To receive a presentation on the development of Fostering Support
Minutes:
The Corporate Parenting Panel received a presentation on the development of Fostering Support.
The Chair shared with the Panel that there was a transformation project undergoing within the Children’s Department which included the Fostering service and an advertisement for more foster carers in the borough and further noted that there was a high proportion of in-house foster carers which was positive, though more was required.
The Panel received a presentation from the Subject Expert, Jane Scott, and highlighted the importance of foster carers, support, recruitment, and retention of the foster carers continued to be challenging.
The Panel heard that:
Nationally:
- Recruitment continued to be challenging.
- Overall the number of homes available for children had reduced.
- There was an increasing number of connected kinship carers who were family members known to the children and formally became foster carers for a period of time until a decision would be made for a final outcome of the care of the child.
- Applications to foster had decreased.
- The Independent Fostering Agency (IFAs) had increased over the years and supplements the pool of homes for Children Looked After and made up for 45% of placements nationally.
In Croydon:
- The request for information and enquiries were up from 41% in 2021/22. As part of the transformation process the service had been looking at different approaches to improve the first point of contact. The service had looked at responses to enquires, follow up to the enquires and information sharing to ensure its availability and partnership with other agencies.
- The children looked after in Croydon in-house, were 255 compared to the IFA which held 194 of Croydon children looked after.
- Spending: In-house foster placement costs were on average £722 per week per child and an IFA cost on average £995 per week per child.
- The retention of carers was a challenge as a considerable number had ceased due to retirement,
- The total contacts from 2021-2022 were up from 330 to 471 in the last year which averaged 55 contacts per month.
- The service had developed a fast-track assessment process for those carers transferring in from other agencies which was attractive.
- The assessment length had been reduced due to training delivery improvements.
- The recruitment and retention plan had shown attractive incentives from IFA transfers and referring a friend.
- There had been digital work development to address marketing, fostering web pages and enquiries.
- Further support for foster carers included mentor and buddy system; membership to “Foster Talk”; and fostering hubs (which supported improvements in practice, such as training and clinical, emotional, crisis and stability support).
In response to the question relating to the length of time it took to match a foster carer with a child and how timely the panel approvals, the Panel heard that the point of when a child was placed and matched was varied. When carers were approved there would be a child aligined to them through the approval process and matching could happen within a week, though for other carers there may be circumstantial factors to consider which could delay the matching process.
In response to the question relating to retention with families stopping (not retiring) after a few years, and the move of IFAs to in-house, the Panel heard that communication was the best way in making a difference. There were clear lines for recruitment for the Croydon offer. The service would review factors of an individual carer and what was best placed for the young person, and the offer Croydon was providing was making a difference. There were situations where after approval that there was a swift and a timely response to carers with a diversity of ways to support foster carers to stay in Croydon, though this was not always possible.
In response to the question relating to recruiting carers where English was not their first language, the Panel heard that part of the specialist recruitment role was to go to communities engaging with people from the communities that children needing care came from, assistance was provided with language challenges, this included faith institutions, and was the main area of focus.
In response to the question relating to the proportion of looked after children with disabilities in foster care, those in-house and specific steps to improve foster carers taking on caring for children with disabilities, the Panel heard that there was more room for improvement regarding carers for children with disabilities, and as part of the development the service had adapted training to provide more information with a broad spectrum with children they may be matched with. There was also specific training in specialised areas of disabilities, and there was specific recruitment for pathways for foster carers in this area.
The Chair welcomed the presentation and transformation project the fostering service were developing looked forward to a future update.
The Panel RESOLVED to note the report.