Care Matters : Time for change was published on 21 June. The white paper was produced by the Department for Education and Skills after extensive consultation on the green paper of the same name. It lays out the Government's strategy for provision of children's services in England including the training of foster carers and the new leaving care strategy. For further information see the feature article.
News - July 07
Strategy for children’s services laid out in new white paper
New department for children and families
In the recent Government reorganisation the Department for Education and Skills, which has responsibility for the regulation of children's services in England, has been divided into two parts: the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) and the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS). The DCSF will have a wider brief to tackle child poverty and improving outcomes for children as well as taking over the regulation of children's services and schools. For further information, visit the DCSF website at www.dcsf.gov.uk.
Children's Workforce Development Council produces workbook to help foster carers achieve training and development standards
The workbook was launched on 22 June and will provide the basis for foster carers completing the Training, Support and Development Standards for Foster Care. For further information and to download a copy of the workbook, go to the CWDC website at www.cwdcouncil.org.uk/projects/fostercare.htm
Consultation on the Training, Support and Development Standards for Foster Care
The Fostering Network would like to hear from everyone involved in fostering to help inform the successful implementation of the standards. For further details and to take part in the consultation visit www.fostering.net/news_campaigns/campaigns/consultations.php
New website will provide resources and tools for young people and professionals on leaving care
The website, due to be launched by the National Leaving Care Advisory Service in October, is already worth a visit and contains a selection of references on different aspects of leaving care such as education and health. You can visit the website at www.leavingcare.org.
Academy created to shape strategy for parenting
The National Academy for Parenting Practitioners has been created to inform and shape strategy for parenting. This will take the form of the development and delivery of training courses, an information hub for knowledge and best practice and affecting policy on national and local service development. Foster carers form a part of the parenting workforce and will benefit from the new training courses. For further information visit the website at www.parentingacademy.org.
CWDC consult on governance
The Children’s Workforce Development Council is undertaking on a consultation on the way that it should be organised when it changes its status next year. For further details visit the CWDC website.
