Training and support

Under our new scheme, introduced on 1 October 2018, foster carers will benefit from extra support:

• increased intensive therapeutic support and training for all foster carers and supervising social workers
• dedicated clinical psychologists and mental health coordinators for each quadrant
• the introduction of increased local support schemes in each quadrant to including a better process for providing respite for foster families and children placed
• increased opportunities for carers to be supported financially to extend their homes to provide more capacity

Training

We have managed to continue to provide training opportunities for courses that are suitable to be delivered virtually and has been working well. However, we have had to defer the launch of the therapeutic and trauma informed training as the majority of these courses are required to be delivered via classroom training.

In support of the development of the therapeutic training a training pathway document has been developed and a revised Personal Development Plan.

You can view current training and development opportunities on My Learning.

Support

A range of support is available to you as and when you need it.

Oasis Network

 The Oasis Network for foster carers provides support, respite and advice from an experienced carer and mentor.

You can download an information leaflet here.

Fostering Network

All Essex foster carers have membership to the The Fostering Network, paid for by the local authority.

The Fostering Network provides newsletters and regular information, consultation, updates on national developments and training.

A helpline is available to members on 020 7401 9582 from 10.00am - 3.00pm Monday to Friday.

You can email them at info@fostering.net or write to 87 Blackfriars Road, London, SE1 8HA.

Legal helpline

Foster carer members of The Fostering Network can access our 24-hour legal helpline for expert advice on allegations and help with any legal queries on 01384 885734.

Stress support service

Members of The Fostering Network can access a completely confidential stress support service on 01384 885734. Please ask to be put through to the stress helpline.

Tax workshop

Watch the Fostering Network's video about Tax and National Insurance for Foster carers. You will need to be to logged into The Fostering Network website to access this.

Independent support for foster carers

The Fostering Network provides independent support for foster carers if there has been an allegation against them. If you are a foster carer facing an allegation and would like to access independent support, contact your supervising social worker (SSW) who can make a referral to The Fostering Network. An independent support worker will be in touch within a day or two to provide their expertise and guidance until the allegation or complaint against is resolved.

Find out more about The Fostering Network's independent support service.

The role of the Children and Young People's Placement Services (CYPPS)

The CYPPS is a county wide service that consists of 2 teams: Placement Finding and Quality and Improvement Team. Read about their roles in the fostering process (Doc, 20KB).

Out of hours

 An out of hours telephone support service for foster carers is provided by the fostering service. This covers periods when the office is not usually open (17.30 until 9.00 during the week and over weekends and bank holidays). This rota is covered by staff in the fostering service who usually cover a week at a time. The rota is provided to foster carers with all the appropriate telephone numbers on.

Emergency Duty Service (EDS)

Foster carers must contact the Emergency Duty Service to report matters such as:

• a child who has gone missing
• the death or serious illness of a child in their care
• a child protection matter
• any serious incident in the foster home which requires additional support

The Emergency Duty Service deals with all emergency social care referrals and situations out of working hours, and it covers the whole of Essex. It also deals with emergencies in adult and children's social care.

If an emergency arises out of office hours, the Emergency Duty Service can be contacted on 0345 606 1212. 

Support from other foster carers

Support groups are held in all of the 4 quadrant areas and foster carers are encouraged to attend these where possible. Foster carers are also encouraged to buddy up with other foster carers.

Refer a friend scheme

We will reward you, our existing foster carers, up to £230 per successful referral as a thank you for your support. There is no limit on how many people you can refer.

Foster carers ambassador group

We listen to our foster cares and value their input. Our carers work closely with us to inform our recruitment strategy in Essex and improve the wider service.  They have come up with some very creative ideas.

Our ambassadors are exactly that, ambassadors, who regularly go out into their communities to support us at events and during campaigns.

Essex Foster Carers Association

The Essex Foster Carers Association is an independent charitable trust run by local authority foster carers for local authority foster carers. Membership is offered to all local authority foster carers at approval.  Members benefit from:

• a quarterly newsletter
• sons and daughters support
• quadrant based committees
• fundraising activities

More information is available via the EFCA website or by calling 0300 777 1234.

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