Support For Carers
Each carer is allocated a supervising social worker. All of its social workers hold a recognised social work qualification. The supervising social worker will respond to the needs of the children and carers, to whom they are linked. There is regular communication between the Agency's supervising social worker and the children's (local authority) social workers and the Agency Manager. This enables those responsible to be kept fully informed of all important matters concerning children for whom the Agency has a responsibility.
We believe that a high level of support to foster carers is a prerequisite to successful outcomes, when caring for children. Such support is not only welcomed and valued by carers but it also enables issues pertaining to the well-being of those in their care and issues relating to the carers themselves, to be addressed promptly and for input to be appropriately provided.
The minimum level of support provided by Children First for our carers includes weekly telephone contact, fortnightly home visits and 24 hour on call emergency service. In addition, carers are encouraged to contact the Agency at any time the need arises. Planned breaks are also built in as part of our support to carers.
