Jane Collins
@fostersupportcouk.bsky.social
770 followers 650 following 1.2K posts
CEO of a Not For Profit organisation providing high quality support to fostering families: FosterSupport Ltd Here to raise awareness of fostering and disability issues. https://www.fostersupport.co.uk/
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One of the main issues for children in care accessing mental health services is the "we won't take a referral until they're settled" when in reality the young person needs the referral to enable them to be settled. This refusal leads to more moves with the clock starting again = never being settled.
We are talking about life changing rulings that can determine someone's career and even decisions about their children and right to a family life.
We currently have MPs asking local authorities very difficult questions about their refusal to correct flawed LADO decisions.

The days of refusing to correct unfair life changing rulings are over.
We do not believe that LADO are above accountability.
Can you imagine if judges were allowed to operate with the same arrogance and impunity?

"Yes Mr Smith you're clearly innocent but we made a decision and we're not correcting it even though it’s clearly unsound"

Miscarriages of justice are rightly corrected.
"This LADO is not for turning"

We see this attitude far too often.

Even in the face of overwhelming evidence that a LADO decision is flawed they will cling to it putting their "reputation" above someone's right to a fair investigation.
Reposted by Jane Collins
Article 39 has sent an open letter to @JoshMacAlister, urging an end to care-less accommodation for 16-17 year olds.

No loving parent would leave their GCSE aged child in a caravan alone, or in a hostel with vulnerable adults. The risks are obvious.

#KeepCaringTo18
Yes you really do get to drive your car around the F1 track.

To enter please email [email protected] and tell us how we've made a difference to you and your fostering family.
Lap of Lights
Drive the UK’s only F1 circuit and experience a festive light trail at the home of British motorsport. Book now.
www.silverstone.co.uk
🎉Members birthday giveaway time🥳

Would you like to win a fabulous Christmas treat for your fostering family?

We're offering the chance for you to drive around the Silverstone Lap of Lights.
Lap of Lights
Drive the UK’s only F1 circuit and experience a festive light trail at the home of British motorsport. Book now.
www.silverstone.co.uk
Going back a few years IFAs seemed better in terms of support and fair treatment and I was quoted in media articles saying as much. I'm not sure what's made them change but to be blunt some of the recent behaviour has been disgusting.

Be careful who you foster for.
It may be possible to claim that they're fulfilling a public sector duty but that's an extra hurdle to try and establish. However it is still possible to report IFA social workers to their professional bodies.
We've seen cases of IFAs falsifying records and shocking levels of bullying and dishonesty. The new Public Office Accountability Bill will not hold IFA staff accountable for this as they're not public sector employees.
Local authorities as public bodies are bound by ECHR and can be scrutinised by the Local Government Ombudsman and other regulatory bodies.
I've said this before.

When things go wrong IFAs can and do behave far worse than local authorities.

Why?

Because it's far easier for them to get away with awful conduct.
I've been doing some work with an investigative journalist who contacted me.

They're looking at private equity in fostering.

I've put them in touch with some foster carers who have been treated appallingly by various IFAs.
Reposted by Jane Collins
'She doesn't get another childhood': More than a thousand disabled children across the UK are waiting for specialist wheelchairs and mobility equipment that could transform their lives, charity Whizz Kidz says. www.bbc.com/news/articles/cm...
'She doesn't get another childhood': The lives on hold waiting for wheelchairs
More than a thousand disabled children are waiting for wheelchairs and equipment that could transform their lives, Whizz Kidz say
www.bbc.com
Thank you to all of the fostering services who are listening and rising to the call for change.

It can only help retention and stability with improved outcomes for children.
Personally I am finding a shift around the country where support and fairness is far more prevalent in local authority settings than others.
a non accusatory manner with the service also taking responsibility for any learning on their part. This is making a difficult process easier to move on from for our members
I've actually been really impressed with the way the service manager has opened these meetings and put the foster carers at ease. The meetings have been positive and supportive and even when areas for learning and development have been identified it has been approached in
I've attended a few Bradford fostering service allegations and standards of care meetings recently.