Agenda item

Fostering and Adoption

Presented by: Barbara Bath

Minutes:

Barbara Bath, Head of Service Fostering, Adoption and Residential YOT presented the Committee with a report detailing the background to the Fostering and Adoption Service.

 

The report outlined the services delivered by Fostering and Adoption in Lancashire and provided information on the challenges faced by the service.

 

The most significant challenges continued to be the sufficiency of foster carers and the adoption of the more challenging to place children. 

 

Committee members were advised that the marketing to support foster carers recruitment would benefit from a review from this Committee to identify other potential resources which could be used and how the influence of the Committee could support the marketing and promotion of foster caring.

 

Members of the Committee were invited to comment and raise questions and a summary of the discussion is set out below:

 

Members were informed that on average, people think about becoming a foster carer for two years before proceeding to the application process. In addition, previous marketing for foster carers was viewed to be more of a job advertisement rather than vocation but it was confirmed that this has now been revised in light of this feedback.

 

A query was raised on Activity Days and it was confirmed that although these are not running currently in Lancashire there are regional days continuing which Lancashire County Council (LCC) is linked into.  In addition, the Adoption 22 group were reported to be organising a combined day at Preston North End for adopters and children to meet which was also being linked into.

 

Fostering teenagers continued to be a challenge. Workshops have been run within the fostering service for existing foster carers rather than as a recruitment exercise which was well received and remains a focus area.

 

It was confirmed that in BME communities, the proportion of foster carers and looked after children is reflective but this also continues to be an area of focus.

 

In relation to the issues around recruitment of foster carers, it was highlighted that the Independent Fostering Agencies (IFA) have significantly better resources around the marketing of services to enable more recruitment of foster carers.  It was also reported that they market an offer of better support although access to support is actually comparable to what is offered by LCC.  But due to a lack of sufficient foster carers within the local authority, LCC are then required to buy in services from the IFA's where the costs are significantly higher.

 

A query was raised on the difference in payments from local authorities and IFA's to foster carers and members were advised that although agency foster carers receive an increased weekly rate, this was the only payment received.  Whereas local authority foster carers were reported to receive additional payments for birthdays, holidays, Christmas etc. which assisted in narrowing the pay gap.

 

Members were informed that the numbers of children coming into care has increased which has further implications on number of foster carers needed. 

It was suggested that it may be of benefit to look at this situation in different ways by identifying additional support requirements such as a respite model or where there are those who would like to become a foster carer but unable to do so on a full time basis to agree to work and support young people to stay with family.

 

Resolved: The Committee:

  i.  Considered and agreed areas for review within the Fostering and Adoption Service

  ii.  Confirmed work to be completed by the sub groups on the marketing of foster carer recruitment and to review possible complementary services such as a respite model

  iii.  To confirm nominations for the sub groups with Wendy Broadley

 

Supporting documents: