"Social workers are continuing to refer record numbers of children into care,
with Cafcass reporting 2012 has seen the highest number of applications to date"
www.communitycare.co.uk, 10 December 2012
The demand for foster carers has risen nationally in recent years – especially in the wake of the Peter Connelly case.
Funding cuts have resulted in an increase to eligibility thresholds for care homes. As a result, children and young people are more frequently coming into foster care with increasingly complex attachment needs, abuse and neglect issues and conduct disorders. These manifest in challenging behaviours and emotional difficulties and impact on a foster carer’s ability to take care of foster children.
It is now more important than ever for local authorities and independent agencies to effectively support professional foster carers.
Speakers at the Supporting Foster Carers event include:
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| Nicola Doyle, Head of Fostering Policy, Department for Education | Jim Bond MBE, President, The Fostering Network | Lori Goossen, Organisational Development Consultant, Children's Social Care, Youth, and Integration London Borough of Bexley | Helen Oakwater, Adoptive Parent and Author, Bubble Wrapped Children |
See a full list of Supporting Foster Carers Speakers here
Providing foster carers with the tools and knowledge to manage the complex needs of those in care will ensure local authorities and other agencies:
- Develop an informed, motivated and professional foster care workforce
- Support the stability of placements and reduce the number of placement breakdowns
- Improve the retention of foster carers and their skills bases
Community Care conferences is pleased to announce the third in this series of events to help the public, private and voluntary sector support - and get the most out of - their professional foster care workforce.
Attend this conference to:
- Understand evidence-based models to support foster children and foster carers
- Learn how to effectively implement delegated authority in the Foster Carers’ Charter: Where should flexibility end or become inappropriate?
- Discover how to manage high-risk behaviours in children aged 3-17: Evidence-based approaches to support both the foster child and foster carers
- Gain insight into how to support foster carers who receive allegations of abuse
- Hear practical strategies to manage compassion fatigue in foster carers and the wider looked-after children workforce
- Focus on social media: The multi-facetted truths Facebook presents to children in care
Register for Supporting Foster Carers on or before 19th April to book a place for just £199 + VAT
Download your copy of the Supporting Foster Carers Conference Brochure here
