Foster Carers: at the heart of a world class children’s workforce Jane Haywood, chief executive Children’s Workforce Development Council

Why you matter “The single most important factor in delivering our aspirations for children is a world class workforce” DCSF, 2007, The Children’s Plan What ever the problem the workforce is the solution All change depends on the workforce We need to invest, support , lead

Children’s Workforce Development Council (CWDC) We want England to be the best place in the world for children and young people to grow up To do this we need a children and young people’s workforce that is motivated and skilled to do best job it possibly can To do this we want England’s workforce to be respected by peers and valued for the positive difference it makes to children, young people and families

We are committed to Raising the profile of the wider social care workforce, including foster carers Supporting the social care workforce to progress their learning by providing opportunities for development to a minimum level 3 Working together with employers, so that we can understand their views in taking our work forward Our social care team is committed to: Raising the profile of the wider social care workforce, including foster carers They are key professionals working with some of our most vulnerable children, young people and their families Supporting the social care workforce to progress their learning by providing opportunities for development to a minimum level 3 The skills and knowledge of this key group of professionals are important Working together with employers, so that we can understand their views in taking our work forward We want build on existing relationships with our stakeholders

Our work with foster carers Recognising your contribution to children’s lives Training, Support and Development Standards for Foster Care Continue to embed and support the implementation of the Standards Work with you to provide the right training and development Recognising your contribution to children’s lives Foster carers are key professionals working with some of the most vulnerable children and young people and we want to recognise that you are a key part of the children’s workforce in improving outcomes for children, young people and families Training, Support and Development Standards for Foster Care In May 2007 we developed and launched the Training, support and development standards for foster carers. These standards set a minimum benchmark of practice and clarity what a foster carer should know in the first twelve months following approval as a foster carer. All existing foster carers registered in England must complete these standards by march 2011 and new foster carers within a year of approval Continue to embed and support the implementation of the Standards The Standards continue to be a key/important part of our work with foster carers and I will say more about how we are supporting in a few minutes Work with you to provide the right training and development We are clear that foster carers must be seen as key professionals within the wider social care workforce and as such should have access to relevant training and the support to progress their learning to achieve suitable qualifications

Support for implementation of standards for foster carers Online version of workbook Practice guidance Case studies of successful implementation Funding for implementation The following package of support was developed in response to feedback from fostering services and foster carers at our consultation events earlier this year Online version of workbook Online workbook was launched in August 2009 and allows foster carers to complete their workbook from anywhere with an internet connection. See our exhibition stand to see a demonstration of the online workbook and to get details of how to access it. Practice guidance The practice guidance, launched last week, provides more explicit guidance around managing the implementation process, benchmarking and assessing evidence. It is aimed at foster care providers, supervising social workers, link workers and training officers, though it will also be of interest to foster carers. It is available for download from our website or again visit our stand for further details Case studies of successful implementation We are currently undertaking interviews with fostering services about how they have gone about implementation. These will be written up in a series of case studies, with supporting example materials and available on our website in November 2009 Funding for implementation Funding for implementing the standards was made available to providers in May 2009. There has been a good uptake of this fund and funding is still available, though it is a limited ‘pot’ so advice to register soon. Information about how to access its available at our stand

Together for Change Working together with the Fostering Network: Implementation of the Training, Support and Development Standards: All courses from the Fostering Network in England identify links with the standards Provides training and workshops to fostering services on implementation of standards Peer Mentoring Project Hard to Reach Project We have an excellent working relationship with Fostering Network and our partnership continues to support the commitment to full implementation of the standards by 2011. It has ensured that we have been able to develop standards that are fit for purpose and a positive take up from foster carers and their agencies. Examples of some of the outcomes of this partnership are included on this slide. The Peer Mentoring and Hard to Reach project were developed with funding from CWDC Peer Mentoring Project The Fostering Network has developed good practice guidelines for setting up a peer mentoring scheme and there is a chapter that looks at how mentoring can be used with the CWDC Standards Hard to Reach Project: a resource which provides guidance and recommendations on how fostering services might remove barriers to learning for ‘hard to reach’ foster carers. For the purposes of this project ‘hard to reach’ groups of foster carers included respite carers, older carers and in particular men who foster. The Fostering Network’s Together for Change campaign highlights the importance of foster carers having the status and authority to provide children with a good experience of family life, and the importance of foster carers having the skills and support they need to help children achieve their potential. CWDC supports this campaign, which complements and supports our work around further learning and development for foster carers (NOT SURE IF THIS IS THE RIGHT PLACE TO SAY THIS, BUT IT NEEDS TO BE SAID SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY!)

Further learning and development Children and Young People's Workforce Diploma (Social Care) Foundation degrees Our social care professional framework links foster carers into the mainstream children and young people’s workforce. Foster carers should have access to the same range of opportunities as other people in the children's workforce. As part of our Qualifications Strategy, CWDC is: Currently developing a new level 3 qualification which will replace NVQs from September 2010. the social Care mandatory and optional units, which are now in draft, include options for foster carers and those working with foster carers encouraging Sector Endorsement of Foundation degrees which align with our footprint. Social care specific criteria for sector endorsement have been developed and these specific criteria also include provision for foster carers and those working with foster carers

www.cwdcouncil.org.uk fostercare@cwdcouncil.org.uk