Jane Collins’ Post

https://lnkd.in/e8xR5jb9 This is the kind of information you don’t get when you begin fostering, those recruiting somehow think that if you know the ‘truth’ about fostering you would be put off. We think this is unhelpful and adds to the low retention rate of carers in the first year and placement breakdowns. It is not about being “put off”, it is about being prepared and knowing what to expect, people who want to care for children are usually far more resilient than the recruiters think and will not be put off, they want to do the job. #fostercareawareness #fosterWiki #facts #fostercare #fosteringjourney

After languishing in no man's land it's now back in the news, but should we rip it up and move towards actual meaningful reform? These reviews are so frequently seen through the lens of those who head them up. Here is what one Foster Carer had to say yesterday in my Facebook Forum: "It doesn’t address any of the underpinning reasons why the system is broken - A new approach to extended families - new in what way? How is it different from existing kinship care arrangements? How does it address the reasons why more family members are not now fostering or adopting or taking SGOs? Improve support available for care-experienced people - in what way? Why is substandard care provided now? Recruit new social workers and improve career development - does not address the tick box culture and other reasons why social work is not an attractive options for able workers. A new national framework - more money spent on consultants - when did a framework ever improve anything - if it’s not law councils will ignore it, if there is no more money and no improvement in quality of staff councils will not be able to embed it. So the fact that there is a lack of empty words about foster carers and fostering - Should it concern us?" 👉 https://lnkd.in/eGmMXhtt #fostercare #frontline #WEcare

https://lnkd.in/eDHtKhBm Fostering is a complex, nuanced and skilled undertaking, it is also can be life-changing, enriching and rewarding for those who chose this career path. The old image of the foster carer is outdated and misleading, we are now a professionalised workforce whose role is underpinned by national minimum standards and statutory legislation. #FosterCareAwareness #FosterWiki #ProfessionalFosterCarer

Are you still seeing fostering applicants drop out during the approval process? Statistics reveal that 71% of these hard won candidates withdraw, often feeling disillusioned along the way. One aspect you should be aware of is the current assessment process, which many find outdated. However, there’s now a better alternative: NFCQ Integrated Assessment Process - This modern, strengths-based approach ensures a professional and thorough assessment, preparing your applicant to become an Accredited Foster Carer. Your carers will start their fostering journey fully equipped with the knowledge and confidence needed to provide the high-quality care and outcomes our children deserve. Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/eMkHCg53 #fostercare #recruitment #retention #placementstability

https://lnkd.in/eS_uvCHK 👉A stark wake-up call from the FosterWiki independent survey The fear of allegations - over 80% of carers indicated that this fear affects their role, and an alarming 85% believe allegations are not handled fairly, justly, or in a balanced way. Despite long-standing concerns raised by many, these issues have often been dismissed due to a lack of 'evidence,' with the severity of allegations remaining hidden. 👉 Reducing the fear of allegations helps foster carers' mental health and provides better care for children. 👉 An independent body makes sure allegations are handled fairly, boosting foster carers' trust in the system. We appeal to the government to support foster carers appropriately because the current system is failing to address these critical issues. To recruit and retain foster carers this is crucial to address! #FosterCare #SupportFosterCarers #FairnessInFosterCare #MentalHealth #ChildWelfare #IndependentReview #JusticeForCarers #FosterWiki

The world of children’s social care is facing challenges that we simply can not ignore any longer. We know we need to come together. 👉 To transform how foster carers are recruited, supported, and valued, ensuring they feel empowered every step of the way. 👉 To build stronger more trusting relationships between foster carers and social workers, relationships grounded in mutual respect and collaboration. 👉 We must look at the DNA of fostering, and make fundemental changes that can ease the pressure on the system. Imagine the possibilities, imagine the potential for everyone. https://lnkd.in/esWmCE_2 has been founded to turn these ideas into action, and to help build a future where every child, carer, and social worker can thrive. Together, we can, and will make it happen. We would love to share our vision with you: sarahanderson@fosterwiki.com or markowers@yahoo.com #fostercare #FCE #wecare

https://lnkd.in/eYYfQxex Being a modern foster carer is so much more than nurturing a child in a family environment, although it is of course centred around this. Today’s foster carer is a skilled, qualified professional. You are excepted to attend meetings, prepare reports, keep meticulous records, and liaise with a large team around the child including social workers, education professionals, mental health professionals, doctors, the police, youth teams and more. You are required to register as a self-employed business, pay tax (although there are very generous tax allowances) national insurance, can be subject to disciplinary procedures and have to abide by a plethora of policies and statutory legislation. It is also, more often than not, a full-time job. As you can see it’s a lot more than a spare room and a big heart. Does this detract from loving and nurturing a child in a family setting? No of course it doesn’t, not in any way, it enhances it, our children deserve us to be equipped to look after them in more ways than one. 👉Where do you start? Sign up to FosterWiki for a wealth of honest information to help you on your journey #FosterWiki #FosterCareAwareness #Support #FosterCare #Nurture #Professional #TeamWork

https://lnkd.in/eYYfQxex Being a modern foster carer is so much more than nurturing a child in a family environment, although it is of course centred around this. Today’s foster carer is a skilled, qualified professional. You are excepted to attend meetings, prepare reports, keep meticulous records, and liaise with a large team around the child including social workers, education professionals, mental health professionals, doctors, the police, youth teams and more. You are required to register as a self-employed business, pay tax (although there are very generous tax allowances) national insurance, can be subject to disciplinary procedures and have to abide by a plethora of policies and statutory legislation. It is also, more often than not, a full-time job. 👉As you can see it’s a lot more than a spare room and a big heart. Does this detract from loving and nurturing a child in a family setting? No of course it doesn’t, not in any way, it enhances it, our children deserve us to be equipped to look after them in more ways than one #fosterWiki 👉To be a foster carer is about giving a child a chance for a brighter future, filled with hope and possibility. 👉Its important to also acknowledge the profound rewards it brings to be part of this as a foster carer 👉 People need to know that fostering isn't like regular parenting. 👉People want to understand the process, the challenges, and the rewards involved in fostering. 👉 People are eager to learn about the transformative role foster carers play in a child's journey towards success and happiness. #FosterWiki #FosterCare #FosterCarer #Skilled #Professional #Transparency #InformedDecisionMaking

Foster carer recruitment is stuck telling the same story. We’ve seen countless campaigns featuring heartwarming images of smiling families, with slogans like “change a life” and “be the difference” that rely too heavily on the assumption that all people need is a nudge in the right direction to start their fostering journey. This, paired with a constant sense of crisis - ‘we need your help NOW’ - simply haven’t shifted the needle in any significant way over the past few years. In our latest blog, Hollie Newborough-Fox explains why it's time to rethink foster carer recruitment (link in comments) #elevenagency #creativeagency #strategyagency #wholepicturethinking #fostercarerrecruitment #fostercarers #fostering #fostercare #publicsector #socialcare #blog #marketingblog #creativeblog

Message to Social workers from a care leaver My experience in the foster care system, I felt alone. I didn’t feel like my social worker emotionally connnect with me. I believe love & connection is vital when working with children in the care system. As a child who has experienced abandonment, lack of love, you then feel broken. You lack so much self worth. When you don’t get attention from those who raised you, you will get that attention in other avenues. Behaviour issues is normally an outlet for attention. Never see your work as a job, but see it as your life mission to help children to heal from the wounds they have. All it takes is one social worker to reconnect on why they became a social worker. You can make a big difference. We just want love and connection. Believe in us, we are strong, driven individuals who have been through more truama that some people will ever go through. Please tag and share this to reach as many social workers Love from a care leaver #socialservices #fostercare #foster