Foster carers are essential to the work of Social Services. Their task is one of the most challenging of those involved in supporting children and families. It is therefore important that they receive proper support. Waltham Forest offers financial and personal support, and training to foster carers to help them in their fostering task.
Financial support - the Payment & Skills Scheme (PASS)
In Waltham Forest, payments to foster carers are linked to 3 Levels according to the experience of the carer. Most new Foster Carers will receive payments at Level 2 of the scheme and will have the opportunity to move up to more advanced levels as they gain more experience and develop their skills through training and hands-on experience. Each Level has a clearly defined set of expectations and tasks which Foster Carers are expected to meet.
Foster Carers have the opportunity to review their Skill Level at their Annual Foster Care Review in discussion with their supervising social worker.
Currently fostering allowances are paid to Carers on a sliding scale according to the age of the child placed and the skill level of the Carer .The amount varies according to the age of the child. The allowances are reviewed every year. The allowance is intended to cover all costs of looking after the child (including hidden ones like household maintenance). It also includes payments for food, pocket money, clothing, presents, travelling, holidays, social activities, heating, laundry, cleaning, toiletry items, telephone calls for the carer and the child, entertaining and insurance. Fostering Allowances also contain a supplement known as "the skill payment" which recognises the time, energy and skills the Foster Carer brings to the task, (this element may be taxable).
Any essential equipment for looking after a child will be provided by the Borough. When you begin fostering, this may include beds, bedding, prams, buggies, and other baby care items, wardrobes and chests of drawers. Other items may be required for specific children and these will be considered at the time of placement. Your Supervising Social Worker can give you more details.
Support for you and the child
The Borough recognises that foster carers look after children who may have been damaged by their life experiences. This will mean that their emotions and behaviour may be difficult to understand and cope with at times. Most foster carers are ordinary people doing an extra-ordinary task. We expect foster carers to need support and help with difficulties, both with the general task of fostering and with particular children. Foster carers have their own supervising social worker. You should be able to talk freely with your supervising social worker about any fostering issue. They can put you in touch with experienced carers and other networks of support. They will also help you identify training needs and help you to find courses and workshops to meet these needs.
A daytime support group for carers is run by on a regular monthly basis as well as evening support groups.
This group focuses on carers supporting each other. It offers a safe place to explore and learn.
The child's social worker is the person with responsibility for the child and the child's care plan. They will have an active role in working with the child and its birth family. They also work closely with foster carers.
The supervising social worker also has a role in ensuring these plans are being met and encouraging the foster carer to advocate for the child.
Out-of-hours telephone helpline
In addition all approved Foster Carers have access to support and advice outside of office hours, at weekends and over bank holidays. This is provided by the fostering services social workers on a rota basis and is backed by a team manager.
Emergency Duty Team
Carers also have access to our Emergency Duty Team of Social Workers if problems cannot be resolved "out of hours".
There is also an opportunity for Foster Carers who are suitably experienced to join the rota of carers providing emergency placements out of hours.
Training and professional development
Everyone has the capacity to learn and grow; we enrich our lives in the process. The assessment process is an opportunity to learn. The assessment groups offer the chance to learn from experienced carers and fostering social workers and other people going through the process with you. Other people in the group may become the foundation of your support network of foster carers. The home visits give one to one contact with an experienced Assessment Social Worker.
After your approval as a foster carer you will be eligible to attend a National Vocational Qualification Course: Level 3. You will also have the opportunity to attend courses and workshops run by organisations such as the Fostering Network, which link in with the PASS Scheme Training.
After approval you will also have the option of using other forms of support (for example the Waltham Forest Foster Care Association (WFFCA) and the Fostering Network.
A great deal of the learning for fostering happens with experience. Each child placed with you will probably teach you something new. This is perhaps the most rewarding aspect of foster care.
Contact us
Fostering and Adoption Service
London Borough of Waltham Forest
1C The Drive
Walthamstow E17 3BN
Tel 020 8496 3000, or
Direct line to Adoption Service on 020 8496 1588
Direct line to Fostering Service on 020 8496 2479
