Have your say

Consultation on Pupil and Parent Guarantees

The DCSF is currently consulting on the Pupil and Parent Guarantees. This is a document describing the entitlements for pupils in schools and also the entitlements for the parents of pupils. The Fostering Network will be feeding back on this paper, but you are encouraged to have a look at it and feed your thoughts back too. If you do respond, please do send a copy of your response to raina.sheridan@fostering.net.

Consultation on Scoping Fostering Practice Guidance

The Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) is currently reviewing nationally produced good practice guidance relating to fostering in England. Practice guidance includes information intended to support fostering services, foster carers, and the range of other professionals who work with them. It may have been issued by the Government, or by reputable professional bodies such as the Fostering Network, BAAF or others.

Fostering services are invited to respond to this consultation through a short survey. There are 10 questions about guidance which we hope are easy to follow. It will be especially helpful if you can identify any aspects of fostering where there is a lack of adequate national guidance and where additional good practice guidance would be useful to local authorities, fostering providers and/or foster carers. We are also interested in your views about whether any existing guidance needs updating.

There is also a shorter survey for foster carers on the same subject.

This consultation is being led by Simon Newstone (independent consultant) and has been commissioned by the DCSF as part of a wider review of statutory and practice guidance relating to looked-after children. In addition to this survey, there will be focus groups with fostering service providers, national organisations and young people.

Please direct any queries to simon.newstone@fostering.net .

The closing date for responses is 11 March 2010.

Take part in the online survey for fostering services

Take part in the online survey for foster carers

Consultation on Leaving Care – Guidance and Regulations

The Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) are revising the Guidance on the Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000, to meet the new duties inserted into the Children Act 1989 by the Children and Young Persons Act 2008 and to respond to their commitments to transforming outcomes for looked after children and care leavers set out in Care Matters. You can read all the relevant background information and respond directly on their website. Closing date is 18 March 2010.

The Fostering Network would also like to hear from you so that we can incorporate your comments into our response. Please send your three main points to raina.sheridan@fostering.net by March 10th. We would also be pleased to receive a copy of your completed consultation form if you are submitting one.

Understanding the children's social care workforce

The Children's Workforce Development Council (CWDC) have commissioned research on the nature of the children's social care workforce, part of which is looking at the current and potential roles of graduates. CWDC would like to hear from practitioners, employers, managers and graduates. You can participate in the research either by attending one of four regional events in January, or completing an online questionnaire.

To find out more, go to the CWDC website at www.cwdcouncil.org.uk/social-care/research-events.

Consultation on proposed National Minimum Standards for Fostering

Thank you to all who participated in consultations with the Fostering Network about the National Minimum Standards in England. Your response was fantastic!

Our response to the consultation can be read in the Resource Centre. Please send copies of your responses to madeleine.tearse@fostering.net

Delegated responsibility

The Fostering Network has been funded by the Department for Children, Schools and Families to manage a two year project supporting changes in practice around delegated responsibility.

As part of this project we want to hear your views on how decisions are made about the day to day care of children and young people living with foster families.

Find out more on our Delegated Responsibility page.

Financial support for 16-18 year olds

A cross-government review of financial support for 16-18 year olds in England is underway. The Treasury, Department for Children, Schools and Families, Department for Work and Pensions and Department for Communities and Local Government are calling for evidence to support the review.

Download further details on the Government paper: New Opportunities: fair chances for the future

The Fostering Network will be responding so please let us know what you think by emailing raina.sheridan@fostering.net. You can also respond directly to 16-18Financial.SUPPORTREVIEW@dcsf.gsi.gov.uk.