Wider service contribution

These criteria can be evidenced with work undertaken within the wider service.

For Skilled Level you are required to provide evidence for 3 examples.

For Advanced Level you are required to provide evidence of 7 examples.

Your statement should include:

  • the reason for your contribution
  • how it benefitted children with complex and challenging needs
  • how it benefitted other carers
  • how it improved practice within the service in Kent and the wider fostering community.

Please include what you did, who you worked with, when you did it, how long you did it for and the benefit to the fostering service.

Mentor and support other carers

  • The ability and commitment to mentor or counsel other foster carers going through the assessment process or newly approved foster carers.
  • The ability and commitment to mentor or counsel other foster carers facing challenging situations or undertaking peer support for other foster carers subject to a formal allegation or complaint
  • Provide support to carers in specialised areas for example adoption and special guardianship as requested by fostering social worker or the service.
  • Be an active member of Kent Foster Care Association (KFCA), supporting events and initiatives in collaboration with Kent Fostering.
  • Improve or provide opportunities for fostering families or children in care in your area (excluding KFCA).

Promote Kent Fostering recruitment

  • Support Kent Fostering recruitment at recruitment events on at least 2 occasions, for example participating at information evenings or events, information stands, media events.
  • Showcasing and promoting the recruitment of foster carers and the fostering service through social media, word of mouth, direct contact and advertising in your own community and referral of new applicants.
  • Co-facilitate Skills to Foster training or participation at Skills to Foster training participation evenings.

Promote learning and development within the service

  • Co-facilitate foster carer support groups, new foster carer support groups, training events for staff and foster carers.
  • Provide support to other foster carers with training for example IT, completing their Training, Support and Development Standards portfolio, diplomas etc. as requested by fostering social worker.

Contribute to the wider service development

  • Support Kent Fostering with additional roles for example foster carer ambassador, practice development groups, area focus groups, County Advisory Board and other formal identified working groups.
  • Undertake independent (agreed and approved) tasks to improve or support the wider service.
  • Support Kent Fostering through inspections for example OFSTED or be involved with promoting and supporting fostering on a national basis (outside Kent).
  • Be involved in staff recruitment or interview panels for Kent Fostering and the wider service.