Foster carers throughout Cumbria will now have access to increased support and advanced training thanks to new foster care standards which will be launched on Thursday 8th May in Penrith.
The event at Roundhorn Hotel between 10.30am and 2.30pm has been organised by Cumbria County Council's fostering service to introduce new training, support and development standards to foster carers. The new standards have been launched by the national Children's Workforce Development Council (CWDC) and mean foster carers in Cumbria can develop their skills.
Anne Hood, Fostering Service Manager, said:
"The fostering service in Cumbria welcomes these new standards, which are challenging agenda designed to improve the well being of children and young people in Cumbria. They provide an important opportunity for foster carers to work with our staff to evidence their many skills and abilities in caring for our looked after children. They also provide the framework to further develop our training programme, which currently runs throughout the year."
Cumbria County Council was one of the first counties to take part in a field trial before the national launch. Susan, one of nine foster carers who took part in the initial trial, said:
"I have been fostering in Cumbria for six years. I have fostered seven children aged between a few days and 6 years old. Although we only completed the first of the seven standards, it helped my husband and I strengthen and supplement our learning of the legislation involved in bringing a child into care. I feel that knowledge is power and it helped to empower us to be more of an advocate for the children we care for."
Helen Smith, Head of Child and Family Care at Cumbria County Council, said:
"We have some fantastic and committed foster carers in Cumbria and I am delighted that Cumbria was selected to pilot these standards."
ENDS
Please note: Cumbria County Council's media team telephone numbers have now changed.
Media enquiries to Gareth Cosslett, News Manager on 01228 226332
Notes
The CWDC launched the 'Standards for Foster Care' in 2007, with a requirement that all new foster carers have a development plan in place from April 2008. Foster carers who are approved from this date will be required to complete the CWDC Standards within one year and for existing foster carers this will be extended up to 2011. Foster carers invited to the event will be introduced to the standards and the impact they will have on training and development will be explained.
Media wishing to cover the event should pre-arrange their attendance with the county council's media team