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Fostering
Information for Foster Carers
We’re always trying to find ways to support you in your work – and one of them is to make information as accessible as possible.
If you’ve got suggestions on additional information you’d like to see on the website – send them to us.
Allegations
- Information Sheet
(105KB - pdf help) – with useful contact numbers for Devon carers. - Protecting Children, Supporting Foster Carers. Dealing with an Allegation (511KB - pdf help) – download the DfES booklet.
Computers
- Learn how to use a computer, email and the internet - with the BBC.
- Learn basic word processing skills - with Microsoft Word.
- Get a printed Microsoft Word basic course.
- PC and Internet advice for carers (471KB - pdf help) - a guide to the safe use of computers and the internet.
- Web Guide - links to Internet search engines, email services, a directory of recommended websites, and free access to online reference sources.
Education & Employment
- Admissions - for help with finding a school place.
- SEN Admissions - if the child or young person has a Statement of Special Educational Needs.
- DfES Education Protects - the government’s key documents on the education for looked after children and young people, under Corporate Parenting.
- Educational Psychology Service - applying psychological knowledge and skills to promoting children's development, achievement and welfare
- Education Welfare Service – for advice on looked after children’s in-school and out-of-school-hours learning activities.
- Employment of Children – guidance on the rules, and your responsibilities as a carer and a parent.
- English as an Additional Language - help for pupils for whom English is not the first language.
- Exclusion - answers to the important questions.
- Extra Tuition in Year 11 - email for more information on full- or part-funding.
- Financial Support for School Pupils - comprehensive coverage.
- Financial Support for Students over 16 - in sixth forms, colleges and universities.
- Libraries - find your nearest. Children’s library website
- Music Service - helping young musicians to reach their full potential.
- Ofsted - the inspectorate for children and learners in England.
- Parents’ Evenings (249KB - pdf help) - make the most of them with this leaflet.
- PEP’s and Early Years PEP’s - for guidance on both Personal Education Plans.
- PEP Dowry - email for details of financial help with out-of-school activities identified in PEP.
- SATs Dates - for 2008
- Special Educational Needs - a comprehensive guide to services.
- Term Dates - to end of summer term 2010.
- Transport - from home to School or College.
Family Finding
- Family Finding – searching for permanent families for looked after children who can never go home. If you’d like to develop a long-term fostering relationship, talk to your Link Worker.
Finance
- Rates and Allowances – the information for 2008/09.
- Claim Forms - for travel and expenses.
- Inland Revenue – tax information specially for foster carers.
- Low Incomes Tax Reform Group – guidance on income tax and national insurance.
- Financial Support for Students 16+ – comprehensive coverage.
- Financial Support for School Pupils - comprehensive coverage.
Foster Panel
- The role of the Panels - in both approval and review
- Panel dates for 2009 (7KB - pdf help)
Health
- Nurses for Children in Care – they’re dedicated to children and young people in care. If you’ve got a health issue you’d like to discuss, get in touch.
- Immunisations - the most comprehensive information on vaccines, disease and immunisation in the UK.
- NHS Direct Online - all the health information you need, in one website.
Links For Carers:
- British Association for Adoption and Fostering (BAAF) - the leading UK charity working for children separated from their birth families.
- Choice Protects - information and resources from the Government's review of fostering and placement services
- Fostering Network - the UK's leading charity for everyone with a personal or professional involvement in fostering.
- Kaarp – a voluntary benefits website offering savings and discounts for people who work in the public sector.
- National Children’s Bureau – essential information on policy, research and best practice.
- National Council of Voluntary Child Care Organisations - ensuring the well-being and safeguarding of children by promoting the voluntary sector's contribution to the provision of services.
- NCH - a leading children's charity and provider of children's services in the UK.
- Passports for children in care - guidelines and contact details.
- Scouts, Guides and Cadets - email for details of your nearest group, or call Trish Heap on 01392 386064.
- Social Care Institute for Excellence – practice guide to fostering, designed for foster care practitioners and anyone with an interest in good practice in fostering.
- Who Cares?Trust - a national charity working to improve public care for around 60,000 children and young people who are separated from their families and living in residential or foster care.
- Youth Clubs - find your nearest.
Links For Children and Young People
- Aim Higher - all the information you need to get started on the road into higher education.
- Carelaw - an information site for children and young people in care in England & Wales. It covers many topics from your rights in care to what happens when you leave care.
- Children First for Health - advice and information for children on a range of health issues.
- Connexions Direct - information and advice for 13 - 19 year olds.
- Devon Libraries ‘The Zone’ – hosted by M@x the cyberdog with interviews, competitions, ideas, book-lists and puzzles.
- Educational Maintenance Allowance - help with the day-to-day costs when you stay on at school or college, such as travel, books and equipment for your course.
- Lifebytes - fun and interesting health information for 11-14 year olds.
- Mind, Body and Soul - the lowdown on health for 14-16 year olds.
- Right here, right now - information resources for young people living in care, and the people who care for them.
- Scouts, Guides and Cadets - email for details of your nearest group, or call Trish Heap on 01392 386064.
- Talk to Frank - free confidential drugs information and advice 24 hours a day.
- Welltown - health-related information and advice for 5-7 year olds.
- Who Cares? Extra - information and tips specially for 12 to 18 year-olds living in care.
- Youth2Youth - telephone, email and chat helpline for young people up to 19 years.
- Youth Clubs - find your nearest.
Support
- Carers Support Groups – regular get-togethers at venues across the county. Guest speakers, special presentations, and plenty of time to network. Call your Link Worker for the next one.
- Peer Guides – if you need help, advice, or just someone to listen, talk to an experienced carer. Call your Link Worker or Fostering Team for more information.
- Fosterline – impartial, confidential advice on fostering issues.
- ‘Children Who Foster’ Groups – activity groups for the families of foster carers where they can meet, swap stories, and have a good time. Call the Support Workers in Exeter or Barnstaple for more information.
- Fostering Strategy Group – if you’ve got a good idea, or a cause for concern, that you’d like to bring up with management, contact your local rep. Call your Link Worker for her or his name.
Training
- Training Programme – core and specialist courses for 2008/09 plus a downloadable booking form.
- ‘Fostering a Better Education’ (1.30MB - pdf help) – the Information Sheet to accompany the training film.
- 'Fighting FIre with Water - dealing with Bullying and Children in Care' (232KB - pdf help) - the Information Sheet to accompany the training film.