider Services, who is in turn line managed by the Service Director Children’s Social Care – see structure chart. Head of Service: Jacquie C Smith The Fostering Service Lifford House Fordhouse Lane Stirchley Birmingham B30 3BW Qualifications: BA (Hons), CQSW, M.Social Science, MSc Public Sector Management IDeA Top Managers Programme

The Fostering Service reorganised in 2011 into 6 teams with functional roles. Each team is managed by a team manager who is directly managed by the Head of Service, Fostering: West and Central Fostering Support Team

1 Team Manager (DipSW) 1 Senior Practitioner (BA (Hons), DipSW) 5.33 Support Social Workers (DipSW, CQSW, BA, PQ1, NVQ3, and CSS) 2 Family Finding Support Workers (DipSW, BPhil in Child Care, PQ 1 & 2) 1 Social Work Assistant Dip in Child and Family, Dip in Counselling

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This team provides support to short-term and long term carers providing placements to children of all ages in the West and Central parts of Birmingham covering city centre, Soho, Ladywood, Nechells, Aston, Perry Barr, Oscott, Lozells and Handsworth. This team also undertakes family finding for children in the west and central parts of Birmingham needing long term fostering placements. The role of family finding is to find permanent family placements for children with a ratified care plan of long term fostering. The team works with children’s social workers, existing carers and other professionals to clarify a child’s placement needs. Appropriate placements are sought from internal and external resources. Matches are achieved through consultation and collaborative working, and confirmed at a formal matching meeting South Fostering Support Team (including Emergency Duty Foster Carers)

0.62 Team Manager (BSc (Hons), CQSW, Dip Applied Social Studies), NVQ 4 Management 0.38 Acting up Team Manager (CSS) 0.62 Senior Practitioner (CSS) 6.82 Support Social Workers - (DipSW, CQSW, NVQ3, BA Hons, NNEB, Youth & Community) 2 Family Finding Social Workers - DipSW, PQ 1 & 2, 1 EDT Social Worker - BA Hons in Social Work Studies, DipSW 1 Social Work Assistant - Unqualified

This team provides support to short-term and long term foster carers providing placements to children of all ages in the South part of Birmingham covering Bartley Green, Edgbaston, Harborne, Quinton, Kings Norton, Longbridge, Northfield, Weoley, Billesley, Bournville, Brandwood and Selly Oak. This team also provides support to Emergency Duty foster carers via a social work post dedicated to this task. This team also provides Family Finding for children in the south of Birmingham needing long term fostering placements. The role of family finding is to find permanent family placements for children with a ratified care plan of long term fostering. The team works with children’s social workers, existing carers and other professionals to clarify a child’s placement needs. Appropriate placements are sought from internal and external resources. Matches are achieved through consultation and collaborative working, and confirmed at a formal matching meeting These two teams are based at Lifford Hs, Stirchley, and Birmingham and have a shared business support team of 7.24 staff.

East Fostering Support Team

1 Team Manager (DipSW/HND Social Work, Practice Teachers Award, PQ1, BTEC

in Health and Social Work) 0.62 Senior Practitioner (DipSW/HND, Practice Teachers Award, MA in Child Care, PQCCW) 5.82 Support Social Workers (CQSW, Home Office Letter of Recognition, DipSW/HND, MA

(Childcare Law), MA Phil (Social Work), BPhil in Child Care, PQCCW, BA in Applied Social Science, BA in Social Policy, PQ Award in Child Protection, Practice Teachers Awards, Teaching Diploma)

1 Social Work Assistant (NVQ 3 in CYPF, NVQ 4 in Management, City & Guilds in working with young people & housing)

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This team provides support to short-term and long term foster carers providing placements to children from the East part of Birmingham covering Hall Green, Moseley and Kings Heath, Sparkbrook, Springfield, Bordesley Green, Hodge Hill, Shard End, Washwood Heath, Acocks Green, Sheldon, South Yardley or Stechford and Yardley North.

This team also provides support to connected person foster carers across Birmingham and the United Kingdom. North Fostering Support Team (including Shared Care)

1 Team Manager – DipSW, BA Social Welfare 1 Senior Practitioner – DipSW, BA Hons Communication Studies, MA Social Studies, PQ1 4.92 Support Social Workers – NVQ 4, DipSW, PQ 1 & 2 2 Family Finding Social Workers – DipSW 0.88 Shared Care Social Worker – DipSW, BA Hons 1 Social Work Assistant – Counselling Diploma, Level Care, Health & Social Care, Foundation Social Work Certificate

This team provides support to short-term and long term foster carers providing placements to children from the North part of Birmingham covering Erdington, Kingstanding, Stockland Green, Tyburn, Sutton Four Oaks, Sutton New Hall, Sutton Trinity and Sutton Vesey. This team also receives referrals of children, matches and provides support to Shared Care foster carers who offer short breaks to disabled children in the community. Support to Shared Care foster carers is provided by a dedicated social work post.

This team also provides Family Finding for children in the north and east part of Birmingham needing long term fostering placements. The role of family finding is to find permanent family placements for children with a ratified care plan of long term fostering. The team works with children’s social workers, existing carers and other professionals to clarify a child’s placement needs. Appropriate placements are sought from internal and external resources. Matches are achieved through consultation and collaborative working, and confirmed at a formal matching meeting These two teams are based at Tamebridge House, Perry Barr, Birmingham and have a shared business support team of 6.43 staff.

Fostering and Adoption Recruitment Team

The Recruitment Team is also responsible for Adoption front line recruitment and has been line managed by Head of Service Fostering since November 2012) 1 Team Manager (CQSW, MSc Public Sector Management) 1 Senior Practitioner (CQSW PQ 1 & 2) 6 Social Workers (DipSW, CQSW, BA in Social Work, Toronto Canada, Diploma & Bachelor qualifications), PQ 1 & 2, Enabling Others) 0.6 Social Worker – Outreach Project (CQSW, PQ 1 & 2, Practice teacher)

1 Promotions Officers - (MA in Arts Management and Institute of Marketing – ACIM, LLB). This team’s role is to attract and recruit adopters and foster carers with the space and capacity to

meet the needs of Birmingham’s looked after children. Prospective adopters and foster carers are taken through the initial stages of duty enquiries and provided with information about what is

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required. Attendance at an information meeting is followed by an initial screening interview in applicant’s homes.

The team works in partnership with foster carers and adopters, BFCA and Fostering Network, Adoption UK, New style LGBT Adoption and Fostering, Communications Section of the

Environment & Culture Directorate, and other directorates within Birmingham city council. Also with a considerable number of communities, employers, Birmingham businesses, faith based and other support groups who enable us to communicate the need for foster carers and adopters across the city. All the staff team are experienced, including in family placement, residential, child protection and area social work. One worked in Canada prior to coming to this country

The team is supported by business support team of staff, including 3 referral officers one senior admin officer and scale 2 admin staff. The business support team is currently shared with the Adoption Assessment Team based at Lancaster House

Fostering & SGO Assessment Team

1 Team Manager, (DipSW) a) Mainstream Foster Carer Assessments 1 Senior Practitioner/training co-coordinator, vacant 8 Social Workers (DipSW, CQSW, CSS or equivalent) 1 Fostering assessment worker (currently undertaking Open University course) b) Connected Persons and SGO Assessments 1 Assessment co-coordinator/Senior Practitioner (CSS) 1 Social Worker, (MA in social work)

The Assessments Team is in two parts, one assessing mainstream foster carer applicants and the other commissioning assessments of connected persons, including Special Guardianship Orders. The mainstream element provides pre-approval preparation training groups for all prospective foster carers, facilitated by social work staff and experienced foster carers. The team also undertake the BAAF form F assessment of all prospective foster carers and present them to the fostering panel for consideration of approval. The Senior Practitioner also supervises a group of independent assessors to undertake assessments on behalf of the team. The mainstream service and Commissioning also commission agencies to undertake fostering assessments on behalf of Birmingham’s Fostering Service. These assessments are then presented to Birmingham Fostering Panels after being quality assured by the agency and the Assessment Team. The second element is the co-ordination of assessments of connected persons (previously family & friends) and for Special Guardianship Orders (SGOs). This mini team of assessment co-coordinator and social worker work closely with a range of professionals including legal services, area services, assessment agencies and solicitors. The team co-ordinate all connected person assessments through to presentation for approval at fostering panel or to the courts.

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All of the staff team are experienced, including in family placement, residential, child protection and area social work. The team is supported by an administration team of 5 staff, including one senior admin officer and 4 scale 2 admin staff.

Administrative Teams

Business Support Teams

1 Team Manager (First Class Degree in Business, Administration and Accounting) Management Team

1 Secretary

This secretarial post provides administrative and secretarial support to the Head of Service Fostering

Birmingham Foster Carers Association

1 BFCA and Resource Centre Coordinator

This post provides administrative, secretarial and financial support to the BFCA committee members and to the Resource Centre

Foster Carers Intranet Project

1 Business Support Assistant

This post provides administrative and financial support, including internet payments, to the Intranet Project

West & Central Fostering Support Team/South Fostering Support Team

1 Senior Business Support Officer 1.8 Business Support Officers 4.44 Business Support Assistants

This team provides business support to team managers, social workers and foster carers undertaking all administrative and finance tasks, including payments to foster carers and family finding tasks

East Support Team/ North Support Team

1 Senior Business Support Officer 2 Business Support Officers 3.43 Business Support Assistants

This team provides business support to team managers, social workers and foster carers undertaking all administrative and finance tasks, including payments to foster carers and family finding tasks.

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Fostering Assessments

1 Senior Business Support Officer 3.85 Business Support Assistants This team provides business support to the team manager, social workers and prospective foster carers, including connected persons and Special Guardianship, for the Assessments Team and Training Service undertaking all administrative and financial tasks. This team also undertake the statutory checks for other Local Authorities.

The Head of Service, Adoption, has responsibility for the Adoption and Fostering Panel Team which works across both Fostering and Adoption Services:

Head of Service, Adoption: Janet Denny Qualifications: BA (Hons), CQSW, NVQ5 Management

Adoption & Fostering Panel Team 1 Team Manager (DipSW, BA (Hons), NVQ4 Management) 3 Panel Advisors, 1 vacant (DipSW, PQ1) 1 Panel (Quality and Assurance Advisor/ (BA (Hons), HNC Business and Finance, CRE Co-ordinator) CIPS, Cert. Management & Communication, Advanced Professional Cert in Investigative Practice) The panel advisor and team manager posts have a requirement for 5 years post

qualification to ensure they have the necessary experience and knowledge of the Adoption and Fostering Regulations together with internal processes and procedures. They offer a high level of advice and consultation to social workers, team managers and senior managers as well as other professionals who seek clarification on these issues. The Panel administrative team of 13 workers specialise in panel work and include specialist Panel Minute Takers. BITSO (Adoption & Fostering) 1 BITSO BTEC Advanced Level Business Studies, BSc (Hons) Business Information and Technology This post is responsible for the development, training, information and maintenance of an audit, review and quality assurance programme; collation of statistical information; and provision of IT support within the Adoption and Fostering Services to inform the improvement of practice and standards in service delivery.

6. Services Provided by the Fostering Service

The Fostering Service provides a range of foster care placements to children and young people who are looked after by Birmingham City Council:-

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Short-term foster carers look after children for periods lasting from a few days or until the child moves to their permanent placement. The carers’ task is to provide complementary parenting/nurture for the child, or where necessary compensatory care. When a child or young person is placed with short-term carers there will be an assessment of the child’s developmental needs carried out by the social worker for the child. Plans for the future will be made in consultation with the child in question, where appropriate their birth family and in partnership with the temporary carers.

Long-term foster carers provide placements for children and young people who are unable to live with their birth family, usually until they are able to live independently. These carers offer a secure, nurturing base from which the child is supported to meet

their developmental milestones and achieve their full potential.

Respite carers provide a placement for a child under a voluntary agreement for planned and specific periods in order to provide support to the child’s family, thus maintaining the child within his/her own family and community.

Connected Persons carers (previously Family and Friends carers) are family members or friends approved as foster carers for a child known to them on a respite, short-term or long term basis. The Fostering Service makes arrangements for the full assessment of the carers and provides support post approval.

Emergency Duty foster carers are approved to work with the Emergency Duty Team to provide emergency placements for children and young people outside office hours. These placements are of short duration to provide a safe place in an emergency whilst an initial assessment is carried out.

Shared Care carers are matched with disabled children in the community to provide a consistent respite arrangement for the children and their families.

7. The Procedures and Processes for Recruiting, Approving, Supporting, Training,

and Reviewing Carers a) Recruitment of foster carers: Recruitment Team 203 Corporation Street, Birmingham, B4 6SE, 0121 303 7575 www.birmingham.gov.uk/adoptionandfostering The team provides a welcoming central point of contact for anyone interested in becoming an adopter or foster carer. The team works from a high profile City Centre location, has shop front facilities, a meeting room for enquiry and information meeting and confidential interview facilities. The team provides information by email and the web site plus an active duty enquiry line for the prospective carers during the usual office hours plus Thursday evenings. The

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team devises and delivers projects and promotional campaigns to raise general awareness about the City’s need for foster carers and also to generate enquiries from potential applicants. The scope of this brief covers all standard elements of promotional activity including the production and distribution/display of posters and literature citywide, media campaigns and advertising. The team also advertises and networks through community and engagement projects and events and co-ordination of recruitment campaigns on a 12 month planned basis (including making use of venues, and a range of media and events and festivals throughout the city). Enquirers receive an information pack (including a DVD) and an invitation to attend an information meeting with the active participation of an experienced foster carer. The Recruitment Team then offers an individual screening interview. Statutory checks including enhanced Criminal Records Bureau checks are currently carried out at the assessment stage. The Recruitment Team Customer Services Officer’s role is to continually review and improve customer services to prospective adopters/foster carers. This post is responsible for looking at the reasons for drop out rates of applicants, introducing initiatives to combat this, implementing customer services practices, improving processes and the quality of information produced by the team. Collecting feedback, and analyzing processes and the quality of information produced so the team can make informed decisions is also the responsibility of this post holder. The team is always very keen to hear the views you may have on our recruitment processes and customer services in general.

b) Approval of foster carers: Fostering and SGO Assessment Team Po Box 16363 Birmingham B2 2YU 0121 303 0219 The Team co-ordinates all fostering pre-approval training benefiting from a well resourced training facility. The Team has developed a rolling programme of interactive courses based on competency and good practice models. The courses are well attended and well received. These courses are led by social workers with input from experienced foster carers and fostering support workers. Following training, mainstream foster carer applicants are assessed by a social worker under BAAF Form F assessment, which includes evaluation from training, completion of medicals, and personal references and completion by applicants of portfolios. Assessments of connected person’s foster carers are arranged separately through the connected persons co-ordinator based within the Assessment Team.

It also organizes the provision of court reports by independent assessors for Special Guardianship applications.

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Adoption & Fostering Panel Team 1 Lancaster Circus Queensway Birmingham B4 7DQ 0121 303 1010 This team administers and manages Birmingham’s Fostering and Adoption Panels. We have separate fostering panels, there are at least 13 Fostering Panel meetings a month. The team has 3 specialist panel advisor posts who, along with the team manager, provide professional advice to Panels. They also provide a consultation service to children’s workers and others across the directorate. Fostering panels consider the approval of all foster carers, first reviews of foster carers and manage a process for carers to make representations to Fostering Panel where there is a proposal to terminate their approval following an Exceptional Review. Prospective foster carers are invited and supported to attend Panel. For connected person’s carers the Panel administrative team is the first point of contact with the Fostering Service following the placing social workers provision of the initial assessment information. This enables payments to be set up after an emergency placement has been made with a connected person. The Panel Team then provides a date for consideration of approval, pending specified conditions being met, including a presentation of a full assessment report, completion of statutory checks and medicals. Panels then require regular presentations to monitor progress until all conditions are satisfied. Once Panel makes a recommendation about a prospective foster carer’s approval the papers and Panel minutes are presented to the Agency Decision-Maker for ratification of the recommendation. Panel team liaises closely with the Decision Makers. The Central Resource Exchange database (CRE) is also managed within the Adoption and Fostering Panel Team. All the data from panel is accurately recorded so that statistical information can be produced for the DCFS, senior managers, and cabinet members on a regular basis. CRE also provides a matching service for children with plans for long term fostering. CRE is the identified link with the DCFS, the National Adoption Register, and the West Midlands Consortium.

c) Carer Support:

Support to foster carers is provided by one of four support teams: (i) West / Central Fostering Support Team Po Box 15742 Birmingham B2 2QW 0121 303 5313 This Team provides support to carers whose primary task is providing short and long-term placements to children aged from 0-18 years in the West and Central area of Birmingham.

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It also provides a family finding service in this area for children who need long-term family placements. (ii) South Fostering Support Team (including EDT) Po Box 15742 Birmingham B2 2QW 0121 303 5313 This Team provides support to carers whose primary task is providing short and long-term placements to children aged from 0-18 years in the South of Birmingham. There is also a dedicated social work post for the support of Emergency Duty Foster Carers. It also provides a family finding service in this area for children who need long-term family placements. (iii) North Fostering Support Team (including Shared Care) Po Box 16361 Birmingham B2 2YS 0121 303 9523 This Team provides support to carers whose primary task is providing short and long-term placements to children aged from 0-18 years in the North of Birmingham. It also provides a family finding service in this area for children who need long-term family placements. The team also provides support to foster carers whose task is the provision of short- term breaks for disabled children who are matched with them. (iv) East Fostering Support Team (including Connected Persons Support) Po Box 16364 Birmingham B2 2YW 0121 303 9523 This Team provides support to carers whose primary task is providing short and long-term placements to children aged from 0-18 years in the East of Birmingham.

This Team also provides support and training for approved connected persons foster carers, recognizing the particular needs of these carers. All approved foster carers have a named link worker who provides support and supervision. Each carer has regular supervision, the contents of which are recorded and agreed by the parties. Formal supervision is a minimum of every 3 months. Information is gathered from supervisions to contribute to the completion of an Annual Review, whereby the terms and conditions of approval are jointly evaluated and recommendations for continuing approval are made to the Team Manager of the Support Team. Recommendations for a change of approval are made by the Team Manager to the Head of Service, Fostering. The processes of supervision and annual review are interactive between the carer, their family, and the supervising social worker, encouraging participation and working in partnership. The purpose of foster carer support is to assist the carer in the task of helping the child or young person to achieve the objectives and outcomes identified in the care plan, as well

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as offering direct support to the carers and their family. This entails ensuring that carers provide and maintain safe, stable, healthy and nurturing environments which promote and support each child’s or young person’s social, physical, educational, cultural, emotional, spiritual or sexual needs commensurate with their age, wishes and feelings and aspirations. The level of support is set at a minimum of 1 contact with a carer each month, assistance and support in looked after reviews and placement agreement meetings and others when needed. Additional support can be provided where necessary, and in response to particular issues which may arise. Between support meetings, carers or social workers remain in contact on a regular basis via telephone. Regular ‘cell’ group meetings for foster carers have been established for discussion, peer support and training. Cell groups are set up locally with the additional resource offered of a citywide group (in the city centre) to meet the needs of Asian carers. The recent restructuring to a locality based service will further build support networks between carers within an area and also increase knowledge about local services including leisure and education. It will also facilitate improved understanding of roles and responsibilities and working relationships between professionals in different agencies, which will benefit both foster carers and children placed with them. There is a twenty-four hour telephone on-call service, which provides advice and support to foster carers outside office hours. This service is staffed by support workers until midnight. Carers are informed of the appropriate contact numbers for their team. There is a manager from the Fostering or Adoption Services on call twenty-four hours each day to provide support to staff or carers if required. This is in addition to the service provided by the Emergency Duty Team, which operates at all times when Area Offices are closed. They can be contacted on 0121 475 4806. Birmingham Foster Carer Association (BFCA) also offers a peer support service until midnight every day, including weekends and Bank Holidays. This can be contacted on 0121 515 2749. The BFCA Support Service also offers support to carers where allegations have been made and provides advice, information and advocacy service for carers. BFCA produce a newsletter for carers approximately every 3 months. The Fostering Service funds the membership of the Birmingham Foster Carers Association and of Fostering Network for all approved foster carers. Financial support is paid to all carers in the form of child age-related maintenance payments and other allowances to meet the cost of caring for children in placement. An annual financial grant and/or specific financial assistance towards basic equipment required for the children in placement is available. Foster carers are also paid a fostering fee based on their level of skill and experience in the fostering task. Every carer has the Foster Carers Handbook Plus, a comprehensive guide with information about the Fostering Service and the fostering task. This is also available through the BFCA website. The Handbook includes information on safeguarding and children’s health and development, identity and self-esteem, behaviour, education, the

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law etc. It also has age appropriate leaflets for children on being fostered, on child protection conferences and on looked after reviews. The folder also has a signed copy of each carers Foster Carer Agreement and Foster Carer Financial Agreement. Support is available from the Child & Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) to advise on the complex needs of children/young people in placement. Dedicated medical advisors and nurses for looked after children advise on the health needs of children in placement through regular medical examinations and the Care Pathway for the Health of Looked After Children in Birmingham. Support is available from LACES (the Looked after Children Education Service) where there are particular issues in relation to the needs of a child looked after. LACES also provide a homework support service, which is available to all children in the household. Foster carers’ households are entitled to a free Passport to Leisure, which allows access to leisure facilities in the Birmingham area. Foster carers are also entitled to be members of the Birmingham Rewards Scheme which offers a range of discounts and other savings initiatives at well-known stores. Support with the provision of equipment for disabled children is available from the Paediatric Occupational Therapy Team who will advise and assist foster carers. An Intranet is available for foster carers in order to disseminate information via the computers within the majority of carers’ households. d) Training for Foster Carers: The Learning and Development Team meets regularly with the Fostering Service to determine training needs for both staff and foster carers. Courses are provided by fostering staff with foster carers being involved in presenting when they have appropriate knowledge and skills. Training is also commissioned from partners such as LACES and CAMHS, and various external providers. Post approval training programmes are set up specifically for foster carers with a crèche and shorter day. The programme is agreed each year, with the programme for 2012/13 having received considerable resources. Training is organised by the Fostering Service, Learning and Development and BFCA with input from relevant professionals and organisations. Training includes First Aid, the Health and Social Well-being of Looked after Children, Eating Disorders, Supporting the Education of LAC, and Safe Caring. There are mandatory courses, including First Aid, Allegations, Safe Caring, Safeguarding, Delegating Authority, Attachment, Separation and Loss, and Moving Children On. Foster carers also have access to the training put on for staff through Learning and Development, plus additional courses of external providers if these are appropriate to their assessed needs. Other elements of training and development are provided through cell groups for foster carers arranged via the Support Teams and on an individual basis through supervision as necessary. In 2011/12 10 foster carers completed the NVQ 3 in Children and Families. The BTEC in caring for Children and Young People was also undertaken by 2 foster carers.

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Akamas on line training covering a range of topics is purchased, with carers living at a distance from Birmingham being prioritized. 60 foster carers completed the courses by September 2012. 30 courses have already been purchased for 2012/13 with most already being taken and a decision made to buy more. After receiving training fostering staff have run a 12 week Behavioral Management course, which 9 carers completed last year. Future courses will be planned to run when resources are available. d) Review of Foster Carers: The National Standards state that all carers should be reviewed at 12 months after approval and annually thereafter. A review confirms the approval status of the carers and further reviews can make recommendations to the Head of Service Fostering to amend the terms of approval. Reviews provide a full check on the fostering task, progress and issues for the carer and family as well as identifying training and development needs for the carer. The Review process is interactive and the format enables the recording of significant events, changes within the household, the number and range of placements between Reviews, specific issues within the placements, standards of care, abilities and knowledge of carers, provision of a safe caring environment, working as a team, and the development of the carer. Comments are also requested from social workers and carers. The carer’s own children are seen individually if appropriate and their views recorded. A health and safety checklist is completed. The supervising social worker’s comments are recorded and plans identified for the coming year.

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Following receiving an information

pack, enquirers will be invited to

attend information meeting

Recruitment Team

Enquirers complete ‘Resource Offered’ form and receive a

Criminal Records Disclosure booklet

Enquirers complete CRB disclosure forms

with social work assistance if required.

‘Resource Offered’ form is processed.

Pass to Assessment Team

at Tamebridge House

Assessment is presented to Panel.

Applicants supported to attend with

assessor.

Panel recommendation approval/non

approval

Approved foster carers receive

on–going support from the

appropriate Fostering Support

Team

Home Screening Visit

Decision by Team

Manager to pursue

positive enquiry

Letter to

enquirer Enquirers Attend Approval Training

Home study assessment Form F

Senior Manager as

Decision Maker ratifies

Panel’s

recommendations

Application Form

Appeals process to Decision-Maker and IRM

Process of approval as foster carers

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8. Number of Foster Carers and Children Placed as at 30th September 2012

Team Number of Foster

Carers

North 141

East 148

West / Central 129

South 149

EDT 10

Total 577

These foster carers supported a total of 764 children, 374 girls and 390 boys.

9. Numbers of Complaints and their Outcomes The primary mechanism for collecting the views of service users is through the Directorate’s Consumer Relations Service. Public information is available in nineteen different language formats and is widely available. Additionally CD and tape formats are available for those with sight and literacy challenges. Complaints are centrally monitored and statistics collated, each team is responsible for monthly input. From 1st April 2011 to 31st March 2012 there were 2 complaints that were not resolved at the earliest stage. Of these 1 was upheld. From April to June 2012 there have been 4 complaints at Stage 2 and Stage 3 of the complaints process.

10. Information about the Complaints Procedure

Prospective foster carers are advised of the Directorate’s complaints procedures and given information in an appropriate language on how to make a complaint. The Complaints Service, which is now referred to as Customer Relations Service, provides intervention, problem solving, independent investigation, mediation, review and independent advocacy services etc.

Name and address of Customer Relations Manager: Karen Holland Customer Relations Service PO Box 16465 Birmingham B2 2DG Tel: 0121 303 5161 The Children, Young People & Families Directorate has a Rights and Participation Service that will help children and young people by providing an advocate for a young person in need of support. This service along with the Children in Care Council also provides a forum for collecting the general views of young people and children about service provision.

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Contact:

Lisa Carter, Head of Rights and Participation Service

The Lighthouse, 100 Alma Way, Birmingham, B19 2LN (Tel: 0121 303 7217)

11. Address and Telephone of the Office for Standards in Education - Ofsted The Fostering Service is regularly inspected by Ofsted to ensure it meets the Fostering Regulations 2002 and the National Minimum Standards.

Headquarters: Ofsted Headquarters Aviation House 125 Kingsway London WC2B 6SE www.ofsted.gov.uk

12. Children’s Rights Director for England:

Dr Roger Morgan

RogerMorgan.rights4me@ofsted.gsi.gov.uk http://www.rights4me.org/ Office of the Children's Rights Director for England Ofsted, Alexandra House 33 Kingsway London WC2B 6SE Freephone 0800 528 0731