Scottish Government

CHAPTER 8: FOSTERING SERVICES, INCLUDING KINSHIP CARE - PLANNING FOR THE NEXT 20 YEARS

This section of the consultation asked for views on the longer term challenges to fostering services in order to ensure that fostering and kinship care play a central role in meeting the needs of children and young people. This section of the consultation dealt with planning for the future in a series of 15 questions under the headings:

• Developing a wider role for foster carers and kinship carers;
• The recruitment and assessment process;
• Training, learning and development;
• Fostering support services; children's services partnerships;
• Inspection and regulation.

8.1 DEVELOPING A WIDER ROLE FOR FOSTER CARERS AND KINSHIP CARERS

Question 18. Do you think that foster and kinship carers should become more involved in prevention and early intervention work?

8.1.1 As can be seen from chart 8.1, 66 consultees answered yes; 9 answered no, 6 gave a qualified answer and 30 did not give a definitive answer.

Chart 8.1 Whether foster and kinship carers should become more involved in prevention and early intervention work (n=111)

8.1.2 Only 2 event reports gave an indication of support or otherwise for question 18. At one event for foster carers, 22 attendees said yes while 8 said no. Ten attendees at a kinship carer event said yes, with no-one saying no. Questions 18 to 20 were covered at events for foster and kinship carers but not at those for practitioners.

Question 19. If you answered yes at Q18, do you think their role could include helping children/young people and their families remain together in the parental home?

8.1.3 As can be seen in chart 8.2, 54 consultees answered yes; one answered no, 16 gave a qualified answer and 44 did not give a definitive answer.

Chart 8.2 Whether role of foster and kinship carers could include helping children/young people and their families remain together in the parental home (n=111)

8.1.4 Again, only 2 event reports gave an indication of support or otherwise for question 19. At one event for foster carers, 19 attendees said yes while one said no. Six attendees at a kinship carer event said yes, with no-one saying no.

Question 20. Please tell us below about any specific examples of good practice you are aware of involving foster and kinship carers in prevention and early intervention.

8.1.5 Consultees took the opportunity to comment on questions 18, 19 and 20 with the key theme to emerge being that kinship should, or in some cases is, the first port of call. Comments from 25 consultees included the need to acknowledge and support those families trying to help. These consultees, along with attendees at 4 events, commented that families are best placed to provide assistance to other family members in difficult circumstances. "Kinship carers should be the first call made in prevention and early intervention. Families should be the first consideration in seeking a solution." (carer's group) This was the key theme to emerge from all 3 individual sub-groups.

8.1.6 Respite care featured in 23 responses; this included the need for carers to provide weekend, day or shared care; this was the key comment from local authorities and from voluntary /charity organisations. Foster carers at 3 events also felt carers should provide respite care with one mentioning "probably yes for kinship carers, respite, providing break for parents - balance respite with realistic care for children in own home".

8.1.7 Again, the need for extra finance to support kinship carers, and the associated costs of providing support, was mentioned by 6 consultees on this occasion.

8.1.8 Looking at examples of carers providing support, 10 consultees commented that providing support in the birth parent's home, or by telephone, can be a very useful method of supporting families. Foster and kinship carers at 3 events also mentioned this type of support. However, the legal status of care at home services was seen as in need of review; 10 consultees raised concerns over the extra registration and inspections needed to provide this service as well as the extra cost to local authorities. "There are some legal restrictions currently on the use of a foster carer going out to support children and parents in their own home - it would be helpful if this could be addressed." (local authority)

8.1.9 Consultees saw the need for foster carers to receive extra training to enable them to provide support wherever needed or appropriate. This theme emerged in 6 responses and at 2 events. Six consultees also felt that managed contact was an effective support mechanism with carers providing role modelling to birth parents or preparing the child for returning home. Foster carers at 3 events also felt this was important. Five consultees wanted to see carers continuing to have contact after the child or young person returns home as did attendees at 2 events for foster carers. There was also a comment, at a foster carer event, on the need for foster carers to maintain a relationship between the young person and their family as they may wish to return to the family after leaving care at 16.

8.1.10 Five consultees felt carers could provide support by teaching parenting or housekeeping skills. This was widely mentioned at events; 5 reports from events for foster carers and one for kinship carers felt carers could provide support in this way. Six consultees and attendees at 2 events for foster carers mentioned that carers could provide support to pregnant or new mothers. "Foster carers can work with 'young mums' - taking role in child's life e.g. babies, routine - foster carer as advisor."

8.1.11 There were 5 mentions from consultees, along with one from kinship carers at an event, of support networks such as the Sure Start programme which were seen as highly effective. Nine consultees felt that family group conferences were useful tools in prevention and early intervention. A childcare charity noted "Family Group Conferencing is most effective if used as soon as any problems are identified that affect a child's safety or wellbeing. For example, FGC is currently used where there are issues of substance misuse, mental health difficulties, behavioural difficulties, offending and so on, in a child's life. The FGC enables the wider family to come together to agree ways in which they can help the parent's) or child." There was support, from 2 consultees and at one event, for the benefits of community care support packages.

8.1.12 Consultees felt that any intervention should be carefully planned; there were 2 comments on the need to ensure that the situation was carefully assessed and that any action taken should be in the best interests of the child. At the kinship events there were comments on the special role kinship carers already play in trying to keep families together, in spotting warning signs and in keeping children safe. Associated with this was the need to provide support to family members in such a situation and this could include social workers paying more attention to concerns of family members or better signposting of available support. There were 2 comments on the need for unannounced social work visits to homes where children have been reported as at risk.

8.2 THE RECRUITMENT AND ASSESSMENT PROCESS

Question 21. What approaches, other than a recruitment campaign, have you used to recruit and retain foster carers?

8.2.1 Question 21 was not covered by attendees at the Fostering Network events and consultation responses on question 21 came predominately from local authorities and voluntary /charity organisations.

8.2.2 Word of mouth was seen, by 22 consultees, as the best method of recruitment; 9 consultees felt that recruitment should be attempted within the family, friends or community. This was the main approach commented on by foster carers. A local authority supported the use of word of mouth as a recruitment tool "Word of mouth continues to be a positive recruitment tool and we are seeking to establish a reward element for existing carers who promote fostering." Various forms of media; press, radio, TV, newsletters and websites; were also seen, by 20 consultees, including 14 local authorities, as a useful tool.

8.2.3 Promotions such as billboards, bus or taxi sides and in shop displays or advertising were suggested by 9 consultees; 3 felt that material promoting foster care should be constantly in the public domain, with comments on the need for a central point of contact for interested parties.

8.2.4 Events could also be used to raise the profile of foster care with 17 consultees mentioning stalls, attendance at events and sponsorship of events as possible aids to recruitment. "We have year round promotional work staffed by foster carers and family placement staff and a yearly planner of promotional events." (local authority)

8.2.5 There were comments, from smaller numbers, on the need to widen the range of people becoming foster carers. Three consultees mentioned extending the upper age limit, attracting more male carers or more younger adult carers.

8.2.6 Three consultees felt that increased professionalisation of the foster carer's role would attract more people to the service.

8.2.7 Comments on retention focussed on the need for appropriate, accessible support with 12 consultees mentioning access to education, therapy, key workers and out of hours support. Five consultees specified access to appropriate training as a good way of retaining carers. A charity expressed the view that "that the single most important factor in retaining foster carers is the support and training that they receive."

8.2.8 Regular consultation with the carer was identified by 8 consultees as key in retaining foster carers; 2 consultees felt that newsletters or other contact would be useful.

8.2.9 Paid respite or other mentions of payment for carers featured in 7 responses; 2 consultees felt that carers without placements should be paid a retainer.

8.2.10 Four consultees stressed the need to ensure that carers feel valued and this included the suggestion of some form of recognition for long service. A local authority noted "Recruitment and retention of carers is further aided through publicity valuing the service of carers."

Question 22. Has your organisation run a fostering recruitment campaign?

8.2.11 As can be seen in chart 8.3, 39 consultees answered yes; 6 answered no and 66 did not give a definitive answer.

Chart 8.3 Whether a fostering recruitment campaign has been run (n=111)

8.2.12 Questions 22 to 24 were not covered at the events.

[If you answered no at Q22, please go to Q25. If you answered yes at Q22, please continue with Q23.]

N.B. Not all consultees followed the routing as stated in the consultation documentation.

Question 23. Following such a campaign, have you met your targets in attracting and sustaining applications?

8.2.13 As can be seen in chart 8.4, 16 consultees answered yes; 11 answered no and 84 did not give a definitive answer, indicating that less than a third of those who had experience of a campaign had not met their targets while over 2 in 5 (41%) had.

Chart 8.4 Whether a fostering recruitment campaign has met targets for attracting and sustaining applications (n=111)

Question 24. Would a national campaign be of benefit to your local campaign?

8.2.14 Thirty-four consultees answered yes; 0 answered no, 6 gave a qualified answer and 71 did not give a definitive answer.

Chart 8.5 Whether a national campaign would be of benefit to local campaigns (n=111)

If yes, please provide details of the type of national campaign you'd wish for

8.2.15 Thirty-one consultees, including 20 local authorities, made general supporting comments that a campaign would be welcome. Most of the comments on this question came from local authorities.

8.2.16 Advertising in various forms of media was recommended by 19 consultees. In the response reporting the views of young people, comments showed that negative publicity may also need to be addressed;

• "Because of bad news reports, people might not want to go into fostering and kids might not want to get fostered.
• Bad press can destroy everything.
• Carers think you'll just get someone who'll wreck your house.
• More positively about fostering, not negativity."

8.2.17 There were other comments from smaller numbers of consultees and these included:

• the need for a high profile for foster caring (3 comments);
• additional funding to attract more carers; this could include financial incentives (3 comments);
• a central point of contact for enquiries (2 comments);
• stalls at events or sponsorship of events (2 comments).

Question 25. What would be the benefits of a more regionalised approach to recruitment and retention, for example a number of local authorities combining on a geographical basis? How could this best be delivered?

8.2.18 Neither question 25 nor question 26 were covered by those attending the events. The comments in consultation responses on question 25 were mainly made by local authorities and was the main question addressed in the response from COSLA.

8.2.19 "There already exists two consortia of local authorities in Scotland in terms of fostering services, the North East consortia and the West of Scotland consortia. Whilst these consortia operate in different ways, they have similar aims and objectives in terms of the mutual support by local authorities offered in terms of adoption and fostering services."Fourteen consultees, including 10 local authorities, commented on the existence of consortia and a regional approach was seen as a good idea by 10 consultees who remarked that this would be more economical by allowing the pooling of resources. There were 6 comments on the need for all local authorities to consider collaborative arrangements.

8.2.20 Sharing resources was seen as important in 9 responses, although there was a note of caution that all parties involved must have an equal footing. In addition COSLA stated "However, the consultation paper implicitly raises the idea that regionalisation might be suitable for other areas of fostering and kinship care work. If there is a suggestion that there will be an imposition of regionalisation of our functions COSLA is likely to resist this actively. In addition to clouding accountability it is likely to create barriers to the local authority resources needed for effective children's services." They did, however, support the idea of developing joint working arrangements.

8.2.21 Specific areas identified, by 7 consultees, where sharing would be useful were in the areas of training and preparation; joint training courses were seen as more economical for local authorities. Six consultees were in favour of joint recruitment campaigns.

8.2.22 There were some concerns over disparities in fees, assessment processes or other aspects of the fostering system; 7 consultees commented that these disparities could lead to problems for introducing a regional approach and 5 felt that there may be a need for different approaches to suit different areas; this may be because of geographical issues or limitations. A local authority commented on an existing consortium "This is problematic when in, for example, the NE Consortia - 8 LAs have 8 different rates of pay, forms of assessment, /adoption allowances, and indeed names for their categories of carers."

8.2.23 Recruitment on a regional basis could increase the pool of carers; this was commented on by 5 consultees with additional comments on the benefits to smaller local authorities.

"The main advantage of such an approach would be the economies of scale provided. However, at present very few councils have carers with vacancies. Some areas are so small that it is costly to do a solo concerted campaign, and prospective carers will often cross boundaries to apply. A pool of carers from more than one council may provide more choice of placements. Preparation costs could be reduced and ongoing training could be organised collaboratively." (public body)

8.2.24 Some (4) consultees felt that the local area is important to carers and that local carers are more preferable, and 3 consultees wanted to ensure that young people are not placed outside their own local area; 4 made additional comments on the usefulness of local advertising.

8.2.25 Three consultees commented that they did not see any benefit in a regional approach and that it may not be appropriate for some agencies or authorities.

Question 26. Do you have any further suggestions or any specific examples of good practice regarding recruitment and retention of foster carers? If so please provide details.

8.2.26 Finance played a large part in responses to question 26 with 18 consultees commenting on various ways to support carers financially which, they felt, would aid retention and help with recruitment. These included; paid training, incentives, bonuses for signing up other carers, pensions and increased fees. This was the key issue raised by local authorities in relation to question 26. One foster carer commented "Have heard of loyalty or bonus payments for long term carers or those who 'sign up a friend'. The attraction to new carers will only be realistically improved in the long term by improving all the terms and conditions as previously outlined (fees, allowances, training, professionalising of the service, etc)."

8.2.27 The use of current carers to recruit from their families and friends or through word of mouth; as well as through providing information to potential carers was seen as an effective method of recruitment by 11 consultees.

8.2.28 Support for carers was also seen as important with 11 comments on the need to ensure carers have access to support whenever needed. This was the main comment provided by voluntary /charity organisations to this question. A public body indicated that "The best way to retain carers appears to be providing support when needed and ensuring they feel valued for the work they undertake with vulnerable children and young people."

8.2.29 Publicising the work of foster carers more widely was mentioned in 8 responses; examples included a poster competition which was reported in the press and the success of a local campaign. Making use of a variety of media; TV, CD roms (such as the one produced by the North East Consortium in conjunction with BAAF), videos, newsletters; was also mentioned with 10 comments in support of advertising. Young people agreed that advertising was a good recruitment tool, as was word of mouth. They also had some ideas about retention:

• "Show them how kids benefit. How the kids can get better lives from being in care.
• Get rid of stigma surrounding foster care
• Involve young people who foster carers have helped
• 'Make it soppy'
• Get young people in care to do presentations
• Show how much they are needed
• Pull those heart strings!"

8.2.30 Again, stalls and a presence at events and community meetings was suggested; on this occasion by 6 consultees.

8.2.31 Four consultees again voiced support for a national or regional recruitment campaign and 3 restated their support for resource sharing amongst local authorities. One local authority was, however, unconvinced of the benefits of a national approach "We are cautious about a Scottish Executive national campaign, mainly because the last one in approximately 1998 was so spectacularly unsuccessful. We wonder, if there is money available, whether it would be better to fund 2 or 3 evaluated demonstration recruitment projects in different areas of the country using everything currently known about best practice."

8.2.32 Three consultees saw benefits in involving young people from within the care system in recruitment. "More young adults who have been through foster care should be approached to help with recruitment campaigns and ideas as they can reflect back on what they gained in life from being in foster care." (charity)

8.3 TRAINING, LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT

The consultation document states that "National Fostering and Kinship Care Strategy will cover training, learning and development for both foster carers and kinship carers."

Question 27. In your opinion, is there a need for mandatory training for foster carers?

8.3.1 Chart 8.6 shows that, on the subject of mandatory training for foster carers, 68 consultees answered yes; 8 answered no, 2 gave a qualified answer and 33 did not give an answer.

Chart 8.6 Whether there is a need for mandatory training for foster carers (n=111)

8.3.2 While this question was covered at events, support was quantified in only 3 reports. A report from a kinship carer event showed 4 attendees in support of mandatory training for foster carers and none against. At one event for foster carers, the report noted 40 attendees had given support with none against. At an event for foster care workers, 28 voiced support for mandatory training.

(If yes, please give details of the topic areas to be covered)

8.3.3 Responses contained a wide variety of suggestions for possible training for foster carers. Child protection and first aid were the areas mentioned most often by foster carers while attachment, loss or resilience training was the area mentioned most by local authorities:

• child protection, this could also include dealing with allegations (28 consultees and mentioned at 2 events);
• attachment, loss or resilience training (27 consultees and mentioned at 9 events);
• child development (26 consultees and mentioned at 9 events);
• safe caring (17 consultees and mentioned at 7 events);
• first aid (16 consultees and mentioned at 9 events);
• managing challenging behaviour, anger management or conflict resolution (16 consultees and mentioned at 7 events);
• record keeping and report writing (14 consultees and mentioned at 4 events);
• supporting education; including IT (11 consultees and mentioned at 6 events);
• therapeutic care for traumatised children; dealing with neglected or abused children (10 consultees and 4 events);
• dealing with substance abuse (10 consultees and mentioned at 8 events);
• health and safety (8 consultees and 4 events);
• dealing with contact, working with parents (8 consultees);
• training dictated by the specific needs of each child or young person (2 consultees and 5 events);
• parenting (3 consultees and 4 events);
• grief or loss counselling (7 consultees and one event);
• inclusion, diversity, discrimination awareness (7 consultees and 3 events);
• understanding legislation (6 consultees and mentioned at 7 events);
• life-story work (6 consultees and 3 events);
• the need for both pre and post approval training (5 consultees and 3 events);
• mental health issues (5 consultees and 2 events);
• training as recommended by the Fostering Network (5 consultees);
• cooking and healthy eating (3 consultees and 2 events);
• advocacy or court skills (one consultee and 3 events);
• communicating with children (4 consultees and one event);
• confidentiality (3 consultees and one event);
• preparation for moving on (3 consultees and one event);
• the needs of looked after children (2 consultees and one event);
• counselling (2 consultees);
• specific training for male foster carers (2 consultees);
• child and family psychology (2 consultees and 2 events);
• racial or cultural awareness (2 consultees);
• sexuality (2 consultees);
• religion (2 consultees);
• finance (2 consultees).

8.3.4 In addition, 7 consultees and attendees at an event stressed that training needs to be flexible; provided at times and in locations that suit the carers. Two consultees voiced concerns that training expectations may discourage current or potential carers. Attendees at 2 events, along with 2 consultees, called for assistance for those attending training. This could include crèche or childminding and expenses to cover the costs of attending. A report from a foster carer event stated "supports need to be in place to enable attendance at training - childcare, transport."

8.3.5 Eight consultees and attendees at 6 events wanted to see a recognised qualification made available to foster carers while 5 consultees and attendees at 2 events wanted to see some form of core or induction training. "Mandatory training is essential to ensure a foundation - SVQ level 3 feels right and topic coverage provided for this level of under pinning knowledge are standard. " (fostering agency). The need for training to be on-going and regularly updated was mentioned by 4 consultees and by attendees at 2 foster carer and 2 worker events. Two consultees and attendees at an event for foster carers felt that training should be mandatory in areas where a carer did not have sufficient knowledge.

8.3.6 One response indicated what young people felt should be compulsory:

Question 27. In your opinion, is there a need for mandatory training for kinship carers?

8.3.7 Thirty-eight consultees answered yes; 34 answered no, 2 gave a qualified answer and 37 did not give an answer (see chart 8.7). Local authorities were strongly against this suggestion.

Chart 8.7 Whether there is a need for mandatory training for kinship carers (n=111)

8.3.8 While this question was covered at events, support was quantified in only 3 reports. A report from a kinship carer event showed 3 attendees in support of mandatory training for kinship carers and 5 against. At one event for foster carers, the report noted 24 attendees had given support with 3 against. At an event for foster care workers, 16 voiced support for mandatory training for kinship carers while 4 felt this was not necessary.

(If yes, please give details of the topic areas to be covered)

8.3.9 Again, consultees provided suggestions on a wide range of possible training areas for kinship carers. However, the main comment, from 22 consultees and mentioned at 5 events, was that kinship carers should be offered training but that it should not be mandatory. This was the key comment given by local authorities and was raised at all kinship events. Four consultees and a report from a kinship carer event expressed the opinion that mandatory training requirements may put off potential kinship carers. In addition, 4 consultees felt that kinship carers should be given financial support to attend training. Again, flexible training options were mentioned; by one consultee and at 2 events.

8.3.10 Eleven consultees thought that training for kinship carers should be decided on a case by case basis with training needs identified for each individual; a public body commented "Kinship carers should be offered the equivalent of non-stigmatising parenting classes and special training on particular needs where appropriate." Attendees at 3 events also expressed this view.

8.3.11 Individual kinship carers made few comments in relation to question 27 but this question was covered at the kinship events with suggestions reported in the form of a list of subjects suggested. The main areas identified as training requirements for kinship carers by consultees and at events were:

• child development (11 consultee comments and mentioned at 3 events);
• attachment and resilience training (8 consultees and mentioned at 3 events);
• child protection (8 consultees and mentioned at 5 events);
• first aid (7 consultees and 4 events);
• managing challenging behaviour (6 consultees and 6 events including all kinship events);
• safe caring (6 consultees and 4 events);
• legislation and legal issues (2 consultees and 7 events);
• dealing with substance abuse (3 consultees and 6 events);
• record keeping and report writing (3 consultees and 3 events);
• parenting and coping skills (2 consultees and 4 events);
• grief or loss counselling (5 consultees and 5 events);
• dealing with contact (4 consultees and 2 events);
• supporting education or understanding current education (3 consultees and 3 events);
• mental health issues (2 consultees and 2 events);
• child psychology (one consultee and 3 events);
• moving on (2 consultees and 3 events);
• lifestory work (2 consultees and 3 events);
• health and safety (2 consultees);
• dealing with abused children (one consultee and one event).

Question 28. Please tell us what kind of training and development opportunities would be most welcome in your opinion (tick as many boxes as appropriate)

Table 8.1 Training and development opportunities that would be welcomed (n=111)

8.3.12 Reports from 3 events; one kinship, one foster carer and one foster care worker event; replicated the grid from the consultation document. The figures in table 8.1 show total numbers of consultees who either completed the grid or who referred to support for one or more of the options in their response. As not every consultee completed every question, assumptions cannot be made that the remainder of the consultees disagreed. The three grids provided by event reports are included in the appendices for reference. It should be noted that we do not have base figures for attendees at each event, however the report from a foster carer event shows larger numbers in favour of mandatory training for foster carers at each of the options with much smaller numbers supporting a mixture of mandatory or optional opportunities for kinship carers. The report from a kinship carer event has a low response to the options for foster carers (only one or 2 at each option) while the main support appears to be for optional training at each of the items. The foster care workers showed more support for the optional 'easier access to SVQ' and 'own local authority's plans' with support for the other options to be mandatory. For kinship carers, there was more support for training to be optional than mandatory at each of the items on the list.

Any other (please specify):

8.3.13 There were relatively few comments given in relation to question 28. Other areas identified were, on the whole, similar to those covered at question 27. The most frequently mentioned were:

• dealing with children who have suffered through abuse (9 comments and mentioned at one event);
• first aid or health and safety training (9 comments and mentioned at one event);
• attachment issues (7 comments and mentioned at one event);
• grief and loss counselling (6 comments);
• safe caring (5 comments and one event);
• dealing with mental health issues (5 comments and one event);
• life and coping skills (5 comments and one event);
• dealing with contact, working with parents (4 comments and one event);
• training specific to the needs of the child or carer (3 comments).

8.3.14 Consultees again took the opportunity to restate their concerns that training must be provided at times, in locations, and in ways suitable to carers. There were 11 comments, 7 from local authorities, on this subject from consultees and one mention in an event report. "Given the home based nature of carers' work, mobile trainers, distance learning could all helpfully be developed. However, our current training resources for carers (human and financial) are extremely limited." (local authority)

8.3.15 Annual or regular reviews could identify any additional training needs as they become apparent; 6 consultees commented on the need to update training or to provide refresher courses. One charity felt there should be "Refresher training every 2 years to maintain skill levels and avoid complacency/staleness."

8.3.16 Support for carers undertaking training was seen as important by 6 consultees, and this included access to child-minding or crèches and payment or expenses for attending training. In addition, attendees at 2 kinship events felt that kinship carers would prefer group training or to attend as part of a group.

Question 29. What changes do you think need to be made to the provision of support services to foster and kinship carers by local authorities, independent and voluntary agencies?

8.3.17 The main change in provision of services, requested by 22 consultees, was for 24 hour support to be made available. This was the main comment made in local authority and in foster carer responses to question 29 and was also mentioned at 4 events. "Access to other support when in crisis, e.g. a more robust system to support carers out of hours, evenings and weekends. Carers often experience out of hours services as 'hands off'." (local authority)

8.3.18 Twelve consultees along with attendees at 3 events asked that each carer be provided with a link worker to provide both regular support and other support when needed. A children's charity stated "A link worker can provide consistency and ongoing personal support and is often highly valued by foster carers as providing continuity throughout changes in placements and placing social workers."

8.3.19 Ten consultees and a report from a kinship carer event felt that support needed to be consistent, adequate to the needs of carers and accessible and 4 stressed the need for partnership working between all sectors and services involved in care.

8.3.20 There were comments, from 9 consultees, on the need for more funding to provide support services and this was also mentioned at 6 events. ""Increased resources: financial and human!" (foster care worker). Funding specifically for the voluntary sector was mentioned by 2 consultees from outwith the voluntary sector and at one event. Recruiting extra staff to ensure stability of contact and to reduce caseloads was seen as important by 8 consultees and at 2 events; this would thus ensure staff are able to provide support to carers. Two consultees wanted to see specialist workers for kinship carers and 2 suggested the provision of a helpline specifically for kinship carers. Three consultees wanted to see better or more communication between social work staff and kinship carers and attendees at 3 events also felt this was needed.

8.3.21 Eight consultees and attendees at an event for kinship carers and 2 events for workers in foster care called for equality with foster carers in the support provided, or available, to kinship carers. A kinship carer stressed the need to "Treat kinship carers equally in all respects, don't treat them as a cheap option to fostering."

8.3.22 Eight consultees wanted to see consistent, clear, robust guidance, and policies on support for carers; this would be included in their terms and conditions. Clear guidance and access to financial support was important to 6 consultees and was mentioned at 2 events. A children's charity wanted to see "Clarity on the financial payments available."

8.3.23 Respite care was again mentioned; by 7 consultees and at 6 events. Some also wanted to see respite activities made available. Respite provision for kinship carers in particular was mentioned at 2 events "Options of respite for kinship carers is essential. Foster carers have this in place"(kinship carer) . Four consultees suggested the provision of therapeutic services for carers such as well-being therapies; this was also commented on by attendees at an event for foster carers.

8.3.24 Specialist services should be available when needed; 7 consultees (6 local authorities and one voluntary /charity organisation) commented as did attendees at 4 events. There were some mentions that this access should be as fast as possible. "Generally, provision of support services to foster carers is good. However, both they and the children placed would benefit from quicker and easier access to CAMHS or equivalent services." (local authority)

8.3.25 The need for training, to be provided free and updated as required, was identified by 6 consultees and at one event. In addition there should be free childcare for those attending training; this was mentioned by one consultee and at 2 events.

8.3.26 Efforts to raise public awareness of the contribution made by carers would be welcomed by 5 consultees. This was also mentioned at an event for kinship carers.

8.3.27 Other changes to the provision of support suggested by consultees included:

• legal support, especially in cases where allegations have been made (3 consultee comments);
• support for birth children (3 consultees and mentioned at one event);
• access to education, including specialist tutors (3 consultees and 2 events);
• involving carers in planning and development (2 consultees);
• clarification of the definition and status of kinship care (2 consultees and one event);
• opportunities for networking (2 consultees and 2 events);
• improved recruitment and retention (one consultee and one event);
• access to whatever services carers felt necessary (one consultee and one event).

8.3.28 Two consultees suggested that local authorities could learn from independent agencies with Aberlour support services given as a good example.

8.4 FOSTERING SUPPORT SERVICES: CHILDREN'S SERVICES PARTNERSHIPS

Question 30. In addition, we want to know more about the extent to which foster and kinship carers and children and young people are involved in the local planning and improvement process. Are you aware of/have you been involved in any such arrangements? If so, have they involved:

(a) children in foster care or kinship care
(b) foster carers and/or kinship carers
(c) relevant independent agencies.

Table 8.2 Awareness of involving children and young people in the local planning and improvement process

8.4.1 Event reports did not quantify the information at question 30, instead giving commentary on details of involvement. Consultation responses on this question came mainly from local authorities.

If yes, please provide specific details

8.4.2 Six consultees, including 4 foster carers, stated that they had had no involvement, or had no awareness, of involving children or carers in planning and improvement. A fostering charity commented "We are not aware of any strategic initiative within Scotland involving children in foster care or kinship care in terms of Children's Service Planning on an ongoing or operational basis. There are some examples of children and young people who have been consulted on a sporadic, issue based basis, or within the confines of the Children's Service Plan when it is reviewed. The same applies to both foster carers and kinship carers and relevant independent agencies." Five consultees agreed that this was underdeveloped but that steps are being taken in some areas to rectify the situation. A local authority said "We have a fairly newly appointed Consumer Involvement Officer and her net task, after child protection, is to improve involvement of looked after children and young people when they undertake reviews of services." There were also comments on the current lack of consultation:

• kinship carers are seldom or never consulted (7 consultee comments and mentioned at 2 events);
• foster carers are seldom or never consulted (4 consultees);
• children are seldom or never consulted (3 consultees and one event).

8.4.3 The main examples of arrangements reported by consultees included cases where Looked After Children were consulted on revised procedures, reviews or plans; 8 consultees (7 local authorities and one voluntary /charity organisation) mentioned that this had happened in their area as did attendees at 3 events. At an event for foster care workers it was reported that children are inadequately considered and that "Falkirk Council are addressing this by including children and young people in the Service Planning process."

8.4.4 Eight consultees had experienced the involvement of carers in meetings or other interaction with providers to discuss issues, policies or plans; attendees at 4 events also mentioned that this happens. Five consultees and attendees at 3 events commented that they were aware of carers being invited to attend focus groups or meetings with local authority representatives and other professionals to discuss their opinions. One foster carer event report noted that "South Lanarkshire Council consulted with their carers on a recent Payment for Skills. All carers views were sought and considered."

8.4.5 Six consultees reported that children and young people are involved in children's services; Aberdeen and West Lothian were given as examples of areas in which children are encouraged to participate. Children 1 ^st, Primrosehill was mentioned at a foster carer event as having consulted young people on developments.

8.4.6 There were 6 mentions of "Who cares?" as an example of encouraging the involvement of children and young people. One local authority reported "This Council offered all children and young people the opportunity to comment on the Who Cares? Scotland report of 2003 in order to complete an audit of those recommendations against what this Council provides."

8.4.7 Four consultees felt that the use of feedback forms and questionnaires was a successful way of allowing carers or young people to put across their views. Foster care workers at one event agreed with this comment.

8.4.8 Young Voice or other forums for young people were mentioned in 3 responses and at an event for foster carers, while 3 consultees and attendees at 3 events wanted to see young people involved in planning meetings and developing services. Two consultees wanted to see children in care and those who had moved on from care involved in developing children's service plans.

8.4.9 Three consultees felt there should be more consultation with foster carer associations.

8.4.10 Three consultees commented on partnership working or other involvement between agencies and local authorities and felt that this should be encouraged.

8.4.11 There were mentions, in 3 responses, that the Foster Carers Consultative Committee involves foster carers in planning and development.

8.4.12 There were two comments on the value of involving young people or carers on fostering panels and 2 consultees mentioned that young people had been involved in developing or reviewing service plans in their local authority area.

8.4.13 At 2 events for foster carers there were comments on policies that are implemented without consultation. This included a ban on foster carers smoking in their homes.

8.5 INSPECTION AND REGULATION

Question 31. Do you think that inspection and regulation arrangements of fostering services and kinship carers are proportionate?

8.5.1 Twenty-five consultees answered yes; 20 answered no, 13 gave a qualified answer and 53 did not give an answer.

Chart 8.8 Whether inspection and regulation arrangements of fostering services and kinship carers are proportionate (n=111)

8.5.2 Question 31 was covered at three events for workers in foster care. One report provided data showing 10 attendees answered yes, 5 said no with 1 undecided.

(Please give reasons for your answer)

8.5.3 Thirteen consultees, including 4 foster carers, felt that the inspection and regulation system is satisfactory and / or appropriate, whilst 12 consultees, including 8 local authorities, and a report from an event for foster care workers indicated that it was too early to say as the arrangements were still in their infancy. "At this time given the relative immaturity of the inspection and regulation processes in Scotland in comparison to the rest of the United Kingdom with specific regard to foster care it is perhaps too early to say whether or not the current arrangements for the inspection and registration of family placement services are appropriate" (fostering charity). Nine consultees and attendees at 1 event said they did not know as they had little experience of the arrangements.

8.4.3 Nine consultees and attendees at one event thought that the inspection and regulation of kinship carers is in need of clarification while 8 consultees and foster care workers at one event perceived fostering as being a priority with kinship not being a significant feature of inspection. Furthermore, 4 consultees felt kinship care arrangements were not well specified, but on the other hand 4 consultees were opposed to the regulation or formalisation of kinship care.

"Children and young people cared for by family and friends who are not "looked after" are not the concern of the Care Commission as do not fall within the remit of public fostering services. Perhaps greater clarification in the Regulations might mean a more equitable outcome for such children and young people." (fostering charity)

8.5.5 Seven consultees and foster care workers at one event felt that the Care Commission focuses on Local Authority and Agency fostering services rather than individual carers, whilst 4 consultees, including 3 voluntary /charity organisations, specifically stated that the inspection process should involve carers more than they currently do. Seven consultees said that the inspections should measure outcomes for children. A charity noted "There are some anxieties, however, that the inspection and regulatory approach is not frequently 'linked' to the actual outcomes for individual children."

8.5.6 Seven consultees thought inspections should take place less frequently than once a year and 6 cited either a lack of preparation time for inspections or the burden imposed in using time resources in preparation for inspections. An individual commented "Many aspects of good practice are not measurable. Danger that energy will be put into performance indicators relevant to inspection at expense of time given to core elements of service delivery"

8.5.7 Other comments by small numbers of consultees included:

• Need to streamline the process in terms of sharing information and avoiding duplication (4 comments from local authorities);
• Inspections should focus on all the standards (3 comments);
• Not all standards should be considered at every inspection (3 comments);
• Need more qualitative data in terms of outcomes (3 comments);
• Inspection methodology may need refined (2 comments);
• Need financial inspections (one comment);
• Inconsistent approach by inspectors (one comment).

Question 32. Do you think that the inspectorates and regulatory bodies currently provide adequate cover for the range of activities undertaken by fostering services and kinship carers?

8.5.8 As can be seen in chart 8.9, 17 consultees answered yes; 27 answered no, 8 gave a qualified answer and 59 did not give an answer.

Chart 8.9 Whether inspectorates and regulatory bodies currently provide adequate cover for the range of activities undertaken by fostering services and kinship carers (n=111)

8.5.9 Two event reports returned figures at question 32. At an event for kinship carers 4 attendees said no. Attendees at an event for foster care workers 2 said yes while 1 said no.

(Please give reasons for your answer)

8.5.10 Thirteen consultees stated that there needs to be more focus on kinship carers in terms of clarifying regulations and legislative impact. This was the comment made most frequently in relation to question 32 by local authorities and was echoed at 5 events. A local authority felt "Current service standards for fostering services are extensive and adequately cover the activities of our fostering agency. A deficit is the lack of a national Kinship Carers scheme that could have clear definition of kinship carers and provide adequate funding to provide these services."

8.5.11 "We would see an advantage in a yearly review to monitor progress for the child and any emerging changes that meant additional support e.g. at times of stress: transition to secondary school, going on to work/college; coping with teenage years; increasing contact with parents." (carer's group) Ten consultees and attendees at 4 events saw a need for monitoring children's progress or outcomes and, additionally, foster carers at 2 events and 10 consultees thought there should be more focus on good practice in service delivery rather than exclusively on procedures and regulations. A local authority commented "The focus during the Care Commission Inspection was on procedure and regulation and not on the whole range of good practice within a service. Wider more in-depth inspection on a less frequent basis would be more productive."

8.5.12 Seven consultees brought up the need to be able to show service improvements as the regulation and inspection processes develop, in order to make undertaking them worthwhile. This was also mentioned at 4 events; 3 for foster carers and one for kinship carers. "It is important to ensure that the introduction of any standards and/or inspection processes will be advantageous to the carers and children and promote an improvement in the service that they receive" (local authority).

8.5.13 Seven consultees and foster care workers at one event felt it was too early to comment on this topic.

8.5.14 There were a large number of comments by only small numbers of consultees and these included:

• Inspections should take place less frequently (5 consultees and mentioned at 2 events);
• Placements should be available for inspections (3 consultees and mentioned at 5 events);
• Funding and resource issues (3 consultees and mentioned at 7 events);
• Carers should be more involved in the processes (4 consultees and 2 events);
• Provision is adequate / satisfactory / appropriate (4 consultees, including 3 foster carers, and one event);
• Agencies and local authorities need to be inspected more (3 consultees);
• Careful consideration is needed of the issues raised by seeking children's views or inputs (3 consultees and 2 events);
• Don't know / don't know enough to comment (3 consultees and similar comments at 5 events);
• Carer's Rights Officer should be appointed (2 consultees);
• Consistency and equity needs to be ensured in measuring or enforcing across all sectors (2 consultees);
• Useful practices could be copied from England and Wales (2 consultees);
• Provision is adequate for fostering services (2 consultees and one event);
• There is not enough cover for private fostering (one consultee and one event);
• Respite carers could be improved (one consultee);
• Transport should have checks (one consultee);
• There is too much duplication / should be a single set of standards (one consultee);
• Rules and regulations tend to be changed without any thought as to implementation (one consultee);
• children need to be allowed to take risks in order to develop (2 events).

8.5.15 Looking at comments on regulatory inspections for kinship carers specifically, these included the need for every placement to be available for inspection; a carer's group felt that inspectorates and regulatory bodies should choose which placements to visit. Two local authorities commented that there no inspectorates or regulatory bodies for kinship carers and a fostering agency made a similar comment. A foster carer felt this depended on the definition of kinship carer being used as did another local authority. Another local authority commented that they were unclear as to what was proposed for kinship care inspection, while another felt "Additional focus on kinship care would raise its profile." There was a comment, again for a local authority, that there is too much duplication; this consultee saw a need for a single set of standards. Comments made at kinship carer events indicate a lack of experience amongst kinship carers of inspections and concern that kinship carers are not covered by current standards; one kinship carer felt this indicated that regulatory bodies are not interested in children in kinship care situations. There were comments that these would be welcomed.