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.

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Computers

• Learn how to use a computer, email and the internet.
• 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.  

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Foster Panel

• The role of the Panels - in both approval and review
• Panel Dates for 2008 (6KB - pdf help)

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Health

• Designated Nurses – they’re dedicated to looked after children.  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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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