Introducing The Skills to Foster Assessment

1. Introducing The Skills to Foster Assessment

2. Why develop new materials? • Professional requirements of foster carers • Opportunity to tie closely to TSD Standards • Recognition of sons and daughters’ role • Importance of support networks • Importance of foster carers helping to improve children’s educational outcomes • Competencies outdated & confusing term

3. Development of the Skills model • Research into what’s currently available • Feedback from LA fostering managers • Feedback from fostering assessors • Advisory group (Gloucestershire, Bolton, foster carer) • Developed by experienced fostering assessors • Ongoing field studies • Updates provided as necessary to CD Rom

4. Development of assessments The psychodynamic approach: • narrative style • social history – alerts to gaps • family history – opportunities to discuss difficulties and coping strategies • family dynamics / interaction • identification of unconscious motives

5. Development of assessments Disadvantages of psychodynamic approach: • Not objective • Unequal power relationship • Unlikely to prepare applicant for the fostering role

6. Development of assessments Task centred approach (1990s) • Lead by major abuse and child death enquiries (Staffordshire Pindown ‘90, Utting Report ’97) • Shift from motives to exploring abilities & skills • More objective • Involved applicants more • Applicants more prepared for the role

7. Brighton & Hove Findings 2001 • Insufficient information • Failure to analyse information • Inadequate corroboration • Critical information overlooked • Partiality of referees • Omission of medical details

8. Brighton & Hove Recommendations • Compile a chronology • Certificates of birth, marriage, divorce, residence • Distinguish self-reported vs independent evidence • Verify employment/student status • Choose referees from 6, from different periods • Separate references for each applicant • Interview ex-partners

9. Advantages of the Skills model • Closely linked to TSD Standards (assessment report form cross referenced) • Addresses Brighton & Hove recommendations • Addresses Every Child Matters outcomes

10. Advantages of the Skills model • Acknowledges importance of exploring history in safeguarding and understanding attachments • Requires analysis and verification of evidence

11. Advantages of the Skills model • Ensures more objectivity • Evidences if applicants meet a standard or not • Involves applicants in the process

12. Advantages of the Skills model • Takes greater account of sons and daughters’ views • Requires closer examination of support networks • Importance of foster carers as good role models

13. Advantages of the Skills model • Addresses literacy levels of applicants • Assesses attitudes to learning & development • Encourages promotion of leisure activities

14. Advantages of the Skills model • Reinforces the professional tasks of fostering • Accepts applicants are not a ‘finished product’

15. What’s new? • Combines the narrative and task-centred styles • Encourages verification of statements by other sources of evidence – observation, training • More rigorously assesses attitudes to learning and development

16. What’s new? CD Rom • Initial Personal Development Plan • Support network interview questions • Chronology format • updates and additions

17. What’s new? Stand alone Family Profile section • Useful for matching purposes • Description of lifestyle/activites/routines • Hand written

18. What’s new? • Up to date Skills list tied to TSDS • Links with The Skills to Foster training to cover 70% TSD Standards

19. Thank you Assessment materials developers Chris Priestman NW Regional Consultant chris.priestman@fostering.net Lynn Woodhouse NE Regional Consultant lynn.woodhouse@fostering.net www.fostering.net