Fostering Service Statement of Purpose

The Stockton Family Placement Team, working closely with the regional recruitment hub, Foster with North East (FwNE), are responsible for the recruitment and assessment of all prospective foster carers. The responsibility for the recruitment and assessment of prospective supported lodgings hosts and assessment of kinship foster carers lies solely with the Stockton Family Placement Team. The aim of the Family Placement Team is to provide high quality, diverse family placements, which meet the needs of children and young people.

Our goal is to ensure that children and young people enjoy a safe, healthy childhood and young adulthood, built on happy memories and loving relationships, where they are encouraged and given every opportunity to achieve in all areas of their lives. Where appropriate young people will be encouraged and supported to remain with their former foster carer under a 'Staying Put' arrangement, once they reach adulthood.

The Fostering Service objectives are:

• proactively recruit, prepare, assess and train foster carers and supported lodgings hosts from a diverse range of backgrounds, who can meet the holistic needs of children and young people in our care
• where possible, place children with carers who are connected to them by virtue of being a family member or friend. These foster carers will be assessed, trained and supported by workers who have specialist experience of working with kinship foster carers. Kinship foster carers will receive the same level of supervision and support as an unrelated foster carer
• listen to children and young people and consider their views when planning for their care
• where possible, and where it is consistent with the child's best interests, support siblings to live together
• consider a child or young person's age, gender, ethnicity, religion, culture, disability and language as well as their personal experiences when identifying care arrangements and matching children to carers
• promote family time for the child or young person with his or her birth family throughout their placement
• work in partnership with professionals and other significant people in a child's life to identify, maintain and support the child
• offer all foster carers' regular supervision, support and opportunities for training and development
• ensure foster carers make children and young people aware of their rights and the complaints, compliments and advocacy process by providing the relevant information
• work in partnership with Independent Fostering Agencies to identify suitable homes for children
• value our foster carers, by celebrating and recognising their ongoing contribution to the Family Placement Service
• ensure that all practice promotes equal opportunities and values diversity of children, young people and carers regardless of gender, sexual orientation, ethnic background, age, religious beliefs, disability or marital status
• ensure that any decisions are transparent and fair, that any concerns are addressed and information about the complaint's procedure is made available to all
• provide a seamless service for foster carers who go on to offer 'Staying Put' arrangements to young adults
• provide a seamless transfer for Supported Lodgings Hosts to the Supported Accommodation team following approval
• promote team training and personal development for staff