Personal Development Plans

Current Fostering National Minimum Standard 20.5 requires that foster carers’ personal development plans set out how they will be supported to undertake ongoing training and development that is appropriate to their development needs and experience. These standards also (NMS 20.6) require that the reviews of each foster carer’s approval include an appraisal of performance against […]

The Fostering Network the State of the Nation’s foster care survey (2016)

The Fostering Network the State of the Nation’s foster care survey (2016) – What foster carers think and feel about fostering is now available. The Fostering Network research involved in total 2,530 foster carers from across the UK completed the survey online: 1,942 of these fostered in England, 359 in Scotland, 122 in Wales and […]

Managing Quality Outcomes in Health and Social Care Settings

Managing quality outcomes is an essential element of management competence. Measuring and assessing service quality in the social care sector presents some distinct challenges. However, indicators of service quality, including those of service impact on outcomes for children. Monitoring can mean ‘continuous or regularly repeated observations of important parts of service structure, process, output or […]

TSD 2.3 (a & b) Promoting Child Contact

Importance of child contact when promoting relationships with parents and others  Child contact refers to all relationship links between a child and their families of origin and friends, regardless of the form and frequency of these links. This may include overnight stays, telephone calls, exchange of letters or photographs or indirect links through third parties. […]

TSD Standard 4 Know how to communicate effectively

Effective communication in foster care settings People working in fostering settings often communicate to share ideas/information; to offer reassurance; to build relationships; to ask questions and much more. Factors to consider for effective communication includes: the level; pace; tone; sensory needs; content; use of jargon/slang; child or young person’s or colleagues wellbeing and ability. This […]

Promoting Standards in Social Care Training

  In terms of promoting Standards in social care training the Education and Training Foundation (website) released a set of aspirational standards in May 2014. The Professional Standards provide a framework for teachers and trainers to critically appraise their own practice and improve their teaching through Continuing Professional Development (CPD). Almost 1,000 sector professionals were […]

Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children research and guidance information

Main Legislative Framework and Guidance The Children Act 1989 places a responsibility upon Local Authorities to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people living in their area. When children in need are identified, an assessment of their needs should be undertaken. A major factor for unaccompanied asylum seeking children is that the […]