What Support Will I Receive?
As a small, family-run and family-focused agency we know all our foster carers, their families and our foster children well.
This is all part of the highly personalised support service we offer. We celebrate birthdays, special occasions and achievements with flowers, gifts and recognition for all our carers, children and staff. In addition, we make welfare visits if you are unwell or facing challenges or loss.
The team at Anchor Foster Care are dedicated to providing outstanding support to all foster carers. Fostering is a challenging yet rewarding area to work in. You start with basic 'Skills to Foster' training. There will also be other on-going training. We provide this to ensure you are able to manage the many hurdles and issues that lie ahead.
You will also benefit from having a support line available to call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can call this if you are experiencing any problems. Along with this, you will also have a dedicated supervising social worker, along with regular visits from support staff.
So what support can you expect
- 24-hour telephone support avaliable 365 days per year
- Backup from Supervising Social Worker (SSW) and Manager on call 24/7
- School activity programmes along with regular children's forums & Christmas activities.
- 6 sessions of therapy or alternative therapeutic input for children if needed. Further therapy can be agreed
- Regular emotional support to the carer's birth children and provision of a Children's Forum
- 25 days paid respite (holiday)
- Continuing development. Empowering careers to manage a wide range of complex and challenging behaviours to help vulnerable children feel secure. Through 'Secure Base and Therapeutic Crisis Intervention' and P.A.C.E (Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity and Empathy) training. These models provide a framework and flexible toolkit for your work
- Mandatory and bespoke training packages for carers, to address children's individual needs
- Regular support through visits. These are done weekly for the first 6 weeks, then monthly. In addition, telephone contact is available daily if needed
- Build social networks and offer social events for carers
- Help with solving problems in placements. This could include help with finance, equipment, transport and escort when carers are unable to drive.
- Regular formal supervision by a qualified Supervising Social Worker in the implementation of each child's Placement Plan
- Promptly paid fostering allowances and fees. Advice available on tax issues
- Free membership of The Fostering Network. This includes insurance cover for all foster carers
- Membership of British Association for Adoption and Fostering (CoramBAAF) which also provides legal, financial and fostering advice
- Liaison with the child's social worker, who is the key worker with overall case management and responsibility
- Assistance in dealing with services including education, health and Out of School activities as part of a delegated authority (including liaising with schools and therapists)
- Assistance with preparing children for independent living, and assessment of skills
- Support with Life Story work for children staying with carers over three months
We are always here to answer any question you may have. Contact us now for more information on what support you'll receive.
