Support and Training for Carers
Last updated | 29/05/2008
The partnership between carers and social workers is vital to ensure fostering and adoption services work well and issues can be addressed together.
Carers receive ongoing support and guidance from their link or support worker, who will be a qualified social worker. Your link workers will also help you identify areas of training or personal development that will enhance your knowledge and skills. Experienced carers are also willing to act as mentors for newly approved carers.
Foster carer groups actively offer formal and informal support to local carers, promoting their views and partnership working, and considering issues for training. Joint events with Education and Children's Services staff meet most of the training needs for carers. The Fostering Network also provides a vital support resource for foster carers and individual annual membership is purchased for every carer approved by the Council.
Approved carers are reviewed annually. This ensure that carers continue to be capable of looking after children and also that they are receiving adequate support from the Council. Placement agreements will be completed for all children placed with carers.
After an adoption is granted, adoptive carers can receive ongoing support with any of the challenges of parenting their adoptive child if they request it. It is acknowledged that this support may be necessary over the years to help families and children cope with the effect of difficult early experiences.
