Best Practice

We know that children need care and support outside of 9-5. That’s why we have a dedicated team of out of hour’s workers who make sure we are able to provide a service to children 24 hours 7 days a week.

I would like to say that the safeguarding hub has transformed our practice and also made our social workers focus on Safeguarding and that they are as skilled in safeguarding as front line MASH workers for example. The confidence that it has brought to social workers and their ability to challenge LA’s is really great to see, as well as the practice of carers.

“Through the out of hours referrals service, I’ve cared for children where it’s been their first experience in care. They’ve got no expectations and you’re kind of just learning together, and that’s been nice.”

When a young person leaves FCA they are provided with a ‘Whilst you were with us’ booklet to celebrate and remember the child and young person’s experiences and memories whilst they were being cared for by FCA. The memories and photographs are made into a booklet that they can keep in their memory boxes and look back on as it is important to recognise the positive aspects of a child and young person’s time with FCA and their foster families.

We are committed to ensuring that our staff receive information from the external landscape on key policy changes, updates, research, case reviews and any learning that might influence our practice. In 2022, the following initiatives were launched/took place:

Policy Watch – An information leaflet circulated to all staff members on a quarterly basis that contains a roundup of all the latest policy changes, updates and research from the external landscape.

Reflection and Improvement towards Safeguarding Excellence. R.I.S.E- A one hour session open to all staff members that takes place on a quarterly basis and covers the findings of 3-4 recently published external case reviews giving attendees the opportunity to discuss, debate and ask questions.

Safeguarding Hub – A dedicated area on the Exchange (our internal communications platform) that contains a wealth of safeguarding resources available to all staff, foster parents and adoptive parents.

Webinars – This included sessions delivered by Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) Awareness and on Knife Crime provided by the Ben Kinsella Trust.

In 2022, Orange Grove Staffordshire held a series of focus groups and workshops for young people on topics such as Internet Safety, ‘Growing Together’ and Healthy relationships. These sessions include a short presentation followed by activities, and gives young people the chance to come together and learn more about the topics. Children have really enjoyed these sessions and given positive feedback.

FCA Thames Valley have teamed up with NCS (National Citizen Service) and covered the cost of the summer programme to ensure that every young people at FCA Thames Valley aged between 15-17 have the opportunity to take part in NCS and other projects. In 2022, this included a one week residential trip and one week social action project. The summer programmes are local to young people and help them to learn valuable skills, meet new people and gain confidence.

Meet Amber… Amber is one of our Keep the Promise Change Officers. In 2022, Scotland made The Promise to care experienced children: You will grow up loved, safe and respected. By 2030, that promise must be kept.

Amber is dedicated to making sure The Promise is kept and has put together a pack which includes a copy of The Pinky Promise (children’s version of the Promise), information about The Promise, children’s rights, advocacy services, inspections and The Care Inspectorate, language that cares and our commitment to brothers and sisters. Amber also meets all the children and young people after they have been placed to talk through these things and explain her role and how they can contact her. In the recent inspection for Fostering People Scotland the inspector picked up on the great work Amber does!