Invitees:

Rebecca Walsh – Foster Carer

Clive Wilkinson - Foster Carer

The Head of Children’s Social Care reported on the work which has been undertaken as part of the Remodelling Foster Services project and the resulting changes to Fostering Services. 

She informed the Committee that a wide-reaching review of residential services has been undertaken, with fostering services identified where further service development and potential efficiencies could be made.  She outlined the proposals made, the initiatives which had been implemented together with the main changes and proposals following the review. 

The Head of Children’s Social Care reported that the Fostering Team has been separated into two distinct areas; one with responsibility for relative carers and one with responsibility for general foster carers.  She informed the Committee that the existing five liaison carer roles will be maintained, with one being dedicated to relative carers and the other four to general carers.  In respect of training, in the short term, the Skills to Foster course will be reshaped to align with the Directorate wide training programme.  In the longer term, it was proposed to strengthen in-house training for foster carers, through the development and delivery of in-house courses. 

The Head of Children’s Social Care informed the Committee that for payments and fees to be competitive with Independent Fostering Agencies (IFAs), the authority needs to pay fees to general carers at an earlier stage in their fostering career.  Foster carers would receive a fee, post approval, with the expectation they complete the core training programme within their first year.  In terms of upskilling of foster carers and as part of the fee eligibility process the criteria for receiving higher fees will also include attendance at support groups.  In respect of bonuses, carers would be offered a £250 bonus when they refer a friend to be a foster carer for Bridgend, which is paid when that new person is approved and they receive their first placement. 

The Head of Children’s Social Care informed the Committee that a new process to review IFA placements which have been in place less than 16 weeks has been implemented, with a view to transferring as many of these placements as possible in-house.  She stated that a long-term marketing campaign will be implemented, aimed at maximising the number of in-house foster carers.  She informed the Committee that two members of social work staff who are responsible for promoting and assessing potential Special Guardianship Order applicants are now situated within the Fostering Team. The Head of Children’s Social Care informed the Committee of the appointment of a Development Officer and additional assessing social work capacity for the Fostering Team is underway.

The Chairperson welcomed Rebecca Walsh and Clive Richards to the meeting to hear their views and experiences as foster carers. 

Mr Richards informed the Committee of his involvement in the remodelling project with the Interim Group Manager Placements which had been well put together.  He stated that there is a need to implement changes and commented that there are very committed foster carers in Bridgend. 

Ms Walsh informed the Committee of the changes which have occurred over recent years which had resulted in foster carers returning from Independent Fostering Agencies (IFAs) to Bridgend.  Ms Walsh commented on the need for foster carers to work together with the authority in order to make things better for children and to save on out of county placements. 

The Cabinet Member Communities thanked the foster carers for their comments and also the work of officers and the input of foster carers for turning the service around as part of the remodelling project ensuring that the majority of carers are in-house. 

The Committee requested detail on the number of children in foster placements and the figures of foster placements over the past 3 years.  The Head of Children’s Social Care informed the Committee there are 279 children in Bridgend living within a fostering placement, 58 children are placed with IFA providers, 156 children are with in-house carers and 65 placed with Relative (kinship) carers.  She stated that it was encouraging that the numbers of fostering placements are going in the right direction with fewer children being in IFA placements, in that 70 children were in IFA placements in the previous year. 

The Committee questioned the foster carers what improvements had been out in place from their perspective.  Ms Walsh informed the Committee that training has improved as there are many different aspects needed to equip foster carers.  She stated that foster carers are able to have telephone contact with the Department and are able to source training and have access to a pool of resources available to them.  The improvements made to training are due to the efforts of the Team of officers and foster carers.  The Corporate Director Social Services and Wellbeing informed the Committee that foster carers are seen as part of a bigger team and the service is able to respond more flexibly to need and be proactive rather than being reactive.  She stated that these were exciting times and there was a need to keep the momentum going.  She commented on the success of the recent Christmas party which had been attended by over 100 people, which she and the Cabinet Member also had the privilege to attend.  She also commented on the importance of training to foster carers in order to build up their skills and their families.

The Interim Group Manager Placements informed the Committee that it had been possible to use as a resource the extended families of foster carers.  Foster carers are given a clearer voice and the Team and foster carers have worked hard to ensure foster caring is family based and that carers are part of the wider team. 

The Committee thanked the foster carers for their dedication in making the lives of children better.  The Committee questioned there had been an increase in children being fostered with complex needs.  Ms Walsh commented there had been an increase in children in foster care with complex needs and there was support within the team by giving foster carers skills to keep the placements in-house.  Mr Richards commented that the fostering landscape had changed with the advent of social media and relatives of foster children presenting challenges.  He stated that uppermost is that children need to have stability and routine and not having to move around foster carers. 

The Committee questioned whether schools are playing a supporting role in fostering.  Mr Richards informed the Committee that schools are now more proactive and identify needs straight away, especially in the primary school sector.

The Committee questioned whether problems are encountered with other local authorities who place children within this county.  The Head of Children’s Social Care informed the Committee that this authority works well with placing authorities and there are robust arrangements in place and no issues had been brought to her attention.  

The Committee questioned the timescale for the review of the fee structure being completed.  The Head of Children’s Social Care informed the Committee that the review is in its third phase.  She stated that fees vary and there is an opportunity to influence IFAs by removing the element of competition.  The review of the fee structure should be complete by the Spring.  The Head of Children’s Social Care also informed the Committee that each case is considered individually and a cautious approach is undertaken.  She stated there were no plans to move children where it was not in the best interests to do so. 

Ms Walsh informed the Committee that the establishment of an accessible hub should be considered where foster carers, social workers and families can meet as some visits have been taking place in the public areas of Civic Offices.  The Corporate Director Social Services and Wellbeing informed the Committee that many contact visits take place in the Civic Offices and alternatives are being considered due to the lack of parking and it not being child-friendly.  She stated there was a need for a solution to be looked at as a priority with partners and that areas in the Civic Offices where contact visits take place are used which can be seen by the public must cease immediately.   The Committee commented on the need for it to be informed of safe venues to hold contact visits with families. 

The Committee commented that foster carers had been lost to IFAs and there was a need for an element of work on the review of fees.  The Head of Children’s Social Care informed the Committee that there is a basic fee which is paid to carers and further allowances based on holidays, birthdays and the age of the child being fostered.  Foster carers were being incentivised to go IFAs, but there was now recognition that training and support is better in-house.  The Committee commented on the need for a nationally adopted fee structure.

The Chairperson commented that the in-house service is more inclusive and that the welfare of children and not money is uppermost.  He thanked the foster carers for the valuable contributions they had made to the meeting.

RESOLVED:           That the Committee noted the information contained in the report.