Statement of Purpose URN: SC033794 - November 2021 Alliance Foster Care - National Fostering Agency
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Statement of Purpose Alliance Foster Care URN: SC033794 November 2021
This Statement of Purpose is made available and provided to employees,
carers, local authorities, children and young people in placement and to the
general public via the Alliance website www.alliancefostercare.co.uk or in
hard copy when requested. This Statement of Purpose is reviewed and agreed
annually, by the Senior Management Team.
Contents
Introduction 4
Vision, Mission and Values 5
Staff and Constitution of the Agency 7
Management and Staffing Structure 8
Placements Provided by the Agency 11
Matching Children with Foster Families 12
Agency Standards of Care 13
Support Provided to Children and Young People in Placement 16
Pledge to Children and Young People 19
Commitment to Equality and Diversity 20
Support Provided to Foster Carers 21
Carer Recruitment, Assessment and Approval 25
Training for Foster Carers and Staff 27
Complaints 29
Accredited Standards 30
Professional Membership 31
Contact Information 32
Alliance Foster Care Statement of Purpose November 2021 3
Introduction
This Statement of Purpose for Alliance Foster As of 1st November 2021, Alliance Foster Care
Care has been developed and produced had 71 fostering families approved to care for
to meet the requirements of the following children aged 0-18 years. This includes foster
legislation and guidance: carers able to look after sibling groups, parent
and child, children with disabilities and children
• The Children Act 1989 with challenging behaviours. The agency has
• The Children Act 1989 Guidance and foster families residing in:
Regulations Volume 4: Fostering
Services (2011) • Bedfordshire
• Care Standards Act 2000 • Buckinghamshire
• Fostering Services: National Minimum • Cambridgeshire
Standards 2011 • Luton
• The Fostering Services (England) • Milton Keynes
Regulations 2011 • Northamptonshire
• The Care Planning, Placement and Case • Peterborough
Review (England) Regulations 2010 • Hertfordshire
• The Care Planning, Placement and
Case Review and Fostering Services We have been consistently judged as
(Miscellaneous Amendments) ‘Outstanding’ by our regulatory body, Ofsted, in
Regulations 2013 2012, 2014 and 2017, striving daily to meet their
• Assessment and Approval of Foster Carers: exacting standards. Ofsted reported that:
Amendments to the Children Act 1989 “The agency strongly promotes the health,
Guidance and Regulations, Volume 4 safety and wellbeing of children, promotes
Fostering Services (July 2013) the independence skills of all young people,
• Children and Families Act 2014 with outstanding outcomes for children and
• Social Work Act 2017 young people being achieved.”
It aims to provide information about the agency
and the services we provide to foster carers, Ofsted May 2017
children, young people, parents and other • Overall: Outstanding
professionals. Our Statement of Purpose is • Quality: Outstanding
reviewed and updated annually and is available
• Leadership: Outstanding
to download from our website or on request.
Alliance Foster Care office is based in
Northamptonshire, where all functions of the
company are coordinated to ensure a high
standards of service delivery. Alliance is part
of the NFG and benefits from the support of
some centralised services e.g. HR, Marketing.
All social workers and staff are locally based to
enable a flexible and responsive approach.
4 Alliance Foster Care Statement of Purpose November 2021
Vision, Mission, Values
Alliance Foster Care Statement of Purpose November 2021 5
6 Alliance Foster Care Statement of Purpose November 2021
Staff and Constitution
of the Agency
Alliance Foster Care is registered and Our Central Support Services include:
inspected as an Independent Fostering Human Resources, Finance, Training, Quality
Agency by Ofsted in accordance with the Care Assurance, Compliance, Fostering Enquiry
Standards Act 2000. Centre and National Assessment Service
Alliance Foster Care Ltd is a private Limited The Registered manager of Alliance meets
Company. with the Regional Director monthly and with
the Managing Director for Fostering on a
Registered in England, Number 4249271. quarterly basis to review the agency’s overall
Alliance Foster Care is a part of The National performance and development.
Fostering Group and reports to the Board of
Directors and Senior Management Team.
David Leatherbarrow
Group Chief Executive
Jean-Luc Janet
Group Chief Financial Officer
Sharon Platts
Chief People Officer
Richard Power
Managing Director for Education & Residential
Care
Steve Christie
Managing Director for Fostering
Mike Blakey
Group Quality Director
Richard Cooke
Group Commercial Director
Alliance Foster Care Statement of Purpose November 2021 7
Management and
Staffing Structure
Management Structure
Registered Manager – Alison Miller( registration in process)
Responsible Individual – John Keane, Regional Director
The Alliance Foster Care management group to ensuring the legal compliance of the
have a wealth of experience and expertise organisation.
in the field of fostering and social care. The
Regional Director, Registered Manager The Registered Manager is responsible
and Team Managers all hold management for the overall operation of the agency and
qualifications and are qualified social workers the development of the service; meeting
registered with Social Work England. The senior with the Regional Director on a monthly
management group meet on a monthly basis basis and Managing Director on a quarterly
and are responsible for all strategic planning basis to discuss the agency’s performance
of the company. This involves business and development in accordance with the
planning which is in line with service user business plan. The Registered Manager role
needs, company aims and objectives, financial is undertaken by a qualified social worker
commitments, organisational structure, policy, with substantial practice and management
procedure, guidance and regulations. They experience in the statutory and Fostering
are also responsible for setting performance Sector.
targets and subsequent monitoring, in addition
Group Chief Executive
Managing Director
Regional Director
Registered Manager
8 Alliance Foster Care Statement of Purpose November 2021
Operations Team
All members of the Operations Team are based at the Alliance Office in Northampton, with the
exception of the Referrals Co-ordinator who is based in the local Referrals Hub. The team works
closely together to ensure all enquiries are dealt with efficiently and effectively.
On a monthly basis the operations team meet together with one designated person per department to
discuss compliance, recruitment and retention of carers, events, carer engagement and IT functions.
Regional Director
Registered Manager
Carer
Advanced
Team Manager Recruitment Office Manager
Practitioner
Officer
Supervising Referrals
Support Workers Administrator
Social Workers Co-ordinator
Alliance Foster Care Statement of Purpose November 2021 9
The Social Work Team
Supervising Social Workers are all qualified, All members of staff, whether self-employed,
Social Work England registered and have a casual or permanent, are suitably qualified.
wealth of experience, having worked in a wide All permanent members of staff have training
variety of statutory social work settings. The development plans specific to their area of
majority of the team have further post qualifying expertise, receive monthly supervision and
qualifications. They are responsible for visiting annual appraisals.
carer households regularly, attending meetings,
spending time with children and young people Alliance Foster Care carries out background
in placement as appropriate and making checks on all staff employed or commissioned
recommendations for the annual foster carer by the company in accordance with
review. Supervising Social Workers facilitate requirements of the National Care Standards
support groups. Act 2000 (National Minimum Fostering
Standards).
Support Workers provide specific support
to foster carers and children, including the All staff undertake mandatory training in
independence training package, attendance safeguarding, equality and diversity and data
at PEP meetings, liaising with schools and protection.
education provisions to support children in
their educational achievements, supporting
young people in identifying further education
or employment opportunities and group work
on specific subjects. Support Workers are
experienced in working with children in a range
of settings including youth and education.
We have our own Therapeutic Service within
the National Fostering Group who are able to
offer a high-quality clinical service to staff,
carers and children.
10 Alliance Foster Care Statement of Purpose November 2021Placements Provided
by the Agency
Alliance Foster Care works closely with a Foster carers can also assist Local Authorities
number of Local Authorities to understand their with their assessments by providing information
specific needs relating to foster placements in relating to parenting capacity/capabilities.
particular areas. As an agency we then look
to recruit carers from a range of backgrounds Solo Placements
who are able to provide high quality foster If the placing authority requires the child to
placements for children in the care of Local be the only child or youngest/oldest child in
Authorities. The types of placement provided placement, this would need to be specified at
are: the referral stage to enable the placement to be
matched with vacancies accordingly.
Emergency
Many of our carers can provide unplanned Sibling Placements
emergency placements for individual children Many of our foster carers are able to care for
and sibling groups. Referrals are required to be large sibling groups which ensures children
made within office hours. remain with their brothers and sisters.
Respite/Short Breaks Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking and
We have a number of carers who provide Refugee Children and Young People
respite placements either on a regular basis or Some of our foster carers have developed the
one-off holiday breaks. skills and experience for providing placements
to children and young people who are
Short term unaccompanied from overseas, enabling these
Short term placements vary in their duration children to settle within a family setting and
and are often linked to further assessments of engage in education.
the child and other family members, together
with court processes. Long term plans can be Specialist Fostering
formulated in short term placements. We are able to provide placements for
children who have complex needs relating to
Bridging disability, health needs or complex behaviours.
We are able to provide placements with foster These placements usually include enhanced
carers who are experienced in bridging children packages of support and/or additionally
to adoption, permanence or independence. purchased specialist services.
Bridging placements form part of the long-term
plan for the child and usually last up to 2 years. Bridge to Foster is a service enabling young
people to step down from residential care,
Long Term/Permanency Invictus is a service for children and young
Placements are available with long term foster people with complex behaviours.
carers who can take individual children or
sibling groups. Long term placements are Staying Put
matched and by the responsible local authority. These are arrangements whereby Young
People aged 18 and over that were previously
Parent and Child looked after remain living with their former foster
We are able to provide foster care placements carers.
where young parents receive support and
guidance to help develop parenting skills.
Alliance Foster Care Statement of Purpose November 2021 11Matching Children with
Foster Families
Matching children and young people to the right • Their knowledge, experience and skills
approved fostering household is a carefully • Their location and distance to school,
considered process; getting it right is critical friends, contact and LA
and will advance the progress, experience and • Their ability to transport
outcomes for children and increase placement • Their experience of facilitating and/or
stability and retention, and provide children, supervising contact
young people and their carers with positive
• Any other looked after children in placement
fostering experiences.
• Own children and other household members
At Alliance Foster Care, we recognise that
Alliance Foster Care will not propose a
children and young people are individuals, with
placement if the assessed needs of the child/
a diverse range of needs and talents, requiring
young person cannot reasonably be provided
fostering placements that are equally unique.
by the proposed foster carers.
Our carers have a diverse range of skills,
knowledge and experience, and our task is to If a child is placed with carers from a different
carefully match children and young people, with ethnicity or culture to their own, there will always
those carers who have the right skill set and be an emphasis on the preservation of the
approach to meet their individual needs. child’s identity and heritage through practical
and emotional support.
Our dedicated Referral Coordinators are on
hand to assist Local Authorities in finding the If a child is identified with specific health needs,
right match for children and young people. consideration will be given as to whether
They work closely with the Supervising Social specialist health resources are available within
Workers, Foster Carers and Local Authorities to reasonable travelling distance of the foster
ensure the best possible matches are made. home. The agency will source additional
specialist training, where necessary and
The matching process carefully considers
appropriate, to ensure the carer is
the child’s needs in relation to the following
fully competent in meeting any specific
key areas:
health needs.
• Safeguarding
Foster carers are provided with all information
• Personal history
made available to the agency in order for them
• Identity/ethnicity/culture/religion to make fully informed decisions about whether
• Heath, wellbeing and disability they can meet the individual child’s needs
• Education/Training/Employment and care plan. Carers are fully involved in the
• Contact matching process throughout and will ultimately
• Behaviours and risk management make the final decision as to whether or not they
• Interests and aspirations can offer the child or young person a placement
• Overall objectives/outcomes for the in their home.
placement The BAAF Form F Assessment and Carer Profile
The matching process will also consider the is made available to the Local Authority for any
following in relation to the carers: placement offers made, enabling them to have
detailed information on the proposed carer and
• Their terms of approval fostering household.
• Their availability
12 Alliance Foster Care Statement of Purpose November 2021Agency Standards
of Care
As of November 2021 Alliance foster Carers Policies on sanctions control, physical
were looking after 98 children who were unable intervention and complaints procedures are
to live with their birth families for a variety of available to children, parents and professionals.
reasons. The children in placement come from These policies are imperative to ensure that
a wide range of backgrounds. To ensure that behaviours are responded to in a consistent
high quality care is provided to the children and fair manner.
and young people Alliance Foster care has
established clear guidance for all foster carers
and staff in the foster carers’ manual. The foster
Health Care
carers manual also outlines the standards that Alliance Foster Care, in partnership with the
we expect from approved foster carers and the foster carer, Social Worker and Health Authority,
staff working for the agency. establish the individual health needs of each
child in our care.
Physical Environment If a child has been placed locally they will
Alliance Foster carers pride themselves on the continue using their own health resources, if this
standard of their homes providing safe, caring is not possible children will be registered with a:
environments, where there is a focus on • GP
health, education, protection, continuity, diet
• Dentist
and stimulation.
• Optician
All children have their own bedrooms unless
Alliance Foster Care has established good
their Local Authority has given permission for
working relationships with health care
them to share in the case of siblings.
professionals in the areas where we operate.
Children are encouraged to individualise their We are able to access expert advice to ensure
rooms. A quiet area for study is identified in children’s individual health needs are met.
each home and the provision of a computer
We have guidance on administering and
and internet access is available for use by
recording medication, which each foster carer
each child.
adheres to Supervising Social Workers regularly
All foster homes are assessed for a healthy check medication documents to all administering
and safe environment on an annual basis. Play of medication is recorded by carers directly
areas are safe, enclosed and all play equipment onto our CHARMS database and reviewed by
is checked to ensure it is in good working order. supervising social workers and managers.
Special dietary requirements are written into
Boundary Setting the child’s Placement Agreement/Care Plan
Each foster home has their own Safe Care and are provided.
Policy which highlights boundaries within
Foster carers encourage children to
each home. Risk assessments and strategies
participate in regular exercise to ensure the
relating to each child’s circumstances and
development of good physical, emotional and
behaviour are agreed in the child’s Placement
psychological health.
Agreement/care plan which is completed at the
commencement of the placement.
Alliance Foster Care Statement of Purpose November 2021 13Agency Standards
of Care (cont.)
Children are encouraged to attend out of school friends or professionals involved with them,
activities to enable them to widen their social in privacy.
circle and develop any talents and skills they
may have. Contact arrangements form part of the child’s
overall Placement Agreement/Care Plan. We
would expect to be informed of any changes by
Complaints/Protection the child’s Local Authority.
All children placed with Alliance Foster Care
Transport to and from contact locally is the
carers have the right to be safe, protected and
responsibility of the foster carer but needs to be
listened to.
negotiated to ensure each child’s needs can be
When a child is placed with a foster carer met by the foster carer.
they will be given written and verbal guidance
Foster carers encourage children to make
(relative to their understanding) outlining the
positive lasting friendships and will facilitate
complaints procedure and ways to access
friends for tea visits and outings when
support. This will include help lines, e.g.
appropriate.
NSPCC, Childline and the telephone number
of Ofsted. Foster carers contribute to informal contact
arrangements with siblings looked after by other
As well as statutory visits from the child’s
foster carers.
Social Worker, an Alliance Supervising Social
Worker will see the children on their own on a
regular basis. Education
Alliance Foster Care has a stringent anti- Alliance Foster Care believe children have
bullying policy. Foster carers are given advice the fundamental right to experience an
and training on how to recognise signs of appropriate education which enables them to
bullying and strategies are formulated on how meet their potential.
to support the child and ensure they Every child placed with Alliance Foster Care
are protected. has a Personal Education Plan (PEP). This is
Alliance Foster Care always aims to give the monitored and reviewed at regular intervals
best possible service but occasionally things by the child’s school, social worker and carer.
can go wrong. When that happens, we want to Carers are expected to be fully involved with
put them right and learn from our mistakes. this process.
Educational goals are important to build a firm
Contact with Friends foundation of academic and social learning
to enable children to progress their academic
and Relatives achievements.
Alliance Foster Care ensures that each child in
our care is encouraged to maintain contact with Whenever possible children are enrolled at
those most important to them. local schools where they have the opportunity
to make friends and participate in activities in
We can provide facilities by arrangement to the local community.
ensure a child is able to meet with their family,
14 Alliance Foster Care Statement of Purpose November 2021Children without school placements will be Any special arrangements that need to be
expected to be provided with teaching hours considered to ensure that safe care is provided
from the Local Authority they are placed in. will be discussed with the placing authority
The National Fostering Group also has a virtual and incorporated into the child’s Placement
school where children who are out of school for Agreement Plan.
any reason can access the National Curriculum.
Consultation
During the pandemic our GCSE students have
also had the opportunity to benefit from National Children are encouraged to contribute ideas on
Fostering Group resources such as online all aspects of the service the Agency provides.
drop-in revision sessions with teachers and Recent consultations have resulted in:
Pre-recorded master-class videos.
More age appropriate literature to children
being placed in care.
Unauthorised Absence
Ongoing workshops for both foster children and
and Missing
the children of foster carers.
All foster carers have access to the agency
policy on children who go missing. If there In addition, foster carers are very much involved
are issues of risk, vulnerability or child sexual in the development of the agency and are
exploitation, then a strategy will be discussed encouraged to highlight improvements either
and agreed with the Child’s Social Worker, formally or informally.
young person and foster carer. This is to ensure
appropriate safeguards and supervision are
in place, to further improve risk awareness
and facilitate risk reduction. The agency will
request the Local Authority conducts Return
Home Interviews following all missing episodes,
but if this is not carried out, the agency SSW
or support worker will visit to further explore
the reasons for going missing and provide
appropriate support.
Safeguarding Procedures
Alliance Foster Care has safeguarding
procedures which staff and foster carers are
all familiar with. The procedures are based on
Local Authority practice guidelines.
Alliance Foster Care Statement of Purpose November 2021 15Support Provided to
Children and Young
People in Placement
When the Local Authority and the agency have Education
agreed that an identified foster carer can meet
the needs of a child, a placement contract is At Alliance Foster Care we believe that
made agreeing the duration of the placement. all children have the fundamental right to
experience an appropriate education which
We will consider emergency/same day enables them to meet their potential. Each
placements, but only where the placement child has a Personal Education Plan which is
would promote the young person’s welfare. reviewed and monitored regularly. Additional
support is provided to children who are at risk
All children and young people in placement of exclusion in order to maintain their place
with Alliance Foster carers will receive ongoing in education or identify a more appropriate
support from their Local Authority Social education provision that meets their needs.
Worker. In addition to this support they will
also have the opportunity to meet with the Transport to and from school locally will be
Supervising Social Worker to discuss any provided by the foster carer unless agreed
concerns or let them know what is going well. otherwise with the placing authority.
In addition, we also have our Support Workers
who meet with the children and young people The additional support we provide to the
on individual or group sessions. children placed with our foster carers has
enabled all children of school age to access
Services available for children include: education during the pandemic and return to
school when safe to do so. Young people aged
• Support to find or pursue hobbies or between 16 and 18 are supported to access
interests. education and training.
• Individual or group work, including
structured activities for children out of As part of the National Fostering Group,
school. Alliance Foster Care has access to the Acorn
• Social activities for the sons and daughters Digital Learning School, which is an alternative
of foster carers. education provision. This service is able to offer
creative, engaging and informative learning
• Access to national organisations for looked
for secondary age learners and is delivered by
after children and young people.
qualified subject specialist teachers. This is an
• Supervised or unsupervised contact
additional service available to Local Authorities
with families as determined by the Local
for children who are temporarily out of school,
Authority.
due to a move of placement or where they are
• Education & Therapeutic professionals to experiencing significant educational difficulties.
provide assistance directly to children or The digital learning school offers the opportunity
advice to our social workers. for educational continuity.
Health
At Alliance Foster Care we recognise that
often the reason children and young people
need to be looked after is that their health and
development have been neglected in some
16 Alliance Foster Care Statement of Purpose November 2021way, consequently they may have health needs inventive ways to engage with young
which must be addressed. Changes and moves people and address issues that may have
often mean that looked after children and young arisen. Examples of the types of direct work
people’s health care can be disrupted. All our undertaken are:
foster carers understand the importance of
ensuring that all health needs of the children • Self-esteem and self-confidence building.
they care for are met from ensuring they have • Behaviour intervention and strategies.
received their immunisations, to overseeing and • Education support if a child is out of school.
promoting their general health and well-being. • CSE awareness and appropriate behaviour.
Foster carers and Supervising Social Workers • Safety and appropriate use of technology.
understand that the overall physical, emotional, • Befriending and being a positive advocate.
mental and sexual well-being of a child or • Respite and placement support for carers.
young person need to be considered at regular
• Independence work such as cooking and
intervals and all health checks completed.
managing money.
All carers attend a First Aid training course
Our Support Workers complete some fantastic
as part of the agency’s comprehensive
work with children and young people. In
training programme.
addition to support the needs of individual
children, their intervention also supports the
Therapy foster carers to maintain placements.
We believe that children have a right to
access therapeutic provision from Local Events
Health Authorities.
We run a range of activities and workshops
If children cannot access local provision due for carers and children. This provides an
to the time-scales involved or the complexity opportunity for carers to build and maintain links
of their situation, we are able to provide with one another and for the children and young
appropriate therapeutic services through a people to have fun whilst learning via a range of
number of fully qualified professionals who have activities and workshops.
extensive and appropriate experience.
Our events have been fantastic and our staff,
young people and carers have all enjoyed the
Support Workers opportunity to come together and engage in
Our Support Workers offer a range of support a variety of events over the year. Due to the
to foster carers and young people. The majority pandemic most of the events have needed
of work is focused on direct work with young to be virtual this year but we have facilitated
people, however Support Workers will also a wide range of virtual events for carers and
attend PEP meetings, LAC reviews, organise children. These have ranged from coffee
events and activities, support placements and mornings and craft activities for carers, in
also visit young people who have recently addition to the support groups. With regard to
joined Alliance (welcome visits). the children and young people, we have hosted
a wide range of activities and workshops from
Support can be provided for a range of topics virtual ‘story time’ for very young children,
and Support Workers strive to find new and to quizzes and craft activities. We have had
Alliance Foster Care Statement of Purpose November 2021 17weekly virtual yoga sessions for carers and activities and planting activities, in addition to
children. In addition, this year, we developed eco-friendly competitions.
some new groups including a new Youth
Council and a Diversity Group, which focuses
on enabling children to learn more about
Alliance Hub
diversity in all its various forms. Alliance Foster Care looks to recruit foster
carers who can provide a high level of care to
This year, we have still maintained good the children and young people that we care for.
engagement from carers and children. To better support our foster carers and provide
Our events are moving back to face to face young people with opportunities to improve
with a Christmas Craft event and Foster educational attainment, develop life skills,
Carers’ Christmas meal planned and more preparation to adult life or receive therapeutic
events in 2022. support we have expanded the services that we
provide.
As well as having fun, our events allow our
young people to meet others who are either At the Hub we deliver a number of workshops
placed with foster carers or who are the sons and group work. These have included
and daughters of foster carers. This provides an workshops for young people that are part of our
opportunity for them to build new friendships in ‘Independence Project’. The workshops promote
a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere. Some of practical and social skills such as CV, interview
the young people have stated that they prefer to skills and online safety. This year we developed
engage on a virtual platform, as this is a mode a CSE/Online safety workshop for carers and
of technology that they are familiar with and young people, which was initially facilitated ‘face
enjoy using. to face’ and within the pandemic has converted
to a virtual platform and is run with groups and
Caring Kids Group & TeenZone on a 1-1 basis. We have also developed an
internet safety course aimed at 7-11 year olds
At Alliance Foster Care we understand that
which has been well received by carers and
the impact of fostering on foster carers’ sons,
children.
daughters and grandchildren can be difficult.
Our Caring Kids group has been running for
over ten years and provides specific support
to sons and daughters The Teenzone, is
specifically designed for young people and the
idea of this group is to enable young people to
get together and socialise, build friendships,
share experiences whilst taking part in a fun
activity.
This year these groups have engaged in
activities such as science experiment groups,
junk modelling and face painting. We have
also started to have a focus on learning about
environmental issues and activities include
making tote bags from recycled clothes, making
bird feeders and getting involved in RSPB
18 Alliance Foster Care Statement of Purpose November 2021Pledge to Children
and Young People
ED GE TO YO U, W E W IL L:
OUR PL
KEEP YOU HELP YOU
SAFE AND GET A GOOD
CARE WELL EDUCATION
FOR YOU (ACHIEVE
AND ENJOY)
• Ensure you live in a safe and
homely place
• Make sure your education
• Listen to you, particularly
meets your needs
when you raise concerns
about your safety or the • Help you to attend your
quality of your care education provision and make
• Ensure that those people who good progress
care for you are trained and • Have high expectations for
supported to keep you safe your potential
• Make sure you are prepared
for the next stage of your life • Celebrate your educational
– including managing money, achievements
looking after your health and • Help those who care for
taking care of where you live you have the right advice to
support your education
HELP YOU SUPPORT
BE HEALTHY YOUR FUTURE
AND ENJOY AND YOUR NEXT
LIFE ADVENTURE
• Help you to be physically and
emotionally well • Help you to take part in
• Support you to take part in positive activities
clubs and/or hobbies that • Support you to undertake
interest you work experience
• Support you to make healthy • Help you to find employment,
eating decisions and to cook an apprenticeship or to
healthy food study further
• Help you to socialise with • Support you to take part in
your friends (as long as this an adventure when you reach
is safe) sixteen
• Support you to take part in
exercise and have fun
Alliance Foster Care Statement of Purpose November 2021 19Commitment to
Equality and Diversity
At Alliance, we recognise the diverse society behaviour within the organisation.
and communities in which we all live and work.
At Alliance, we want all children and young
We embrace diversity, respect difference and
people in our care, our foster carers and
promote equality of opportunity. We aim to
employees to feel valued and treated equally
recruit staff and carers from all backgrounds to
and fairly. Our goal is to ensure our values are
reflect the demographics of the region, and to
embedded in our day to day working practices
meet the diverse needs of the children in our
with all our stakeholders and service users.
care. We are aware however that discrimination,
prejudice, unfairness and oppression exist in As an agency, we celebrate diversity and
every aspect of daily living, including education, difference with our foster carers, children and
employment, health and social care. We are young people through open events where
committed to enabling all children and young we can all learn about each other’s cultures,
people, foster carers and employees to reach traditions, faiths and food.
their full potential as individuals, unimpeded
by discrimination, unfairness or oppressive
Dive
rsi
ty
Functional specialism
Personality Thought processes
Work experience Geographical location
Carer/caregiver Behaviour
Thinking style Pastimes Inclusion
Accent Personal traits
l it y
The range of visible
a Skills and invisible differences Perspectives
qu
that make us the individuals
Sexual orientation that we are. Experience Creating and
E
Creed Disability maintaining a work and
Seniority care environment where all
Belief Gender individual differences are
Language
respected and the value
Religion of difference is not only
Family Values Working style
Ensuring equality of status recognised but positively
opportunity for all our Heritage Educational encouraged.
Colour
people by eliminating
discrimination, bias Citizenship
Communication
Age and prejudice.
Race
Ethnicity
Gender
Nationality re-assignment
Marital status
20 Alliance Foster Care Statement of Purpose November 2021Support Provided to
Foster Carers
Each foster carer has a named Supervising Foster carers have access to the online
Social Worker whose role is to provide them training platform, Shine, which provides a
with advice and guidance in relation to a child’s wide range of training courses including
care plan and placement plan. therapeutic parenting.
Alliance Foster Care supervising social workers Supervising Carers
have four principal functions:
The relationship between supervising
• To work with foster carers in developing and social workers and foster carers should be
supervising their skills as well as offering professional and aimed at achieving the best
regular structured support. interests of the children in placement. Problems
• To represent Alliance Foster Care in our and concerns should be openly addressed
relationship with Placing Authorities and to with a view to reaching a satisfactory resolution
seek to ensure that care plans are made and in accordance with fostering regulations and
followed for children in placement. agency policies.
• To review foster carer’s skills and
It is important that supervising social workers
achievements on an annual basis.
see the children frequently.
• To promote and participate in training aimed
at foster carers, their birth children and
children in placement. Supervisory Visits
Alliance foster carers will have a supervision
Support visit with a qualified social worker whose role
is to support the foster carers and monitor
Support is a combination of listening, the standard of care received by a child. The
understanding and helping to find practical focus of the visit is twofold. The first part of the
solutions/ways of coping with challenges. A visit should concentrate on the foster carer’s
successful supervising social worker and foster professional development, family dynamics,
carer relationship allows foster carers to talk safe caring and the tasks required of them by
openly and honestly to you about their own the Agency. The second part of the visit should
family problems as well as the difficulties or concentrate on the child’s plans, achievements
challenges they are having in caring for children and development.
they look after. The foster carer is supported in
achieving the care plan for the children as part Supervising social workers are required to
of a team. carry out at least one unannounced visit each
year and a Health and Safety Check List to be
completed annually.
Developing Skills
Developing skills means encouraging foster Foster carers are provided with a written record
carers to attend training, helping them to put of the supervision visit highlighting any action
that training into practice, using resource that needs to be taken by the foster carers or
material such as literature, guidance laid other professionals involved with the child.
down in the Fostering Manual, and other
available resources.
Alliance Foster Care Statement of Purpose November 2021 21Services Available to support and receive information from the
agency. The meetings are attended and
Foster Carers organised by the Supervising Social Worker for
We can provide additional services and support the area. The groups include guest speakers
to meet the needs of children in placement, and training sessions as well as an informal
foster carers and Local Authorities. lunch and catch up.
The resources available are:
• Respite (of varying duration) Psychotherapy
• Day care Alliance Foster care recognises the importance
• Structured activities of understanding the attachment needs and
• Educational activities impact of poor attachment on children and
• Supervision of contact (between child young people. When placements require more
and relatives) intense support, the agency can arrange for
carers to have individual consultations with a
qualified psychotherapist, who has experience
Events in working with children and complex
At Alliance we hold a wide variety of events for placements.
carers to support them in building relationships
with other carers. We also participate in Annual Review
charitable fundraising activities e.g. Macmillan
and hold events to acknowledge and celebrate All foster carers have an annual review to
the achievements of our carers. We have ensure that they continue to be suitable as
lots of informal events and social activities approved Foster Carers. The annual review is
throughout the year, and the diversity of events chaired by an Independent Reviewing Officer
allows everyone to contribute and participate, who is responsible for ensuring all statutory
enhancing relationships with each other, and requirements are fulfilled, and that foster carers
the agency. have the opportunity to evaluate their practice
and development and to set new objectives and
action plans for the following year. In addition
Emergency Support to this, the Independent Reviewing Officer asks
Alliance Foster care provides a 24/7, 365 days the foster carers to comment on the support
a year on-call service to foster carers staffed by the agency, this feedback is passed to the
by an Alliance Foster Care Supervising Social Registered Manager. The Registered Manager
Worker who has access to a senior manager. meets with the two IRO’s who facilitate the
reviews for Alliance on a quarterly basis, to
update on agency development and share
Support Groups feedback.
Foster Carer Support Groups are held across
the geographical area, close to where foster
carers live, or virtually via Teams. This allows
Information/Record Keeping
foster carers to meet and socialise together; Foster carers have access to a comprehensive
share good practice ideas, develop peer fostering manual, which is also available
22 Alliance Foster Care Statement of Purpose November 2021within the foster carers secure area of our Additional Carer Benefits
website. The manual contains information and
procedures on all aspects of the fostering task National Fostering Group offers a range of
and is updated regularly to ensure it remains additional benefits to carers that are part of the
a relevant reference document. Foster carers group. These include:
are expected to maintain records of events • Max Cards: A scheme bespoke to foster
and information pertaining to the child or young carers providing discounts on a range of
person in placement. Foster carers complete days out and activities across the UK
a monthly report detailing the progress made • Home Insurance: Access to a policy,
by the child or young person in achieving 5 specifically tailored for foster carers,
key Every Child Matters out-comes. This report available at a lower price to help protect
is also shared with the Local Authority Social homes and belongings. This is an addition
Worker. to benefits offered through The Fostering
Network
Fostering Network Membership • The HUB Scheme: An online site which
Once approved, the agency provides all foster money off holidays, days out, goods and
carers with The Fostering Network membership. services
The Fostering Network is able to provide • Acorn Digital Learning: An online service
carers and their families with advice and giving carers access to school tutoring,
guidance, including financial and legal advice. interactive study sessions, homework clubs
Membership for foster carers includes: and videos to help them support children in
their care through their education
• Monthly e-Newsletters of the latest news and
events in fostering Finance
• Digital resources All foster carers receive an allowance paid
• Invitations to participate in national foster every week during placement. The level of
carer surveys to raise the profile of fostering this allowance is dependent on the type of
and influence change. placement and experience of the foster carer.
• Access to specialist home insurance In addition, foster carers are also paid a holiday
for foster carers, as well as free expert allowance equivalent to two weeks foster
mortgage advice and discounted allowance.
arrangement fees with The Mortgage Brain.
• 50% off days out at Alton Towers, Thorpe
Insurance
Park, Blackpool Tower and Sea Life Centres
• 10% off holidays and short breaks with The National Fostering Group has a
Haven, Hoseasons and cottages.com comprehensive insurance package in place
which fully covers all agency activities. This
• A dedicated member helpline staffed
cover includes Personal and Public Liability,
by experts who can provide advice and
Employers Liability, Professional Indemnity
guidance on all fostering practice topics
and satisfies the insurance requirements for all
• Legal Advice Service
contracts awarded to the agency. The policies
are for:
Alliance Foster Care Statement of Purpose November 2021 23• Personal and Public Liabilities
• All Risks and Malicious Damage
• Professional Indemnity
Alliance Foster Care pays the premiums in
respect of the above policies on behalf of
carers. Foster carer’s membership of The
Fostering Network enables carers to receive
insurance cover and advice. Alliance foster
carers are required to have their own household
contents insurance and are obliged to ensure
that their insurance company is aware of their
role as foster carers.
Charms
Charms is a secure online social care
network which enables our carers to work
online securely and paper free. They have full
access to their document files and records at
any time and at any location providing the have
internet access.
24 Alliance Foster Care Statement of Purpose November 2021Carer Recruitment,
Assessment & Approval
Recruitment of Foster Carers and then send to the manager at the National
Assessment Service. An application link will
Alliance Foster Care is committed to recruiting then be provided via email to the enquirer
foster carers who can meet the needs of or an application form can be sent out to the
children and young people by providing high enquirers address.
quality care. All prospective foster carers who
make an enquiry are subject to a rigorous
assessment and vetting procedure. When Assessment Process
prospective foster carers contact the agency All fostering assessments are based on
we consider: the BAAF Form F, completed by qualified,
registered social workers, and undertaken in
• Motivation to foster.
accordance with relevant legislation, guidance
• Composition of their household.
and policy.
• Working arrangements. The 2 stage assessment process (Stage 1 & 2)
• The room available to foster. is expected to take a maximum of 4 months.
• The age of prospective carers’ own children
and the effect fostering may have on them The assessment includes completion of a
number of relevant statutory checks and
Following an enquiry, an initial Visit (IV) is references including: DBS, Local Authority
undertaking by a trained Carer Recruitment Checks, Medical, Ex-Partner References,
Office at the prospective carers’ home. Personal References, Employer References,
This provides an opportunity for the agency Social Media checks, Health & Safety checks
to share more detailed information with and Letting Agent consent etc. The assessor
prospective carers around the realities of will also agree a schedule of visits to complete
fostering, to answer any of their questions, and the assessment in a timely, focussed manner.
to view and assess the accommodation. The
discussion will include exploration of skills, The Applicants will be invited to undertake 3
knowledge and motivation days of Skills to Foster preparation training,
to foster, and any practical requirements. where the feedback from this training will form
part of the assessment process. This training
Applicants must: includes information about safeguarding,
• Be over 21 years of age childcare law, safer caring, behaviour
management, attachment, secure-base
• Have a spare room for the child/children
parenting and equality and diversity.
placed with them
• Be able to attend all relevant meetings The assessment is comprehensive and
• Have some IT skills to enable them to keep evidence-based, producing a report that
detailed placement records covers individual profiles, past and present
• Actively promote equality, diversity relationships/partnerships, support networks,
and inclusion interviews with children and adult members
• Agree to attend regular training and of the household, lifestyle, parenting capacity
support groups and experience, valuing diversity. The report
will make recommendations on the terms of
Following the IV, if it is felt that the prospective approval e.g. number of children, age range,
carer would be suitable; they will be invited to placement types, and will be presented to the
apply to become an Alliance Foster Carer. agency Fostering Panel. The applicants will also
A manager will review the initial visit report be required to complete a Safe Care Policy, Fire
Alliance Foster Care Statement of Purpose November 2021 25Evacuation Plan and Carer Profile. If, at any time during the assessment, the
assessor feels the application falls short of
the standards required, this will be discussed
Panel with the Assessment Manager immediately.
Following completion of the assessment, the Any areas of shortfall must be fully explored
applicants are invited to attend the fostering and where training or support will not bring
panel with their assessor, whereby the panel the applicant up to acceptable standards,
will make a recommendation on approval. The the assessment must cease. The assessor
fostering panel membership is made up of will inform applicants of this decision and the
both agency staff and independent members, reasons within 48 hours and present a brief
and their experience is derived from a variety report for consideration by the fostering panel.
of backgrounds including health, education,
and social care and fostering and includes
members who have experienced the care
system. The function of the panel is to provide
an independent quality assurance role, to
consider the approval of applicants and the
continuation of approval of existing carers.
Following panel presentation, the applicants
will be notified immediately of the panel’s
recommendation in respect of their application.
However the final decision as to the applicant’s
approval will be made by the Agency Decision
Maker (ADM).
If applicants are not in agreement with the
ADM decision, they have a right of appeal,
which can be made direct to the agency, or the
Independent Review Mechanism within
28 days.
26 Alliance Foster Care Statement of Purpose November 2021Training for Foster
Carers and Staff
Alliance Foster Care is committed to providing Advanced Training
the highest quality of training to enable foster
carers and staff to be confident and competent Alliance Foster Carers also have access to
in carrying out the tasks asked of them. The the National Fostering Group’s Therapeutic
protection and welfare of the children placed Parenting Course.
with our carers is our priority. This is reflected
in our training programme for foster carers. Introduction to Fostering
Alliance Foster Care considers that placement
Training
stability is crucial to the needs of children and
incorporates the Secure Base model into our Alliance Foster Care has developed a training
training. day which is aimed at a variety of people linked
We currently provide the following: to the agency. The course is designed to give
an overview of the fostering task, in addition to
practical strategies to manage fostering issues.
Pre-Approval We invite to the course, enquirers who are not
• Skills to Foster covering: Child Protection, yet ready to go into the assessment process,
Safe Caring, Child Care Law, LAC adults who are living in the fostering household
documentation, Anti-discriminatory Practice, in addition to any person within a foster carers
Promoting Contact, Recording and support network, who feel it would be beneficial
Behavioural Management to learn more about the fostering role and
how to support children and young people in
Post Approval Year 1 care. This ‘Fostering Matters’ course is run by
Training and Support and Development the Registered Manager and Team Manager
Standards (TSDS) evenings and weekends to make it accessible
to as many people as possible.
• First Aid – Core Training
• Safer Care/ Allegations – Core Training Employees
• Safeguarding/ Child Protection – Core
Training Alliance Foster Carer encourages all
employees to develop professionally through
• Reporting and Recording – Core Training
accessing e-learning, webinars, training
• Equality and Diversity – Core Training courses and practice development workshops.
All core training has to be updated every All employees also have access to Research
three years. in Practice. Including the online learning
platform Shine.
Year 2 Onwards The National Fostering Group provides a
Career Progression Scheme for all employees.
In response to our carers feedback our
Alliance supports staff in progressing in their
training programme comprises of face to face
careers, including a Team Manager who is
training, events, workshops and online modules.
currently attending a Leadership Development
This ensures that our foster carers have a wide
Course. We have also enabled a support worker
range of opportunities available to suit their
to enrol onto a Social Work Degree programme
preferred learning style and their availability to
and they are now a qualified and a Supervising
attend training.
Social Worker to gain experience to progress
onto a management post.
Alliance Foster Care Statement of Purpose November 2021 27Employees continue their training under the
guidance of their regulatory body, and each
year they participate in an annual appraisal,
part of which includes an audit and review of
training needs and continuing professional
development. Individual learning needs are
tailored towards career development and areas
of special interest, which adds value to the
regional service.
Students
Alliance Foster Care is an active and diverse
learning environment, and therefore welcomes
the placement of students from local
universities. Supervising Social Workers and
Managers are supported to undertake training
to become qualified Practice Educators,
where appropriate to their career interest and
development.
28 Alliance Foster Care Statement of Purpose November 2021Complaints
Alliance complaints procedures aims to deal Stage 3 Complaints –
with complaints received in a prompt and
equitable manner. The Registered Manager and Independent Complaints
Quality Assurance Manager are responsible for Investigation with option of
monitoring complaints and their outcomes. Independent Complaints Panel
If the complainant is not satisfied with the
Complaints Policy response at Stage Two, it can progress to
All children and adults with whom the company Stage Three with the option of an independent
comes into contact have the right to receive a review panel scrutinising the reports from
quality, professional service. If they do not feel the investigation with representation from the
they have received such a service, they have complainant.
the right to complain and have that complaint
If the complainant remains dissatisfied, they
listened to. All complaints will be acknowledged
may take advice from the Regulatory Authority.
within seven working days, and will indicate
whether it is resolvable at Stage 1, or will
require Stage 2 investigation. Name and Address of
Inspection Body
Stage 1 Complaints – Informal All the activities of Alliance are inspected and
Resolution regulated by Ofsted who can be contacted at
the following:
Where possible, we aim to resolve
complaints informally, at local level, and this • Ofsted, Piccadilly Gate, Store Street,
should be the preferred option. Complainants Manchester M1 2WD
are encouraged to talk to the person with whom • General Enquiries: 0300 123 1231
they have a complaint with in the first instance
• About Concerns: 0300 123 4666
as this allows opportunity to explore the issue
• Email: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk
and seek any clarification, which often leads to
informal resolution.
Children’s Commissioner
If the complainant is not satisfied with this initial
response, they will be asked to put it in writing Children and Young People may also make a
and sign a complaint referral form. complaint to the Children’s Commissioner, Anne
The complaint will be dealt with within 10 Longfield, based in England. They can do this
working days (20 days for complex complaints). by going to the appropriate website:
• www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk
Stage 2 Complaints – Formal (for England)
Consideration
If not resolved at Stage One, formal
investigations will be undertaken by a
trained and suitably experienced member
of staff within 25 working days (50 days for
complex complaints, extending to 65 days
where necessary).
Alliance Foster Care Statement of Purpose November 2021 29You can also read
