A new way to Foster Opportunities, Care, Understanding and Support to the children that need it most.
As the Local Authority Fostering Service, we truly understand the needs of our children and the many benefits and successes of being cared for locally.
Like all Local Authorities, we are seeing a significant increase in the need for family placements for teenagers. As such, we want to enhance the support we offer to this specific group of children and explore how their needs can be best met within our OFSTED rated outstanding fostering service, rather than with external, residential care providers, who are often out of county and cannot provide children with a family environment.
Subsequently, we are delighted to announce the launch of our new FOCUS fostering pilot. This is an innovative scheme which has been developed to recruit and support foster carers who specialise in caring for 12–15-year-olds who have been assessed as being ‘at risk’ of entering residential care and are presenting with needs which would usually mean they cannot live in a fostering placement. The aim of this pilot is ensuring that children remain close and connected to their community, network and school, and can be supported within a fostering family environment rather than a residential setting.
Nicola Brangam, Head of Service, Fostering & Adoption, said: “As the Local Authority Fostering Service, we truly understand the needs of our children who need people just like you.
“I am delighted to share with you our new Fostering initiative, FOCUS, which has been developed to enable teenagers to have every opportunity to be fully supported in a family environment, where they will be nurtured, understood, supported and cared for.
“If you can open your heart and home to a Lincolnshire child, we would be delighted to hear from you. Alternatively, please support us in sharing this message far and wide. Together we can really make a difference to the children of Lincolnshire.
“Come and join local foster carers in shaping positive futures for our children”
What’s New?
- We are establishing a new staff team to recruit, assess, support and retain FOCUS foster carers.
- We are developing our extensive training pathway and supporting all foster carers with their continued professional development.
- We are collaborating with wider children’s service teams and seeking greater levels of clinical and forensic support for children and foster carers.
This launch is more than just a new way to foster; it is an opportunity for foster carers to grow and develop their knowledge and skills; for our fostering service to support more children to reach their potential; and for Lincolnshire children to remain close and connected to what’s important to them.
We are looking to recruit 12 full-time and 6 emergency and/or support FOCUS carers and would love to hear from you if:
- You are an existing foster carer who is interested in this scheme and have experience of supporting adolescents and teenagers with complex needs, providing long-term care and stability.
- Are a professional with experience of supporting and/or working with adolescents and teenagers and are interested in supporting a child full-time, in your own home.
- Have parenting or care experience of children who meet these criteria and are looking to support a child within your own home.
Find out more about the FOCUS pilot and how you can help shape positive futures for Lincolnshire children by visiting our website https://www.lincolnshirefosteringservice.org.uk/focus-fostering
