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2018-2021 Strategy
Children and Young People’s Service
Fostering North Yorkshire The 2018-2021 strategic vision for Fostering North Yorkshire
Fostering North Yorkshire - 2018-2021 Strategy Construction Contents
Promoting the growth and development of children/young people living in care:
National and local context . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Maintaining stable placements for children/young people . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
= Stability
Choice of placements + Robust carers
(best outcomes) Supporting robust foster carers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Facilitating maximum placement choice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Organisational structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Performance management and quality assurance arrangements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
+ Training, supervision
Recruitment = ‘Agents of change’
and support (retention) ‘Delta Six’ Core Values . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Communication Workforce - Meaningful narrative
And marketing Development - Health passport & PEP
Service delivery
Marketing and Fostering framework
framework and workforce
recruitment strategy (including payments)
development strategy
Teams Organisation Foster carers
(RAS and 2 x S&S) (CYPS) (FCAs and CFCG)
Performance management and quality assurance
PEP = Personal Education Plan S&S = Supervision & Support FCAs = Foster Carer Associations
RAS = Recruitment Assessment & Support CYPS = Children & Young Peoples’ Service CFCG = County Foster Carer Group
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Fostering North Yorkshire The 2018-2021 strategic vision for Fostering North Yorkshire
The 2020 strategic vision for More specifically, to provide care that facilitates Evolving organisational culture the other end of the age range, recent good
Fostering North Yorkshire excellent outcomes for Looked After Children the of Fostering North Yorkshire practices in extending ‘Staying Put’ until the
objectives of Fostering North Yorkshire are to: age of 21 have meant that some experienced
Overall, Fostering North Yorkshire’s aspiration is A 21st Century Fostering Service that is one of the
Foster Carers are not becoming available for new
to develop a 21st Century Fostering Service that • Maintain a high public profile such that the best fostering providers in the country requires: a
placements for some considerable time (if at all).
achieves excellent outcomes for children and young local population are aware that Fostering dynamic and solutions focused working culture;
people; is the preference for new Foster Carer North Yorkshire is their local Fostering an innovative style and approach that embraces North Yorkshire is not immune to all of the above
applicants living in North Yorkshire and is one of provider to assist in the recruitment of change and is flexible, adaptable, nimble and national contextual dynamics and thus faces
the best fostering providers in the country. This new and experienced Foster Carers agile in a rapidly changing environment and similar challenges. However, North Yorkshire is
aspiration is to be achieved by building upon the • Specifically target the recruitment of always maintains a child centred focus that is particularly well placed to be able to recruit new
already good service performance through further Advanced, Specialist, Short Break and regularly reflected upon by asking the question: Foster Carers for all the children in North Yorkshire
innovation, radical rethinking and regular review. Specialist Short Break Foster Carers and ‘Would this be good enough for my child?’ who need the support of the care system – by
No Wrong Door Hub Community Families virtue of a relatively low rate of children in care
Fostering North Yorkshire Thus, all Fostering North Yorkshire
against a reasonably affluent population.
mission statement • Recognise the necessity of recruiting Foster Foster Carers and staff need to be:
Carers from a variety of backgrounds,
As North Yorkshire County Council’s fostering Chid focused/centred Furthermore, historically Fostering North Yorkshire
recognising that Looked After Children
provider of choice, to identify safe, caring and has had a strong cohort of Foster Carers who
have a wide spectrum of need Innovative
stable family homes in which children and young have been carers for many years, some for as
people Looked After by North Yorkshire County • Maintain a ‘single point of oversight’ that Aspirational for children/young people long as 35 years. This includes a long standing
Council, and disabled children living in North co-ordinates recruitment and assessment Relentless in the quest to meet need cohort of Specialist Foster Carers that were further
Yorkshire receiving family based Short Breaks, can processes and also quickly finds matches for developed by North Yorkshire’s participation in the
thrive. These homes to be available for as long children who are waiting for a placement government pathfinder for Treatment Fostering in
the late 2000s. Additionally, the evolution of the IFAs
as is required and in close proximity to family and
peer networks (including school) or in locations
• Complete high quality Foster Carer
assessments (in a timely manner)
National and local context (Independent Fostering Agencies) has generated a
appropriate to the child’s/young person’s Care Plan. competitive environment that has raised standards.
• Offer good (timely and effective) support to Overview
The aim and objectives of Foster Carers in a manner that fully recognises Nationally there is a debate about the required In recent years there has been a lot of political
the challenges they face and strives to number of Foster Carers and a trend of more attention given to Adoption and Residential Care.
Fostering North Yorkshire
meet their needs in a way that sustains challenging children/young people coming into At the time of writing the government are now taking
The aim of Fostering North Yorkshire is to achieve placements through difficult periods the care system. There are certainly occasions a ‘National Fostering Stocktake’ that is reviewing
best outcomes (growth and development), choice when demand outstrips supply. In the Fostering how well fostering provides for children/young
• Co-ordinate and provide intensive packages
and stability for children/young people living in Network’s ‘State of the Nation’s Foster Care 2016’ people and supports Foster Carers. Fostering North
of support to sustain placements for children
care through high quality fostering that will: survey they found that only 55% of Foster Carers Yorkshire is committed to influencing the Stocktake
and young people in their current placement
Provide a range of family placements would definitely recommend fostering to others – and working with the resulting recommendations.
• Offer comprehensive out of hours support that, some 10% lower than previously reported. This North Yorkshire Children and Young People’s
from Short Breaks to permanence in
when necessary, joins up with the No Wrong may be a reflection of continually asking more of Service has a high and respected profile with the
which children can fulfil their potential
Door Hubs to ensure 24/7 cover arrangements Foster Carers against the backdrop of the current DfE (Department for Education) and is thus well
Deliver a consistent ‘team around the placed to be able to influence national thinking.
• In general raise the standards of Foster Care, national and local financial austerity. It is vital that
child’ approach using solution-focused and
particularly focusing on maintaining care above Fostering North Yorkshire strives to understand
evidence based practice that is informed It is reassuring that fostering is being taken
minimum standards and equipping carers to be any similar local dynamics and buck this trend.
by feedback from children, families, seriously by government but not yet clear what
able to better manage challenging behaviour
Foster Carers and other professionals The recent good child care initiatives in Adoption benefit will come from the Review, particularly
• Ensure effective management oversight and – such as EPP (Early Permanence Planning) – against the current backdrop of austerity.
Recruit motivated and skilled Foster Carers
quality assurance processes are in place mean that there has been a sharp drop in demand One recent development is that TACT (The
who have a range of life experiences and
will be retained by: good quality training: to place babies in Foster Care. The result is a Adolescent and Children’s Trust) have been
effective support from the Fostering Service; significant change in the required vacancies commissioned by Peterborough City Council
being highly valued by all professionals and to meet need; most new placements requests to run the entirety of their Fostering Service.
receiving appropriate financial remuneration are now for children over ten years of age. At
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Fostering North Yorkshire The 2018-2021 strategic vision for Fostering North Yorkshire
Overall, to maintain credibility, it is vital that Fostering a. 30 Short Breaks Foster Carer Households service development a total of approximately person came into the care of the local authority.
North Yorkshire further develops the means to 30-40 new Fostering Households need to This is important for two main reasons:
b. 60 Family and Friends Foster Carer Households
be agile and to manage (and not avoid) risk. be recruited every year. Placement shortfalls
(also classified as Pre Accredited Foster Carers • It will allow the Foster Carer/s to give the best,
(ie. where Fostering North Yorkshire is unable
– unless additional training is completed and sensitive and empathetic care possible
Local Need to provide the best placement in the correct
then classified as Accredited Foster Carers)
location) also need to be carefully monitored to • Foster Carers will be able to answer
In most other local authorities, the number of Looked
c. 30 new (annually) Pre Accredited ‘unrelated/ identify any changing pattern in this demand. questions honestly and quickly
After Children is rising. For the last two years, with a
stranger’ Foster Carer Households
specific investment in prevention, the Looked After All of this required information needs to be
Children numbers in North Yorkshire have been d. 190 Accredited Foster Carer Households
supplied by the child’s Social Worker and initially
gradually falling. Due to starting to accommodate e. 16 Advanced Foster Carer Households Maintaining stable shared via the Placement Request Form and
a number of UASC (Unaccompanied Asylum
Seeking Children), a significantly different cohort of f. 22-27 Specialist Foster Carer Households placements for children/ further in the Pre Placement Planning meeting. If
a permanent placement is being arranged then
(with approximately 4-9 Specialist
children/young people, in late 2016 the number of
Looked After Children began to increase again. Respite Foster Carer Households) young people a Permanency Plan is also required. It is good
practice to create a close working relationship with
g. 4-6 No Wrong Door Hub Community Families Agents of change the child’s Social Worker and sometimes make
At any given time, at Fostering North
h. 3 Specialist Short Break Foster joint visits. Updates are then also required, either
Yorkshire there are approximately: When a child/young person is able to begin to feel
Carer Households directly or via forums such as ‘Team Parenting’
safe and secure living in a Foster Carer’s home and
meetings and/or Looked After Children Reviews.
generally settle in very well, then the opportunity
The different cohorts can be represented diagrammatically as below:
for a stable placement is maximised. As this stable For disabled children/young people in receipt
a b c d e f and g h placement progresses and good relationships are of Short Breaks, the source of much of this
Accredited* formed with the Foster Carer, there is potential for information will come direct from the child’s/
Family and New Pre
the carer to act as an ‘agent of change’ for the young person’s parents or usual carers.
Friends Accredited Some Accredited Specialist child/young person. It is not that the Foster Carer
Short Breaks (also usually ‘unrelated / Foster Carers have Advanced Specialist /NWD
Short Break is a therapist but that the placement is offering an
classified as stranger’ become carers to Health passport, SDQs (strengths
Pre Accredited) Foster Carers accommodate UASC effectively therapeutic environment and experience. and difficulties questionnaires) and
Children Children
10+ 10+ There are very many dependencies to creating
PEPs (personal education plans)
under 10 over 10
the required overall holistic care of children/young In addition to having a meaningful narrative, the
‘Voluntary carers paid expenses’ ‘Full time home carers’ people and all of the work described in the next Health and Education needs of the child/young
Section re ‘Supporting Robust Foster Carers’ will person also need to be well managed. All Health
*Some ‘Accredited’ foster carers care for multiple children and thus also become ‘full time
home carers’ by virtue of being in receipt of multiple Premium payments. contribute to creating the potential for a Foster Carer needs (including dental and eye care) and current
to become an agent of change. For children/young immunisation status need to be clear, possibly
Added into the diagram are rows reflecting Carers and offset carers retiring, offering ‘Staying people with more complex needs it is likely that a including access to CAMHS services when
the usual age range of children/young people Put’ or leaving the service due to a change in family ‘Team Parenting’ approach will also be required. appropriate. To assist with recognising possible
and the concept of ‘voluntary carers paid circumstances. Furthermore, more children are This is where there are regular meetings between mental health needs then (for children over five
expenses’ or ‘full time home carers’. received into care in the East of the county and all key people involved in the child’s/young person’s years of age) an annual SDQ should be completed.
thus recruitment must be vigilant to this need. life to organise and co-ordinate consistency of
With North Yorkshire’s relatively stable Looked approach to back up the Foster Carer. It is likely Up to date PEPs are a further requirement to
After Children population, it is not envisaged that There may also be the need to develop new that safe touch and maintaining and building assist a fostering placement to run smoothly and
the numbers and relative proportions of different types of Foster Carer. For example, ‘Support friendships will be important factors to consider. also need to be overseen by the child’s Social
types of Foster Carer Households will need to Foster Carers’ who could offer Children in Need Worker. If a child/young person is not attending
change very much over the next three years. weekend breaks from living with the birth family, Meaningful narrative school then they are entitled to 25 hours alternative
However, active recruitment is essential to increase as a means to prevent the need to become education provision. Some placements are
An essential requirement to allow a Foster
placement choice for children/young people, allow a Looked After Child in an emergency. put under tremendous pressure when a young
Carer to care well for a child/young person is
for Accredited Foster Carers to gain experience person is not attending school and better support
To meet all of the demand described in the knowing important background information and
and become new Advanced and Specialist Foster is often required in these circumstances
above paragraph and gain capacity for potential the historical context of why the child/young
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Fostering North Yorkshire The 2018-2021 strategic vision for Fostering North Yorkshire
Service delivery framework relationships through completing joint activities
with the child/young person they are caring for.
Supporting robust per year and some or all of these should be
additional training courses (eg. Understanding
Several practice models are utilised by Fostering
North Yorkshire to theoretically underpin the Performance management of
foster carers FAS (Foetal Alcohol Syndrome)). For some
Foster Carers a creative interpretation to flexibly
work to support Foster Carers to create the
maintaining stable placements Defining robust foster carers interpret what constitutes a ‘learning event’
potential to become agents of change.
At the time of writing there are two overarching will need to be appropriately developed
Robust Foster Carers are committed
North Yorkshire Children and Families Service indicators with respect to placement stability: and are able to be: • Advanced and Specialist Foster Carers
has adopted the Signs of Safety solution-focused who are very experienced require
• The percentage of children who have had three • Self-aware
approach to work in assessments, analysis investment in ‘advanced’ courses beyond
or more placements in a year (where a low
and multi-agency meetings (often involving • Open communicators (able to contribute the basic training as outlined above
percentage represents good performance)
the family). Fostering North Yorkshire has also to and challenge decision-making)
• The percentage of children who have been • Short Break and Specialist Short Break
adopted SofS methodology regularly adopting
looked after for over two and a half years • Flexible (able to accept and abide Foster Carers require tailored training to meet
the fundamental SofS approach/framework:
and who have had the same placement by a decision once made) the needs of the children they care for
- What is working well?
for two years (where a high percentage • Reflective (able to identify when
Additionally, training is equally vital for the Fostering
- What are the complicating factors? represents good performance) support is necessary)
North Yorkshire staff, particularly Fostering Social
- What are the worries/challenges? • Open to accepting support Workers and Support Workers (eg. Theraplay). Also,
Both are closely monitored quarterly and
- What needs to change? supplemented by commendations of specific • In tune to flag any concerns early twice a year the full service comes together for Full
good work of Foster Carers from IROs and Service Development Days to update everybody
Linked to solution-focused work, thinking is evolving • Resilient, particularly with respect to on relevant topics (eg. Managing Allegations).
Social Workers. The number of unplanned
that will give a greater emphasis to restorative managing challenging behaviour
endings is also monitored quarterly and is a
practice within Fostering North Yorkshire, particularly • Representative of the needs and desires Workforce development strategy
further indicator of placement stability.
when managing placements under pressure and of the child/young person in their care To give the required focus and attention to all of the
continuing relationships after unplanned endings. A new more sophisticated measure of stability, above and clarity for the County Council Workforce
that includes changes of school and/or Social Training Development Team, a ‘Workforce Development
Fostering North Yorkshire has also adopted the Worker, is being introduced by government and Strategy’ will be maintained and regularly
High quality training is essential to equip
Secure Base Model that has five domains (the first will be also utilised by Fostering North Yorkshire reviewed. This strategy will also accommodate
Foster Carers with the knowledge and
four domains are linked to attachment theory): as the data becomes available. Additionally, the delivery and support of the ‘Service Delivery
opportunities to develop skills to be successful
1. Availability metrics of outcomes for children/young people carers. This training needs to feature at Framework’ as outlined on pages 5 and 6.
are similarly monitored on a quarterly basis. every stage of a Foster Carers career:
2. Sensitivity
Supervision of foster carers
3. Acceptance • Recruitment – Skills to Foster Preparation Course
Needs to be child centred, timely and proportionate
4. Co-operation • Newly Approved (Pre-Accredited) Foster (whilst also adhering to the Fostering National
Carers – completion of seven mandatory Minimum Standards). To safeguard the wellbeing
5. Family Membership training courses (including Safeguarding, of children/young people, it is clearly vital to ensure
Managing Allegations/Safer Caring and First that all required standards are maintained (eg.
The domains are evidenced as being very
Aid) to become Accredited Foster Carers. up to date DBS and Health and Safety checks
helpful to assist Foster Carers with reflection and
An area for further development of early etc.). Achieving the optimum management of
planning in their Supervision and are also easily
training is understanding the psychological any allegations made is also very important.
compatible with the Signs of Safety approach.
needs of children/young people associated
Additionally, the Secure Base Model is a very
with developing healthy attachments to To care for children/young people well (and to the
flexible framework that can accommodate other
Foster Carers and constructive responses requirements of the National Minimum Standards),
specific approaches, such as the twelve week
to challenging behaviour associated with Foster Carers require several key confidential
‘Fostering Changes’ course. Fostering North
developing such healthy attachments documents (eg. Care Plan and Placement Plan). A
Yorkshire is also implementing Theraplay;
where Supervising Fostering Social Workers • Accredited Foster Carers – expectation to means by which to securely store such documents
will support Foster Carers with building positive complete at least three ‘learning events’ electronically is urgently required. A Fostering
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Fostering North Yorkshire The 2018-2021 strategic vision for Fostering North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire, Foster Carers ‘Portal’ (see page • Quarterly Away Days for Short Break and proportionate and have an independence caring for, their own Remittance advice and things
9) would be the most desirable solution. Specialist Short Break Foster Carers from Fostering North Yorkshire. like local FCA contact details and meetings.
• Fostering North Yorkshire Annual Conference
Support for foster carers Procedures and guidance The Portal will also link into the Learning Zone
for the booking of future training and provide
Support can be provided in three main ways; The five FCAs (Foster Carer Associations) around the Are to be maintained, kept up to date and
the opportunity for the sharing of literature that
individually, peer to peer or in groups. It is very county also play a very important role in supporting remain easily accessible to all Foster Carers.
will support personal development. A further
important that there is some setting where it is safe Foster Carers. The FCA Chairs receive calls from
NYCC Fostering Framework specification of the Portal is to host an App that
for Foster Carers to be able to ‘vent’ their emotions; their FCA members and offer valuable support. Every
communicates real time availability to assist
this has been recognised as a means to assist two months, the Chairs and other FCA members (including payments)
with providing unplanned placements in an
with reducing the risk of ‘compassion fatigue’. meet with the Managers of Fostering North Yorkshire
The NYCC Fostering Framework was introduced emergency. Developing the Portal is a large
in the CFCG (County Foster Carers Group) forum.
in April 2015 and then updated in April 2016 project and thus functionality will need to be
Providing individual support is a crucial function The document that defines the interface between
to include Short Breaks for disabled children built and implemented in several phases.
of the Supervising Fostering Social Worker and Foster Carers and Social Workers is the Foster Carer
and now identifies six Foster Carer types:
is vital to sustaining placements, particularly Charter. It is important that the Charter is recognised
when they are under pressure. Key to the most - Pre-Accredited Retention of foster carers
and understood by Social Workers and managers
effective deployment of the finite resource of from all Teams in addition to the Fostering Teams - Accredited Getting all of the above described Supervision
the collective capacity of all of the Supervising and by Education and Health professionals. The and Support right will contribute to maximising
Fostering Social Workers (SFSWs) is maximising Charter needs to become the touchstone of support - Specialist the retention of Foster Carers. Prompting realistic
the service’s ability to target the Foster Carers for all who are regularly involved with the service. - Advanced expectations and in particular, the sensitive
most in need of support at any given time. and supportive management of allegations will
With the on-going rapid evolution of social media - Short Break
Sometimes, the additional resource of support by further assist with retaining Foster Carers.
a member of staff from the Relief Pool for a time- it is very important that Foster Carers are provided - Specialist Short Break
limited period will be appropriate. Additionally with support in respect of how to manage children’s/ Good retention is very important because it
other professionals, such as the child’s Social young people’s internet access. A way needs to The framework facilitates a consistent approach assists with facilitating placement choice with
Worker and/or Psychologists, also have a critical be identified for an up to date source of advice to the management of the many variables experienced carers and maximises the use of all
support function. At times there can be a tension and guidance to be available to Foster Carers. within the Fostering Service, outlines a pathway the previous investment that has been made in
between the supervision and support functions of for progression (should Foster Carers wish to Foster Carers – from the recruitment process, initial
the SFSW’s role and it is important that flexibility Finally, periodic recognition of the needs of the do so) and links the payment of Allowances, mandatory training through to induction support
is utilised to ensure that a reasonable proportion ‘children who foster’ (Foster Carer’s own birth Premiums and Fees to age or ‘Intensity of Care’ and later training. Fundamentally, Foster Carers
of the SFSW’s time is utilised to offer support. children) via group activities is a further form of (for disabled children) and carer type. A clause are a precious and scarce resource that need to
support to Foster Carers. The contribution made in the framework makes the commitment for be nurtured, protected and respected as such.
Peer-to-peer support is a valuable and potentially by ‘children who foster’ to successful placements it to be reviewed at least every two years.
under-used resource that with a small amount of probably needs to be more widely recognised. Performance management of
infrastructure could quickly enhance the feeling of Payments are reviewed annually and The Fostering supporting robust foster carers
being supported, particularly for newly approved Household membership of the Network’s recommendation to increase payments
Compilation of training statistics from the County
Foster Carers. There is an ‘out of hours’ benefit to fostering network or Fostertalk by a rate of annual inflation is followed.
Council training database, Learning Zone, is
peer-to-peer support. Fostering North Yorkshire Fostering North Yorkshire is committed to urgently required to maintain an organisational
will also be a Phase II delivery partner for the Developing a Fostering North
paying the annual Household membership of oversight of the training completed by all Foster
Mockingbird Family Model. Additionally, there Yorkshire foster carer portal
either The Fostering Network or FosterTalk Carers. Support Groups and Away Days are
needs to be a formal Fostering North Yorkshire (by area, as chosen by the respective FCAs). Work has been initiated with Technology and monitored via the completion of feedback sheets.
organisational level form of ‘out of hours’ support. Membership offers various forms of independent Change in North Yorkshire County Council to
support, including support with National develop a Foster Carer Portal. The aspiration of Metrics for the key Supervision tasks will be
Group support will be maintained via: this project is to facilitate a single point of entry collated and monitored. Metrics for the retention
Insurance contributions and Tax returns.
• Quarterly Support Group Meetings where Foster Carers can access all information of Foster Carers will need to be developed
• Quarterly Away Days for Advanced
Annual foster carer review related to their fostering role, eg. key documentation along with outcomes for Foster Carers.
about the child/ren/young person/people they are
and Specialist Foster Carers Combines both dynamics of Supervision and
Support; needs to be concise, timely and
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Fostering North Yorkshire The 2018-2021 strategic vision for Fostering North Yorkshire
Facilitating maximum • Assessment - to streamline the current
Assessment Form by shortening and giving
Additionally, it may be beneficial for some
children/young people to form relationships with
local homes for local children with local training,
support and supervision for Foster Carers.
placement choice greater emphasis to factors such as evidence
of resilience to care for children/young
potential carers pre-Approval and thus facilitate
an earlier matching and greater opportunity for Another major theme of marketing
Recruitment people with very challenging needs. Focusing the ‘chemistry’ of a relationship to evolve. activity is targeting by geography,
particularly on ability to form and maintain carer type and/or community:
Maintaining a constant supply of newly approved Communications
relationships (maybe in adversity), rather than • Geographically – where there is a locality that
Foster Carers is essential to maintaining a full
parenting skills (because they can always be The key to successfully receiving enough new has a shortfall in provision against demand
cohort of all Foster Carer types. This is key to
taught later) or compliance to processes Enquiries each week to constantly recruit new
being able to continually offer placement choice • By Foster Carer type – where more specialist
and thus maximise the potential to achieve a • Approval - for the Fostering Panels to utilise Foster Carers is maintaining a high public profile Foster Carers with particular skills are required,
good match between the needs of the child Signs of Safety methodology to more efficiently through social and local media (including Television eg. Specialist Short Break Foster Carers
and the skills of the Foster Carer. Effective and focus upon the questions most relevant to advertising). To this end a continuous flow of (where targeting staff in Special Schools
efficient recruitment processes are absolutely each applicant’s assessment (see also ‘Service features, ‘good news’ stories and regular events and hospitals is an effective approach)
vital to sustaining a robust fostering service. Delivery Framework’ on pages 5 and 6) is vital to sustain recruitment. Additionally, the
Fostering North Yorkshire Website pages need • By community – where certain communities
The main stages of the recruitment process are: The grid below begins to outline potential paradigms to be well maintained and kept up to date. may offer a good supply of new Foster
Enquiry; Initial Visit; Application; Assessment and of the systemic link between assessing capacity Carers, eg. Farmers, Fire-fighters or possibly
Approval (by a Fostering Panel). Traditionally, to build relationships and process compliance: It is established knowledge that peaks in Enquiries a community by geographic location
a Skills to Foster Preparation Course is run for are in January (following New Year’s Resolutions)
GOOD and September (‘empty nesters’ with young people Marketing and recruitment strategy
a cohort of applicants between Initial Visit and
a) Good c) Child focused just starting University). Also, in May The Fostering
Application. Sometimes applicants (particularly To maintain the required focus and attention to all
compliance to and good Network run a national ‘Foster Care Fortnight’
for applicants expressing an interest in caring for of the above ‘Communications’ and ‘Marketing’
the Fostering compliance to campaign. To maintain a position in the ‘market
teenagers) are fast tracked to Assessment prior content, a more detailed ‘Marketing and Recruitment
Framework with the Fostering
Process Compliance
to the start of the next Skills to Foster Course. place’ it is vital that Fostering North Yorkshire also Strategy’ will also be maintained and regularly
low child focus Framework targets advertising for all of these specific months. reviewed. This is particularly important because
With the demand for new carers as outlined Fostering North Yorkshire is dependent upon the
on page 4, the question has to be asked: how Marketing Communications Team of the County Council for
could more new Foster Carers be recruited more b) Poor compliance d) Child focused The research into how people come forward to delivery of some key elements of this work and
effectively? This needs to be asked at every stage: to the Fostering with poor become Foster Carers is clear that the decision thus the clarity of a specific Strategy assists with
Framework with compliance to to make an Enquiry has gradually evolved over defining mutual requirements and expectations.
• Enquiry - to become more of an engagement
low child focus the Fostering time. Many people making an Enquiry confirm
rather than a filtering process, to maximise
Framework that they have been thinking about being a Performance management of
recruitment by working with Enquirers to
explore their motivation and interest
POOR Foster Carer for a while. This further resonates facilitating maximum placement choice
LOW Capacity to build relationships HIGH with the need for Fostering North Yorkshire to Metrics for the main stages of the recruitment
• Initial Visit - to follow up on the Enquiry constantly maintain a high public profile.
engagement discussion to see where process are already collated and monitored.
the Enquirer’s motivation and skills Foster Carers in quadrant b) being the least Careful monitoring of the Enquiry statistics can be
Branding, merchandise, banners and up to date
could be best utilised and to identify effective and in quadrant c) the most effective. cross referenced to specific marketing activity.
literature are all necessary to maintain the profile
solutions to any potential barriers However, carers in quadrant d) with a good child of Fostering North Yorkshire. Fundamentally, it Traditionally and nationally, the key measure for
• Application - to become standard to focus may well be the ‘rough diamonds’ that will is essential to be able to put up an effective (eye recruitment of new Foster Carers has been the
move ahead quickly and not wait for a be just the right carers for some very challenging catching, well stocked and informative) Fostering time period (in months) between Application
Skills to Foster Preparation Course young people and are thus a resource that needs North Yorkshire stand at local county shows and Approval. This does not necessarily
to be nurtured. Effective Supervision of Foster and other events that can later further be utilised
• Skills to Foster Preparation Course - to resonate with applicants’ experiences, who
Carers from quadrant d) is likely to require a as ‘news’ items for the social media outlets.
be regularly reviewed to ensure that tend to see the process starting at the time
confident Supervising Fostering Social Worker
content and timing are fit for purpose of Enquiry (not Application) and therefore
(SFSW), (which comes from experience) and Alongside branding there needs to be an
Fostering North Yorkshire also monitors the
very close practice supervision and support. emphasis on Fostering North Yorkshire’s USP
complete time from Enquiry to Approval.
(Unique Selling Point), namely localism, providing
12 13
Fostering North Yorkshire The 2018-2021 strategic vision for Fostering North Yorkshire
Organisational structure the individual performance management of
Fostering North Yorkshire staff is via monthly
The staffing structure of Fostering North Yorkshire Supervision and annual Appraisal.
was restructured in 2015, with engagement
Performance will be managed as per the
sessions held in May, consultation running
last sub-section of each of the three main
throughout the summer and implementation
sections of this Strategy. A Quarterly Report of
in October. The main priorities were to:
performance is taken to the CYPS Executive
• Ring-fence capacity for recruitment Meeting and thus reported to the Director and
with the formation of the Recruitment, Lead Elected Member for Children’s Services. ‘Delta Six’ Core Values
Assessment and Support Fostering Team
The Fostering Management Team has bi-monthly
• Integrate the Supervision and Support functions
for all types of Foster Carers into two (West and
PIG (Performance Improvement Group) meetings Child focused
that have adopted the Fostering Network’s Quality
East) Supervision and Support Fostering Teams Putting the child/young
Assurance Tool. This covers all the requirements
• Include in the above, the bringing in- of the Fostering Services Regulations and National person at the centre of
house of previously out sourced provision Minimum Standards and is scheduled to be what we do – within the
for Short Breaks for disabled children completed on a rolling annual basis. On a quarterly context of also balancing
• Make a modest saving in management capacity cycle, the PIG meetings also review all of the the needs of all of the
allegations made and children who have gone children/young people
Throughout 2016 the restructure was embedded missing from their placement. The Agency Decision
and in late 2016, real traction of the structure was Maker (the role that approves the recommendations
achieved. A twelve month Post Implementation of Fostering Panels) quality assures the work
Review (including a Staff Survey) was positive, of the West and East Fostering Panels.
with most benefits being realised. Highlighted
remaining key challenges were: overcoming the Further Quality Assurance tasks need to be Show care and Honesty
split sites of the West and East Supervision and instigated by the service, such as: mystery respect Being clear about what
Support Teams; information sharing between shopping; recording of Enquiry telephone calls;
sampling of new approvals; a follow up to Treating children/young we can and cannot deliver
RAS and S&S Teams and supporting placements and living within our
planned deregistration and Exit Interviews with people, foster carers
under pressure. On-going, every vacancy will
Foster Carers who are leaving the service. and staff with respect – means – being consistent,
be reviewed with respect to best fit for function
and location of capacity within the service. seeking to understand transparent and doing
In partnership with the CFCG, a bi-annual how they see things and what we say we will do
survey of all Foster Carers was instigated in
valuing their contribution
November 2016. Over time, this will build into
Performance management a very helpful benchmarking of development.
and quality assurance Also, the regular CFCG meetings give an up
to date source of feedback from Foster Carers
Solutions focused Empowering Innovative and
arrangements to the Fostering Management Team.
foster carers can do attitude
Address challenges
To accompany this Strategy, a two year with a solutions focused Supporting foster carers Seizing opportunities
Fostering North Yorkshire Development Plan attitude and approach to take decisions take to do things better and
has been developed that will form the basis of
monitoring the progress towards aspirations. responsibility, access taking responsibility
support and training and to go the extra mile
Individual performance management of Foster thus build resilience
Carers is facilitated through regular Supervision
and the annual Foster Carer Review. Similarly,
14 15
Contact us
North Yorkshire County Council, County Hall, Northallerton, North Yorkshire, DL7 8AD
Our Customer Service Centre is open Monday to Friday 8.00am - 5.30pm
(closed weekends and bank holidays). Tel: 01609 780 780
email: customer.services@northyorks.gov.uk web: www.northyorks.gov.uk
If you would like this information in another language or format please ask us.
Tel: 01609 780 780 email: customer.services@northyorks.gov.uk
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