Support Care Network England
Background and history
From 1998 the Fostering Network entered into partnership with Bradford’s Support Care Scheme to promote the development of the service, publishing a 'good practice' manual, running day seminars for local authorities and engaging the interest and support of central government. This work culminated in a first Support Care National Conference at the University of Bradford in 2001. Later that year, Lloyds TSB provided a two-year grant, which funded a series of regional seminars or 'road shows' in which Bradford Support Care was joined by Birmingham’s Neighbourhood Care Scheme. Following on from this, central government funding was obtained for a 3 year project involving 13 local authorities who agreed to take part. The aims of the project were:
- to offer direct advice and support to 13 local authorities who were developing Support Care schemes
- to collate detailed, accessible information that can be passed on to other authorities wanting to set up schemes
- in collaboration with other key Fostering Network staff, to ensure that Support Care remained on all relevant government agenda and was written into the new Assessment Framework.
The 3 year Support Care Project in England came to an end in March 2007, with a well attended conference in Birmingham, which included workshops from some of the pilot projects. Birmingham Neighbourhood Care and Bradford Support Care/Crisis Care set up stalls for sharing materials and offering advice. A full report will be available shortly on the Network website; meanwhile a printed summary can be obtained from the Fostering Network.
The IFP National Forum hosted in London by the Fostering Network in November 2007 featured workshops on Support Care. Attendees were keen to look at ways in which their organisations could develop this service.
Support Care Network
The Fostering Network has dedicated funding to the setting up of a Support Care National Network. Work began on this in early 2008. The network should provide a valuable service for anyone either currently running, or planning to set up a short breaks service for children in need, or for anyone who would like to find out more about the principles and practice of Support Care.
In March 2008 the Fostering Network hosted two seminars on Support Care, in London (12th March) and Leeds (19th March). These offered an opportunity to officially launch the new National Network. It is hoped that attendees will be among the first to actively engage in the development of the network website, so that a truly relevant, lively and up-to-date online hub can be established from the outset.
Ongoing aims
- to help develop Support Care services for children and young people and their families, and to promote the integration of Support Care into mainstream services and support their effectiveness
- to promote the retention of existing foster carers and the recruitment of new carers who are unable to commit to full time foster care
- to promote Support Care within local and national government policy development and encourage its inclusion in social worker training
- to enable local authorities to meet government targets relating to children in need.