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Fostering Recruitment Strategy 2019-2020

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1. Introduction

2. National and Local Context

3. Local Context – Stock-on-Trent

4. Fostering Statistics and Analysis

5. Stoke-on-Trent City Foster Carer Statistics

6. Enquiry Generation, Enquiry to Approval, Supervision & Support

7. Stoke-on-Trent’s Recruitment Plan

8. Action Plan – Year 1 – 1st April 2019 to 31st March 2020

9. Conclusion

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1. Introduction Stoke-on-Trent’s Corporate Parenting Pledge reinforces and emphasises our commitment and responsibilities as a corporate parent, to ensure we provide the best possible care and protection for children and young people in care, as any good parent would their own child. Our aspiration for children in care is to have the opportunity live in a family environment wherever possible. In line with our sufficiency strategy, our ambition for children who need to be looked after is for them to be cared for by family and friends where possible. Where this is not possible our first option would be to place in foster care within Stoke-on-Trent.

To ensure a strategic recruitment approach is adopted to meet the council’s placement sufficiency, a comprehensive audit and review is to be undertaken internally. The outcome of audit and review will support the new strategy. It is important to emphasise that support systems are being rolled out to streamline the recruitment processes and to progress all enquiries in a timely, efficient manner in order to sustain the interest and motivation of prospective carers. This document compliments Stoke-on-Trent’s Children services sufficiency strategy by outlining the approach and plans the Council has for recruiting foster carers for children requiring foster placements. Stoke-on-Trent fostering placement analysis from 2018 to 2019 identified that approximately 347 children required foster placements, with 271 requiring placements that are not connected carers.

a) Placements Started in 2018/19 Placements Started in 2018/19 Placements %

Total Foster Placements (All Types) 347 -

Internal Placements 174 50.1%

Internal Connected 76 21.9%

Internal General F/C 98 28.2%

IFA Placements 173 49.9%

All General Foster Placements (exc Connected) 271 78.1%

Whilst acknowledging that in-house new approvals has fluctuated from 19 in 2016/2017, to 8 new households 2017/2018, to 12 new households in 2018/19, about 208 (28.1%) children are currently placed with independent Fostering Agencies. Stoke-on-Trent’s fostering strategy therefore is to increase the current In-House foster placement capacity of 149 foster carer households by 20% annually for the next 3 years (109). The intended outcome is that by 2022, Stoke should be able to place up to 43.91% (325) of all children in care with In-House Foster carers (based on 1.26 foster care/CIC ratio). To achieve this, an increase of 109 new fostering households must be added to the current portfolio over the next 3 years, taking Stoke from the 149 active fostering households to 258 households. Stoke-on-Trent City Council is developing a regional arrangement with Staffordshire County Council, Shropshire Council and Telford & Wrekin Council with the creation of a joint service delivery model. The arrangement will focus on finding local, caring, stable and loving homes where Children in Care can achieve permanence.

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Through a phased Regional Permanency Transformation Programme, we will align permanency functions relating to Adoption, Fostering, Connected Persons and Special Guardians between 2019 and 2024. This will ensure that governance arrangements, delivery structures, systems, processes and practice enable the workforce from the four Local Authorities to work together, ensuring all children entering care will receive a consistently high level of organisational commitment, leading to better outcomes for children. The Regional Permanency Arrangement will operate through a hub and spoke model which enables Local Authorities to benefit from a network of regional delivery whilst maintaining their own individual independence. This will ensure the Partnership reflects the local landscape, adapted as necessary to the needs of individual Local Authorities, whilst demonstrating clear links to the local Children and Families System. There are work streams that will align working practices for partners to ensure consistency within the arrangement. Stoke-on-Trent’s recruitment strategy outlines and complies with statutory requirements - ensuring that, the Fostering Services: National Minimum Standards 2011 and (England) Regulations 2011 are met fully in the recruitment, assessment, approval, review and support of foster carers. It also provides details, in context, the key issues facing the service. Stoke-on-Trent’s Fostering Service recognises the importance of recruiting suitable carers to meet the growing placement demands of children in the care of Stoke-on-Trent Council. 2. National and Local Context According to figures released by the Fostering Network for the period April 2017 to 31st March 2018, nearly 65,000 children live with almost 55,000 foster families across the UK each day. This is nearly 78% of the 70,720 children in care away from home on any one day with a rising number of children coming into care. As at 31st March 2018, 55,200 children were living with around 43,500 foster families. The Fostering Network estimate that about 6800 new foster carers are needed in England with a total of 890 new foster carers needed in the West Midlands Region, which includes Stoke-on-Trent to meet sufficiency targets. According to the Fostering network analysis (2018), more foster families are needed in England to provide homes for teenagers, children with disabilities and large sibling groups. Shortage of carers for teenager and large sibling placement is consistent with Stoke-on-Trent’s current situation.

3. Local Context – Stock-on-Trent The number of children open to Children’s Social Care in Stoke-on-Trent has reduced over the last three years however the number of children in care has seen a substantial increase between March 2017 and 2018 from 653 to 740. This figure is continuing to rise and, in September 2018, Stoke-on-Trent had 791 children in care. The increase in the number of children in care has been recognised both locally and nationally.

Year end England Looked

after Children

Stoke Looked

after Children

2015 69,470 609

2016 70,400 654

2017 72,590 653

2018 75,420 740

(Source: DfE Looked after Children Statistics)

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In comparison to both regional and national figures, the number of children in need for Stoke-on-Trent remains high along with our statistical neighbours. However, the number of children subject of a child protection plan in Stoke-on-Trent has reduced over the last 3 years, whilst the national, regional and statistical neighbours have seen an increase.

Number of children by level of support and percentage of total open cases for Stoke-on-Trent

Mar-16 Mar-17 Mar-18

Number of children subject of a child in need plan 1080 35%

1001 32%

949 32%

Number of children subject of a child protection plan 356

11.5% 414

13.4% 284

9.5%

Number of children in care 654 21%

653 21%

740 25%

Total number of children open to Children’s Social Care 3089 3086 2985

Going by above data and the trend of placements demands, Stoke-on-Trent must have a targeted recruitment drive that achieves a net increase of 20% new carers year on year delivering 30 new fostering households in 2019/20, 36 new fostering households in 2020/21 and 43 new fostering households in 2021/22. This would give us an estimated net increase of 109 which is achievable within 3 years, to complement the current fostering household. Out of the estimated net increase, about 50% of new carers should be able to offer foster placements for a range of children, especially, large sibling group as well as teenagers with challenging behaviours and behavioural issues which is priority in the first 3 years. 4. Fostering Statistics and Analysis At 31st March 2018 there were 740 children in care and 518 living in foster care – representing 70% of Children in Care. Of the 518 children living in foster care on the 31st March 2018, 25.4% (188) lived with Stoke-on-Trent In-House Foster Carers whilst 200, representing 27%, resided with Independent Foster Carers (IFAs), 8 (1.1%) were placed with Third Sector/other Local Authority Foster Carers. As at 31st March, 2018 there were 227 teenagers (13 -17 years) in Care and 101 (44.5%) were living in foster care. Of that number (101), 73 children (72.3%) were placed with Independent Fostering Agencies due to shortage of in-house carers who can offer placement for ‘challenging and difficult to place teenagers’. Furthermore, less than a third (27.7%) of teenagers in foster placements where cared for by In-house foster carers. We need to understand why a high proportion of foster carers who apply to foster for Stoke-on-Trent have a preference for caring for the 0-10 age band. The focus of this strategy is therefore to target the recruitment, approval and training of foster carers who are willing to offer placement to teenagers while maintaining and expanding the capacity of existing foster carers. A range of communications are being developed to focus on the skills and needs of potential foster carers required to match the needs of all children and young people in the City. This message needs to start at the first communication with our fostering service through to assessment, training and wrap around support. It is clear that IFAs are able to recruit in this age band given the percentage of our 13+ young people placed in the independent sector.

a) Foster Placement Types for CIC 31st March 2018

Number CIC in Foster

Care 31.03.18 In-house General

Foster Carers In-house

Connected Carers IFA 3rd Sector /

Other LA

Number 518 188 122 200 8

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% of All

CIC 70.0% 25.4% 16.5% 27.0% 1.1%

% of F/C 100.0% 36.3% 23.6% 38.6% 1.5%

b) Age distribution of CIC (13-17 years) in placement as of 01/04/18

Age CIC 16+ Provision

Connected Foster Placement (General)

In-house IFA

13 40 0 4 26 8 18

14 46 0 9 22 5 17

15 39 1 2 16 6 10

16 44 5 3 22 6 16

17 58 23 3 15 3 12

Total 227 29 21 101 28 73

c) Age Distribution of All Looked After Children and Placements 2018/19

Age CIC Connect Fostered (General)

LA IFA CIC %

Connect %

Fostered %

LA % IFA%

0 41 8 29 28 1 5.5% 19.5% 70.7% 96.6% 3.4%

1 37 4 18 17 1 5.0% 10.8% 48.6% 94.4% 5.6%

2 36 11 13 9 4 4.9% 30.6% 36.1% 69.2% 30.8%

3 44 17 11 7 4 5.9% 38.6% 25.0% 63.6% 36.4%

4 39 10 17 8 9 5.3% 25.6% 43.6% 47.1% 52.9%

5 30 6 20 7 13 4.1% 20.0% 66.7% 35.0% 65.0%

6 41 9 20 8 12 5.5% 22.0% 48.8% 40.0% 60.0%

7 37 8 23 11 12 5.0% 21.6% 62.2% 47.8% 52.2%

8 39 8 25 9 16 5.3% 20.5% 64.1% 36.0% 64.0%

9 42 10 28 13 15 5.7% 23.8% 66.7% 46.4% 53.6%

10 42 2 31 18 13 5.7% 4.8% 73.8% 58.1% 41.9%

11 40 5 30 14 16 5.4% 12.5% 75.0% 46.7% 53.3%

12 45 3 30 11 19 6.1% 6.7% 66.7% 36.7% 63.3%

13 40 4 26 8 18 5.4% 10.0% 65.0% 30.8% 69.2%

14 46 9 22 5 17 6.2% 19.6% 47.8% 22.7% 77.3%

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15 39 2 16 6 10 5.3% 5.1% 41.0% 37.5% 62.5%

16 44 3 22 6 16 5.9% 6.8% 50.0% 27.3% 72.7%

17 58 3 15 3 12 7.8% 5.2% 25.9% 20.0% 80.0%

d) CIC Placement Types: 2018/2019

Placement Type Number of Children Percentage

In-house Foster Placement 188 25.4%

IFA Foster Placement 208 28.1%

Connected Carer Placement 122 16.5%

Reg 24 - -

Placed with own parents 80 10.8%

Residential Education - -

P&C Unit 0 0.0%

Adoption 13 1.8%

Children’s Homes 73 9.9%

Secure Unit 1 0.1%

Supported accommodation 29 3.9%

House Project 0 0.0%

e) Ethnicity of Children in Care

Ethnicity CIC %

Any other Asian background 12 1.6%

Any other Black background 1 0.1%

Any other ethnic group 4 0.5%

Any other Mixed background 14 1.9%

Any Other White Background 6 0.8%

Asian or Asian British – Bangladeshi 3 0.4%

Asian or Asian British – Pakistani 22 3.0%

Black African or Black British – African 13 1.8%

Black Caribbean or Black British – Caribbean 5 0.7%

Chinese 1 0.1%

Declined to say 2 0.3%

Gypsy / Roma 21 2.8%

Information not yet obtained 10 1.4%

Mixed – White and Asian 18 2.4%

Mixed – White and Black African 9 1.2%

Mixed – White and Black Caribbean 34 4.6%

White British 565 76.4%

Total 740 100.0%

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f) Gender of Children in Care 2018-19

Gender CIC %

Male 400 47.4%

Female 443 52.6%

Total 843 100.0%

g) Placement stability statistics

Measure

01/04/2018

% of CIC with 3+ placements in year (rolling 12m)

9.6%

% of CIC for 2.5yrs in placement for 2yrs+

74.6%

5. Stoke-on-Trent City Foster Carer Statistics

a) Historical Recruitment Statistics

year number of enquiries average monthly

number of approved carers

conversion rate

2012/2013 259 21.58 27 10.42%

2013/2014 218 18.16 50 22.94%

2014/2015 234 19.5 23 9.83%

2015/2016 125 10.41 14 11.20%

2016/2017 178 14.83 19 10.67%

2017/2018 47 3.9 8 8.30%

2018/2019 252 25.16 11

4.36%

b) Source of Enquiry 2018-2019

Source of Enquiry Percentage Approval Source Conversion Rate

Facebook 15.9% - -

Instagram 3.1% - -

Twitter 64.2% - -

Website 9.8% 1 4%

Word of mouth 2.9% 10 100%

Billboard 1.8% - -

Advertising 0% - -

Radio campaign 1.1% - -

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You tube 0% - -

Email 1.2% - -

Total 100% 11 -

Assessment Statistics c) Fostering Panel Approval/Terminations 2018-2019

Panel Approvals / Terminations

April 2018

May 2018

June 2018

July 2018

Aug 2018

Sept 2018

Oct 2018

Nov 2018

Dec 2018

Jan 2019

Feb 2019

Mar 2019

Total 2018-19

General Carers

0 0 0 0 1 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 11

Connected Carers

4 3 1 1 2 3 2 4 2 1 0 4 27

Terminations

0 1 1 1 0 1 1 2 1 0 2 0 -10

Total

4 2 0 0 3 3 3 3 3 2 0 6 28

d) General Foster Carer Length of Service

General Foster Carer years approved Number %

Under 1 Year 12 7.6%

1 year 9 5.7%

2 years 15 9.6%

3 years 9 5.7%

4 years 23 14.6%

5 years + 76 48.4%

10 years + 8 5.1%

15 years + 4 2.5%

20 years + 1 0.6%

25 years + 0 0.0%

e) Foster Carer Approve Age Range

Foster Carer approved age range %

0-4 43%

5-10 33%

11+ 15%

0-17 9%

Total 100%

f) Ethnicity of Foster Carers

Household Ethnicity Type Households %

All White British 148 94.3%

All Pakistani 3 1.9%

All Mixed White/Black Caribbean 1 0.6%

Mixed 2 1.3%

No Ethnicity Recorded 3 1.9%

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Ethnicity Individuals %

White British 260 91.9

White Irish 1 0.4%

White / Black Caribbean 1 0.4%

Other Mixed 1 0.4%

Pakistani 6 2.1%

Black Caribbean 1 0.4%

No Ethnicity Recorded 13 4.6%

6. Enquiry Generation, Enquiry to Approval, Supervision & Support

Enquiry Generation Plan

Level of enquiries Enquiries to date 252 2018-19 20% growth in 2019-2020 taking enquiries 302

Brand recognition Rebranding has taken place but there is further opportunity to improve the Council as a provider of fostering:

- Daily social media activity - Media campaigns based on carer stories - Local events

Recommending the Council How do we encourage carers to have informal conversations about fostering with friends, family and colleagues?

- Carer survey to be completed to identify if they would recommend the Council to friends & family

- Current evidence suggests that formal recommendations in the period from April 2018 have been very low and only account for 2.9% of enquiries. This indicates a missed opportunity in generating enquiries through word of mouth

- The reward offer will be rebranded and promoted to generate enquiries

Carer involvement in recruitment Foster carers are positive about being involved in recruitment

- Carers are particularly interested in contributing informally –e.g. through talking to people, holding coffee mornings or being part of a drop in session

- Having information packs and guidance about the types of carers Stock-on-Trent needs would be particularly helpful for carers. We are developing a foster carer recruitment pack with leaflets that carers can give out to support in recruitment activity.

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Levels of ‘word of mouth’ enquiries The level of enquiries is lower than expected. Based on a ratio of enquiries 2.9% is below expectations

Enquiry to approval Plan

Context All potential foster carers (PFCs) are invited to information events as soon as they make contact with the fostering service. Improvements are being made with regards to tracking of enquiries from source

Conversion rates The current conversion rate is 4.36% which is lower than national average (10% - FN Performance Benchmark Report 2015/16). Through tracking PFCs and improving on the quality of the screening process we aim to move towards 10% conversion rate in 2019-2020 that would give us 30 new foster carers in 2019-2020

Communications The frequency and quality of communications needs to be improved as part of the recruitment and retention strategy:

- Quarterly Catch Ups service updates - Fostering Newsletter - FCA communications - Foster Carer Forums

Matching Expectations This area requires improvement. Regular meeting with Placement Finding and developing a matching document will support. Permanence Matching Panels commence in March 2019. Managing and meeting expectations is a critical part of the approval process as it is based on trust that matching in a fundamental part of the placement finding process.

Peer Support The Buddy scheme is being restructured to better support newly approved foster carers. ‘Pioneers’ value support from peers so this is a key area for improving the experience of carers

Supervision and Support Plan

Supervising Social Worker We have historically had issues around having allocated SSWs for all foster carers. We have recruited a new worker who commenced her role 11/03/19. All households will have an allocated SSW as of this date.

Child’s Social Worker We need to build on relationships with CSWs and have better connectivity between services. We currently struggle to get feedback for foster carer reviews (less to 30% return rate).

Assessing Information We need to improve on the quality of information that is provided from the Accommodation Request form improve on matching and placement stability

Ethnicity and Diversity Plan

Matching 76.4% of our CIC are White British and 94.3% of

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our foster carer households are White British. Stoke has a rich and diverse community that we and our CIC need ethnically and faith matched placements to meet their needs. We are planning to target faith and community leaders to support us with the recruitment of foster carer households from across the City. Cllr Kahn has offered to support through sharing links and introducing the Fostering Service to key networks.

7. Stoke-on-Trent’s Recruitment Plan

a) Developing a core narrative Fostering Network and IMPOWER carried out research on the values and motivation of newly approved foster carers in 2015 and they identified that 81% of newly approved foster carers share a common set of ‘Pioneer’ values. Therefore, they are more persuaded to act only if they are persuaded that this is “the right thing to do” Fostering is the right thing to do, however, previous marketing has hinged heavily on the “reward and incentives available to carers. The new marketing approach will therefore focus on the ethical value of fostering. The key messages are:

The children of Stoke on Trent should be with Stoke on Trent families in line with our corporate Stronger Together strategy.

Being a foster parent is an incredible thing to do. It will not only change the lives of the children and young people you support but it will change your life as well. We know it is such a big step to take we will make sure you receive a professional allowance for doing this – in fact you should think about being a foster parent as a career opportunity as we will also support you with a range of exceptional training that will offer you ongoing professional development opportunities.

Stoke-on-Trent City think getting the right people is crucial so we see you becoming part of our foster carer community that will support you throughout the process

At Stoke-on-Trent’s Fostering Service, we are a team and that means we will all be in this together. If you have a spare room and a willingness to foster, we will support and advise you so that this becomes one of the most important decisions in your life.

Most of all, you get a chance to make a difference to a child or young person at a time in their life when they need you most.

b) Marketing the core narrative To achieve the overarching objective to communicating our Key messages to residents, the following mechanism would be used. It is however important to emphasise that this is not an exhaustive list.

Method / Source Action

On-line Stoke-on-Trent website to be updated with key messages Stoke-on-Trent app to have daily/weekly fostering messages to engage with residents

On-line Social Media Daily/weekly press releases about fostering information events across the City. Partners to be invited to support campaigns by ‘liking on

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Facebook’, ‘retweeting on twitter’

Public Relations Regular articles from foster carers released to the local and national press In-house Fostering Newsletter production to commence. This newsletter will share good news stories of the service as well as features and news/event stories. The FCA may want to work with us to develop this. The newsletter will focus on how existing carers can expand their capacity and to take active part in the recruitment campaign. Our reward model can be promoted here. Every foster carer to be given a ‘recruitment pack’ with leaflets/information packs that can be shared. All council staff to have a ‘fostering banner’ on emails

Direct Marketing – literature distribution Each council letter dispatched to a resident should have fostering information. (Council tax letters, etc.). Housing have recently offered to send leaflets with details of rent holidays in summer.

Build support among elected members We will seek to engage elected members in supporting our strategy, beginning with briefings from the Fostering Team, and leading to support in the form of speeches, social media, press opportunities, community events

Build support among partner agencies, community groups, faith groups

Multi-dimensional engagement across a range of organisations with aligned values to positively promote fostering

c) Positioning Stoke-on-Trent City Council We need to promote Stoke-on-Trent’s Fostering Service as the place to go to if you are thinking about fostering. Staff working within the recruitment and support teams will be required to adopt a new approach recognising that potential and existing carers can choose any local authority or IFA to foster for. This will be particularly relevant in helping people move through the journey with Stoke and make those already approved very loyal to the authority. We are therefore positioning Stoke-on-Trent’s Fostering Service as offering:

Exceptional customer service

Transparent, supportive and timely assessment process

Highly experienced supportive supervising social workers who are always ‘on the other end of the phone’

Career pathways through exceptional training and support opportunities

Therapeutic support

Educational support

Professional allowances

d) Monitoring and Evaluation

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The strategy will be measured quarterly to build up a picture of effective methods of recruitment. This will be undertaken by a variety of methods including:

Analysis of initial enquiry data – an ongoing monitoring system is in place via LL

Analysis of prospective carer’s data – ongoing monitoring systems are in place.

Analysis of referrals

Analysis of exit interviews/feedback to evidence how services can be improved and promoted – ongoing monitoring systems are in place.

Analysis of ‘drop out’ stage – when do people drop out of the fostering process i.e. information pack, initial visit, preparation training, or assessment stage.

Evaluation of individual recruitment channels used – including hits to the website and press coverage. Tracking systems are being put in place

8. Action Plan Year 1 – 1st April 2019 to 31st March 2020

Date Activities By Whom Expected Outcomes

April-June Setting up Implementation group for Strategic recruitment, assessment and support – 3 main groups to be formed

Enquiry generation

Enquiry to approval

Support for existing carers

Strategic Manager Principal Manager Practice Managers Supervising Social Workers Social Work Assistant Marketing & Comms Children’s Social Workers FCA 14 ‘key recruiter’ Foster Carers

A good mix of Foster carers, Managers, Supervising Social Workers and children social workers overseeing the planning, recruitment and support systems that is effective and attractive to ‘pioneer’ foster carers Carers to take ownership and see themselves as active part and as an extension of the service

April-March Recruitment Campaigns & Summer Road Shows

Work with Cllrs & Foster Carers to conduct outreach work – information sessions to voluntary groups, faith leaders, business, internal employees, NHS, child minders, schools, charities etc.

Strategic Manager Cllrs Principal Manager Practice Managers Supervising Social Workers Social Work Assistant Marketing & Comms Children’s Social Workers FCA Foster Carers

Gain senior members support in recruitment of carers Outreach work with local faith groups, partners, businesses, charities, schools, raising awareness of

fostering and adoption

April-March Bi-monthly Permanency Forum

Outline our permanency options available through adoption, LT

Strategic Manager Principal Managers – Adoption & Fostering Practice Managers Marketing & Comms Adopters, Foster Carers and Special

Permanency is everyone’s responsibility. Focus on achieving this through delivering the positive message about the importance of

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Fostering, SGOs, CAOs

Deliver to Safeguarding, CIC, QCU, IFA Provider Forums

Guardians permanency planning

April-March Key messages to be circulated through all channels available to the Council

Fostering banner on all council staff emails

Council tax letters to include fostering message

Housing to circulate fostering leaflets with any communications

Stoke App to post fostering information at least once a week

Website update to be prioritised

Strategic Manager Cllrs Principal Manager Practice Managers Supervising Social Workers Social Work Assistant Marketing & Comms

Higher the profile of the core fostering message utilising all council communications

April-March Monthly specialist recruitment campaigns

Teenagers

Siblings

P&C

CWD

Remand

Strategic Manager Principal Manager Practice Managers Supervising Social Workers Social Work Assistant Marketing & Comms Children’s Social Workers FCA Foster Carers

Target specific professions to develop specialist fostering services in line with needs

Residential care workers

NHS/health workers

Police/Probation

Educational workers

Social care workers

May Fostering Fortnight

Events

Local news items Showcase Stoke’s fostering service

Strategic Manager Principal Manager Practice Managers Supervising Social Workers Social Work Assistant Marketing & Comms Children’s Social Workers FCA Foster Carers

Maximise opportunities to promote fostering as a positive option across the City

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June Attend Stoke Pride Event to promote fostering to the LGBTQ community

Strategic Manager Principal Manager Practice Managers Supervising Social Workers Social Work Assistant Marketing & Comms Children’s Social Workers FCA Foster Carers

Maximise opportunities to recruit foster carers from LGBTQ community

June- Sept Development of Newsletter with formal launch in Sept. Ensure the Core Narrative of ‘pioneers’ is embedded throughout

Strategic Manager Principal Manager Practice Managers Supervising Social Workers Social Work Assistant Marketing & Comms FCA

Effective systems and mechanisms to market “Core Narrative”

June-Nov Carers End of Year Celebration/Awards

Numbers to be agreed

Criteria for awards

Core Narrative at the centre

Strategic Manager Principal Manager Practice Managers Supervising Social Workers Social Work Assistant Marketing & Comms FCA

Acknowledging foster carers contribution with ‘Pioneer’ core narrative at the centre

10. Conclusion

Recruiting foster carers for children and young people who cannot return home is a fundamental

responsibility of the Local Authority as ‘corporate parent’. We have a duty of care to do everything

within our power to achieve this through delivering a targeted recruitment strategy that is ambitious

but achievable. We have the full backing of the directorate and of key stakeholders.

Understanding the needs of our children in care and building our marketing approach will reach out

to the ‘pioneers’ who want to make a difference in the life of a child. The participation agenda will

be key to the success of the strategy so foster carer involvement and engagement at every stage is

crucial. They are key enablers who truly understand the core narrative of ‘why people foster’.

The North Midlands Regional Adoption and Permanency Partnership (NMRAPP) will further

influence our fostering recruitment strategy from April 2020 onwards. This will be factored into the

strategy to ensure we draw on collective resources and best practice. This enables us to achieve

emotional permanence (attachment), physical permanence (stability) legal permanence (in respect

of who discharges parental responsibility). Through working in the proposed Regional Adopter and

Permanency Partnership we improve our ability to share best practice and collaborate to grow our

pool of adopters and foster carers which will support us in delivering positive outcomes to our

Children in care.