Harvey Gallagher & Lucy Sweetman 1 Staying Put – the national picture 10th June 2016 NCCCTC Harvey Gallagher & Lucy Sweetman

We have 99 members who care for around 86% of children in the sector 2 About NAFP Established in 2008, the Nationwide Association of Fostering Providers (NAFP) is a not-for-profit organisation that campaigns for independent and voluntary sector fostering providers, and the children they care for We have 99 members who care for around 86% of children in the sector

Our session today An outline of the report 3 Our session today An outline of the report Questions and recommendations raised in the report Discussion: how can commissioners and providers work together to address the issues raised in the report?

4 About the report Commissioned to address the absence of the independent sector’s voice from discussion of Staying Put Completed during 2015 Compiled through research, telephone interviews, 58 completed surveys and a focus group. Foster carers, commissioners and fostering agencies represented.

Key issues in the report 5 Key issues in the report Financial support for Staying Put Communication and relationships Clarity of policy and process Timeliness and appropriateness of preparation and planning

Questions from the report 6 Questions from the report Is there a shared understanding of the purpose and character of a Staying Put arrangement? Is preparation for leaving care being adequately provided by carers, by providers, by local authorities? What models are being used to support preparation for care leavers? Is planning for Staying Put happening in time and on the basis of an adequate assessment? Are local authorities adequately delivering their leaving care statutory duties when young people are in independent provision?

7 Recommendations I Providers and local authorities should work more closely to ensure that carers and young people are involve in care and pathway planning, and all review meetings once the pathway plan is established. IFP carers should receive high quality training to help them support young people into independence. Expectations of carers in relation to preparation and planning should be clearly communicated and supported. Staying Put should be added to the National Fostering Contract as a variation and used by regional commissioning consortia for contracting with providers.

8 Recommendations II Local authorities should assess the impact of their organisational structures on the timeliness of their assessments and planning and make adjustments accordingly. Government should, as recommended by the National Audit Office (NAO), review the implementation and impact of Staying Put and give consideration to a national framework for Staying Put allowances to carers.

9 Table discussion What can commissioners do to address the issues raised in the report? Issues you might want to consider: Financial arrangements and commissioning frameworks Processes for the agreement of a Staying Put placement Involvement of young people and carers in decision-making and appropriate provision of leaving care preparation and support

Round-up Main points from the discussion 1010 Round-up Main points from the discussion How do we go forward from here? Keep in touch!

Nationwide Association of Fostering Providers 1111 Nationwide Association of Fostering Providers 07807 760539 PO Box 47299, London W7 9BH contactus@nafp.co.uk www.nafp.co.uk http://www.facebook.com/theNAFP https://www.linkedin.com/company/nationwide-association-of-fostering-providers www.twitter.com/theNAFP