Resources to support foster carers

Care Leavers Strategy 2015 - 2018

When children reach an age where they can leave foster care, we want to give them every opportunity to be happy, healthy and safe and to achieve their full potential. It's important that this change into adulthood is positive and they all have the necessary life-skills, confidence and experience to enable them to thrive. Our Care Leavers Strategy 2015 – 2018 (PDF, 2.6mb)  is supported by a Care Leavers Action Plan (2014-2017) which outlines how we aim to achieve this.

Initial and review health assessments

Every child or young person coming into care must have an initial health assessment. Initial and review health assessments information - for children and young people, parents, carers and professionals (PDF, 341.7kb)  explains this.

Looked After Nurses

Our health team offer health support and advice to children who live in foster care. The nurses can work directly with children and young people, as well as foster carers. 

• The nurses run a monthly social group for girls to offer health advice in a supportive environment. The group is for girls who are aged 7 years plus and the team are happy to receive referrals from social workers or directly from foster carers. 
• The nurses have also started running health drop-in sessions during the school holidays for young people who are due for a health assessment. The nurses are hoping to hold repeat sessions during the school holidays. 

The team continue to offer training for foster carers and would be happy to receive requests for any specific issues that you feel are not covered as part of the existing training programme. 

If you'd like to speak to a nurse, contact the service by telephone on 0191 371 3515. 

The Fostering Information Exchange (FIE)

The FIE is a group on the Local Government Association's knowledge hub, which is a secure online knowledge sharing platform. It enables users to create connections to peers and experts in their fields of interest, share learning, experiences and ideas. Membership is particularly welcomed from foster carers.

For details of how to join the hub please visit the Fostering Information Exchange.