Date post: | 24-May-2015 |
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Health & Medicine |
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@vicfostercareFoster Care (Victoria)
KATIE HOOPER
Foster Care Association of Victoria
Creating a sustainable carer pool
@vicfostercareFoster Care (Victoria)
Foster Care Association of Victoria
• Information – via our newsletter, info sheets, website and through training sessions we facilitate.
• Support – via our telephone services (CISS) which offers information, listening and advice navigating the system.
• Advocacy – with the system, government, speaking at conferences and submitting responses to papers.
We are the voice of Foster Carers in Victoria. We provide information, support and advocacy
@vicfostercareFoster Care (Victoria)
Foster carer recruitment
What the essential attributes of a carer are…
What the profile of a current carer is…
Where the opportunities are by the way of current enquirers…
What the key motivations are of carers….
@vicfostercareFoster Care (Victoria)
Through interviewing current carers and Victorian CSO’s, SIG note that the essential person attributes include a person who is caring, committed and resilient. CSO staff also identified “willing to learn” as important.
Essential attributes
@vicfostercareFoster Care (Victoria)
Profile of the majority of current carers in Victoria
• Predominantly female
• 35+ years of age
• Married or in a relationship
• Employed full time, with some household duties
• Annual household income upwards of $76,000 (44%) or less than $40,000 (26%)
@vicfostercareFoster Care (Victoria)
Profile of the current enquirers
• Larger proportion of males making enquiries about Foster Care
• Slightly younger people (more than 18-34 years)
• More in employment
• Wealthier
@vicfostercareFoster Care (Victoria)
Both reports found motivation to be a carer was re: focus on children
• “that foster care has a positive impact on children”
• “that being a foster career gives something back to the community
Both reports note a wide variety of ways people heard about Foster Care
• Word of mouth is still very popular
• Internet is now a common medium
Reason Vic Carers leave
• Dissatisfied with the system
• Financial pressure
@vicfostercareFoster Care (Victoria)
RetentionSatisfaction and Creating a sustainable carer pool
@vicfostercareFoster Care (Victoria)
Comprehensive framework is one that includes the
following 4 components:
1. A clear and timely Pre accreditation training and assessment package
2. A clear information pack on accreditation
3. A well articulation framework of support and planning during placement
4. Annual carer review
@vicfostercareFoster Care (Victoria)
Information pack on accreditation
Includes three documents:
1. Welcome pack
2. A contract, service agreement or position description
3. Manual
@vicfostercareFoster Care (Victoria)
During a placement there should be support and
planning offered. This comes in 4 categories:
1. Catch ups – this could be via phone, text, email or in person. 2. Formal Supervision – this would normally be a face to face meeting. It is
an opportunity to reflect on the caring experience and the carers developmental needs.
3. Care Team Meetings – Care Teams are led by the Foster Care agency and the Care Team processes specifically focus on ensuring that the child’s day-to-day care needs are met.
4. Case Planning – processes are a sub-set of the overall Child Protection related Case Planning and Case Management processes.
@vicfostercareFoster Care (Victoria)
Values
Honesty, trust and respect create the foundation for building competency, confidence and resilience in carers; they are the values that strengthen the carer's capacity to care well.
@vicfostercareFoster Care (Victoria)
Other things to think about...
Financial Support
Therapeutic Support
Comprehensive training strategy
@vicfostercareFoster Care (Victoria)
KATIE HOOPER
Foster Care Association of Victoria
www.fcav.org.au