NEXT STEP FOSTERING GROUP WELCOME GUIDE

Transcription

1 NEXT STEP FOSTERING GROUP WELCOME GUIDE

2 WELCOME We want you to feel comfortable in your foster family and will work very hard to make sure that you have a happy and rewarding stay. You have your own Social Worker who will work with you and your carer(s) to make sure that you have everything you need and you are happy in your home. This guide should give you all the information you need to understand who we are, what you can expect and how you can get more information or support if you need it; as well as some useful information to help you settle in. We have a dedicated Children s Champion, whose job is to make sure that you are heard. She can help you understand meetings and decisions and explain how they affect you, as well as help you learn how to explain your feelings. She will also give you the opportunity to enjoy a variety of out of school activities and trips, so ask your Foster Carer(s) about her. We also offer a special Educational Achievement Award, where you can earn vouchers if you are nominated, and is open to all our young people, so ask your carer(s) about this too. We want you to enjoy your stay, if you need to know anything which you can t find in this booklet please contact us or ask your Foster Carer(s). Lesley Ward, Director Who are the Next Step Fostering Group? We are a family-run, independent fostering agency, consisting of Ryancare, Safehouses and Next Step Fostering agencies. We have been helping foster families look after children and young people for more than 25 years and we like to keep a family atmosphere amongst our staff, Foster Carers and young people. 2

3 WHAT IS FOSTERING? Fostering is a special service set up for all young people in case they can t live with their parent(s) and need to live with another family for a while. There are 3 main types of fostering: Respite: This is when a young person is given some time out from their home. Social Services will find a foster family who can look after them for a limited amount of time. This may be just for a few days, a weekend, a week or even a little bit longer. Short term fostering: This is when a young person is placed in care for a short time. Sometimes it can be a few weeks or sometimes for a few months. Long-term or permanent: This is when a young person is placed with a foster family for a longer period of time which may be for a number of years, or until they have grown up. This will only happen if Social Services decide that it will be the best thing for that young person. Where is Next Step? The Next Step Fostering Group is based in Faversham, Kent but we also have offices in London, Croydon, Essex, Thames Valley and Norfolk - contact details for all our offices can be found at the back of this booklet. 3

4 AT HOME WITH WHAT YOUR FOSTER YOU CAN CARERS EXPECT What can I expect from my stay with a foster family? This might be your first time in foster care and you may be feeling a bit confused, angry or scared. But you can be sure that everyone at the Next Step Group and in your foster family wants you to feel as comfortable and happy as possible; and will do whatever we can to help you have a good stay. What do I call my Foster Carer(s)? The best thing to do is ask them. They understand that it will feel strange living with new people and they won t expect you to call them Mum & Dad. Have a chat and find out what works best for all of you. Will I get my own bedroom? When you live in foster care you will have your own bedroom that you can use as a place just for you and to keep all your personal belongings. It will be your responsibility to keep it tidy and you will need to talk to your Foster Carer(s) about bedtimes. My foster carers are really nice, they make me feel safe. Will I be the only child in the house? Some Foster Carers may have other children living with them but you won t have to share your bedroom. You will always be treated fairly and equally by your carer(s). What if I do something wrong? Nobody is perfect and no one expects you to be either. Your foster family will go through the house rules with you which you should follow. If you have done something wrong, don t worry! Sometimes this is just a part of growing up, but it is important to clear things up with your carer(s). They will discuss what has happened and help you put things right. 4

5 DID YOU KNOW? Lots of famous people were also in foster care when they were younger: Steve Jobs Co-Founder and former CEO of Apple Simone Biles - Olympic Gymnastics Gold Medalist Eddie Murphy - Comedian and voice of Donkey from Shrek Ice-T - Actor and Rapper Jamie Foxx - Actor Bruce Oldfield - Fashion Designer John Lennon - Singer/Songwriter for The Beatles Nelson Mandela - Anti-Apartheid leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner And not forgetting Superman & Paddington Bear! I have been given so many opportunities to do fun things. 5

6 USEFUL INFORMATION 6

7 YOUR RIGHTS, 7 7

8 REVIEWS 8

9 WHO WORKS AT NEXT STEP? Who works for the Next Step Fostering Group? There are lots of people that work with you and your Foster Carer(s) to help you have a happy and rewarding stay: Supervising Social Workers and Link Workers: Your foster family will be given their own Supervising Social Worker or Link Worker. They will talk with your Social Worker and supervise your carer(s), giving them any advice they may need to ensure that your needs are met. Children s Champion: Next Step has a Children s Champion who you can talk to about all sorts of things. She is there to listen to you whether you are feeling sad or happy. You may want to speak to her if you think that something is unfair or you may wish to share some good news. You can call or text her on or champion@nextstepfostering.org Registered Managers: The Registered Managers are legally responsible for each office and make sure that it is working within the law. They are also responsible for all the day to day decisions of the agencies and manage all the staff. Lesley Ward: Lesley is the Director and Owner of the whole Group. She helps to make important decisions, advises the Registered Managers and is key in how the agency is run. 9

10 YOUR FOSTER FAMILY You can make some notes about your foster family here and keep it safe. This might help you remember names and keep all your contact details together. Your Foster Carer is:... They live at:.. They have other children living with them called:.... Your Foster Carer s Supervising Social Worker s (or Link Worker s) contact details are: Name: Tel:. Your Social Worker s contact details are: Name: Tel:. Your IRO s contact details are: Name: Tel:. 10

11 ALL ABOUT ME Fill this in and give it to your Foster Carer(s). It will help them remember some of the important things that you like. 11

12 Give this part to your Foster Carer(s) ALL ABOUT ME 12

13 YOUR NOTES Keep this part somewhere safe 13

14 COMPLAINTS 14

15 HOW ARE YOU? It can be difficult to explain how you are feeling when things are bothering you, or when things aren t going well. Use this form to tell us how you are feeling. If we receive one of these forms from you, we will be able to make sure that you are ok and see if we can do anything to help. Don t forget, you can also use this to tell us when things are going well. Tick the box under the right symbol and send the form back in the stamped addressed envelope provided; or a photo of it to the Children s Champion at champion@nextstepfostering.org My name is:.. I am feeling good I am NOT feeling good 15

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17 USEFUL CONTACTS 17

18 USEFUL CONTACTS 18

19 STATEMENT OF PURPOSE The Purpose: To give young people in care the stable and nurturing childhood they deserve so they may grow into confident, positive members of society. The Business: Recruiting, training and supporting professional Foster Carers who are committed to providing young people with positive, nurturing family homes and positive childhood experiences. The Values: Working with honesty, respect, understanding, integrity, dedication and compassion. All children should be treated as individuals and supported to achieve their full potential. Since 1988, Next Step has been committed to providing the best possible outcomes for children in care. In 1995, we responded to the need for more families to care for children and the fostering service was developed. Next Step has been providing high quality fostering services ever since - making positive nurturing foster placements with professional foster families. By providing our Foster Carers with comprehensive training and professional monitoring and support, the Next Step Fostering Group aims to provide a complete fostering service - tuned to the needs of young people and their foster families. The Next Step Fostering Group is child-focussed and we only promote those individuals with a child s interest firmly at heart, to become Foster Carers. We ask that our carers have the insight and motivation to develop their skills and to meet our professional standards of excellence. The Next Step Fostering Group recognises that many of the children that we look after will not be able to live within their birth families for much of their childhood. Therefore we strive to involve birth parents as much as is possible, and where appropriate ensure bonds can be maintained. 19

20 OUR OFFICES Next Step Fostering Group Head Office: Wrens Hill House, Rushett Lane, Norton, Faversham, KENT ME13 0SH T: E: Local Branches: Croydon - Selsdon East London/Essex - Romford T: T: E: info@nextstepfostering.org E: info@nextstepfostering.org Norfolk - Thetford North East London - Wanstead T: T: E: fostering@safehouses.org E: info@ryancarefostering.com Thames Valley - Taplow T: E: info@nextstepfostering.org T: E: info@nextstepfostering.org W: nextstepfostering.org T: E: fostering@safehouses.org W: safehouses.org T: E: info@ryancarefostering.com W: ryancarefostering.com The Next Step Fostering Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children & young people and expects all staff & foster carers to share this commitment. All information correct at time of going to print.