Support for Foster Carers

• Regular Support Groups
• Tameside Foster Care Association
• Sons and Daughter's Support Group
• Buddy Scheme
• Biscuit Club 
• Unannounced Visits
• The Foster Carer Forum
• The Foster Carer Resource Library
• Duty
• Out of Hours Social Work Team – 0161 342 2222

Regular Support Groups

The Support Groups can be used in various ways.

It can be an information giving and sharing forum. It offers Foster Carers an opportunity to discuss placement difficulties with other Foster Carers within a confidential atmosphere. Guest speakers are invited from time to time who will discuss specific issues relating to the fostering task.

We are particularly keen for new carers to attend Support Groups, as the contacts and networks Foster Carers make in their first 12 months of caring are often the most valuable and useful. We are also keen on your views and ideas of how to make these meetings as beneficial as possible.

Tameside Foster Care Association

Tameside Foster Care Association was formed by Foster Carers.
For further information please contact Donna Thomas at donna.thomas@tameside-fca.org.uk.

Donna recently gave an interview to 'A Stronger Voice' newsletter and discussed forming the Association and their objectives for 2012; to view this article please click on the link below.

Click here to view the article in A Stronger Voice.

Sons and Daughter's Support Group

For more information on the Sons' and Daughter's Support Group then please click this link.

Buddy Scheme

Foster Carers have told us that support from other carers is extremely useful. The Buddy Scheme is where our new carers can contact our experienced carers for advice. If you require further information about the Buddy Scheme, then please discuss with your Social Worker.

Biscuit Club

The Biscuit Club was set up in 2009 by a few of our current Foster Carers. The group meet once a month with the purpose to provide a Supportive and friendly setting to share and talk.

Details of biscuit club meetings are sent out to all Foster Carer households.

Unannounced Visits

The Fostering Service will undertake annual unannounced visits to ensure that we continue to promote the welfare if Children and Young People we care for. A sample pro-forma is appended for your information.

The Foster Carer Forum

The Foster Carer Forum is a consultative group which brings together Practitioners, Foster Carers and relevant professionals. The aim of the forum is to discuss policies and resolve issues which will enable us to provide a better service to the Looked After Children and Young People of Tameside.

View more information about the Foster Carer Forum.

The Foster Carer Resource Library

The Foster Carer resource library is situated next to the Fostering Team room in Hyde Library on Union Street, Hyde.

The library contains a wide range of relevant and useful literature to assist you with the Fostering task including books, leaflets and publicity. There is also a selection of toys and activities for Children and Young People.

The provisions are available to be utilised in the library or taken home for a period of time.

Duty 

The Fostering Service operates a Duty System where a member of staff is on duty at 8.30am until the end of the working day.

A second member of the team will commence back up duty at 1pm through to the end of the working day.

If you have any queries or concerns, the duty worker is available to offer support and advice when your Supervising Social Worker is unavailable for any reason.

Out of Hours Social Work Team – 0161 342 2222 

The team can be contacted for advice, guidance and support during the hours the main Social Work offices are closed, (5.00pm to 8.30am Monday – Wednesday, 4.30pm – 8.30am Thursday and Friday 4pm through to the following Monday at 8.30am. They are also available throughout the Bank Holiday periods.)

If necessary, a Social Worker from the Out Of Hours Team will visit a Foster Carer who is experiencing problems with a child or children in placement.

It is important to report to the above team if a child or children go missing at any time whilst in your care.

As a Foster Carer you must report to the police if a child goes missing. If in doubt, always take advice from the Fostering Service, the child’s  Social Worker or the Out Of Hours Team.

The Police: 0161 872 5050