Relaunch for foster carers group
A group that tackles the problems faced by foster carers across the county has been relaunched with a plea for more people from the North Warwickshire area to join.
The Warwickshire Foster Carers Group meets every twelve weeks to discuss issues that are arising in the field of foster care around Warwickshire.
Six weeks after the group meets, they hold a further meeting between their representatives and upper level management at Warwickshire County Council to feedback their findings and thoughts.
There are around nearly 300 children being looked after in Warwickshire by approximately 280 carers. 111 of these are in the Nuneaton and Bedworth and North Warwickshire area by 113 carers.
These meetings have lead to many advances in supporting foster carers in Warwickshire. The group’s remit is to raise broader issues rather than simply tackling individual members’ problems.
Among the changes the group have helped to bring about or are working towards are
a sitting service where carers can get respite by using one of a pool of approved and checked carers
NVQ training for foster carers
grants for extensions to homes taking more than one child or adaptations if needed and
identifying need for a pool of people carriers in case fostering means that families’ cars are no longer big enough
The group is always looking for new representatives, particularly in the North Warwickshire area. Any current foster carers who would like to join the group and feed in any problems relating to their area should call Eithy Owen, acting chair of the group on 01926 853912.
Mary Joyce, of Nuneaton, is a foster carer and one of three representatives from the Nuneaton and Bedworth borough. She said: “The group is a good opportunity to feed issues into the county council management from grass roots foster carer level. We can have an input into policy that way and get support to tackle any issues that arise.”
Councillor Izzi Seccombe, portfolio holder for children’s services with Warwickshire County Council said: “This group plays an invaluable role in keeping officers informed of issues in foster care which helps them enormously. When council officers come to decide policies and priorities, it is extremely helpful to be given information and guidance from the very people who they are looking to support. This is another example of excellent practice and further reason to be proud of the wonderful group of people who give some of the county’s most vulnerable young people something resembling a normal life.”
The service which provides training for foster carers had further good news in a recent inspection by City and Guilds which saw Warwickshire’s Foster Care NVQ Assessment Centre receive straight As across the board. The external verifier commented: “Overall congratulations should go to the team for its continuation of high standards.”