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Advice & Mediation (A&M) Service

With over 15 years of experience, our A&M service provides independent support, advice, and mediation to over 30 Fostering Service Providers. Our dedicated A&M workers and experienced manager ensure we meet the National Minimum Standards and offer a comprehensive service that includes information, emotional support, and mediation. We also offer spot purchase and spot quality assurance services.

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Advice & Mediation (A&M) Service

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  1. Advice & Mediation (A&M) Service • More than 15 years’ experience • Serves more than 30 Fostering Service Providers • Eight A&M workers with extensive experience and relevant qualifications • Independent support service manager with significant experience in Local Authority fostering

  2. Meeting the Standards • A&M service is independent of the fostering service provider • Meets the requirements of the National Minimum Standard (NMS) 22.9 • Further strengthened in the draft NMS which requires the provision of: Information and advice; emotional support; mediation (where needed)

  3. Contracted services • Most comprehensive service for your foster carers and fostering staff • Dedicated A&M worker employed by the Fostering Network • Foster carers have direct access to a confidential service – not just allegations • Speedy response • Recruitment and retention tool • QA through supervision and feedback from users • Comprehensive Annual Report

  4. Service Level Agreement • ‘Preferred provider’ status with individual local authority or independent fostering provider • Pool of appropriately skilled and qualified Independent Support Workers (ISWs) • Support within five working days • Clear referral process

  5. Spot Purchase • ‘As and when’ arrangement • We will provide an ISW as quickly as possible • Pool of appropriately skilled and qualified ISWs • Clear referral process

  6. Quality Assurance • All ISWs properly appointed and checked • Invoices supported by a breakdown of hours worked/tasks undertaken • A closing summary is provided to the commissioner • Feedback is requested after every piece of work

  7. Messages from practice • Last year more than 300 foster carers were provided with independent support from A&M workers and more than 50 through spot purchase • Approximately 25% of the A&M cases involved allegations against foster carers • This proportion has remained roughly the same over the past few years

  8. Fosterline • Almost 20,000 calls from foster carers in five years • More than 10% (over 2,000) of those calls have been in connection with allegations – second highest category • Number has stayed steady at about 400 per year

  9. Messages from research – Vicky Swain ‘Allegations in Foster Care’ (tFN 2006) • Two in three foster carers not receiving independent support following an allegation • Foster carers are not kept informed about process • Time scales too long • Payments system unfair • Need for independent appeals process – but how well is the IRM working?

  10. Feedback from foster carers “We have always had outstanding support from the Fostering Network and we have always been treated with respect and compassion. I do not think we would still be fostering today were it not for your service.” “She (A& M worker) gave me inner strength, I felt like Hercules!”

  11. Feedback from fostering managers “The A&M worker has worked in an admirably even-handed manner to help resolve quite difficult and complex situations, and we have managed to retain some skilled and experienced carers who might otherwise have been lost to our authority” “I feel assured that when I put foster carers in touch with the advice and mediation worker they receive a top rate service.”

  12. Alison KingIndependent Support Services Manager alison.king@fostering.net 01684 562281

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