Foster Care Campaign
Moving to a new foster placement is never easy. How can Foster Care be better? We asked care experienced Young People to say how Social Services can improve foster placements. Based on what they told us A National Voice developed a campaign which aims to achieve the following.
That before going to a new foster placement:
- All Young People are given the opportunity to visit placements, and are able to see the placement and meet the people who live there before moving in, except for emergency placements.
- All Young People are made aware of expectations and boundaries.
That during a foster placement:
- Young People are given useful Contacts and info when in a placement, this includes the filo-fax or file idea that is practised in some Social Services.
- Young People are encouraged to use and have easy access to Advocacy Services, particuarly in their statutory review process.
- All Young People are given access to and are encouraged to join In-Care groups locally, regionally and nationally including A National Voice.
- Young People are given the same access to consultations and involvement as those Young People in Residential Care and are encouraged to use them.
That when leaving a foster placement:
- All placement changes are accompanied by an ex-placement Contact Plan and that Contact Plans are in place prior to leaving that placement, especially when Young People leave placements where foster-siblings are.
- No Young Person when moving within care or when leaving care moves with their possessions in bin-bags.
We welcome your feedback and suggestions on how to further this campaign »