At Staffordshire Fostering Service we pride ourselves on the amount of support our carers receive. Fostering is not an easy task and having support is essential to help provide high quality placements for children. From support groups for the sons and daughters of our carers to male support groups, we have many support groups to help our carers provide a high level of care for our children in care.
We have dedicated support groups that run regularly throughout the county as well as having a network of informal support groups that take place within our carer’s homes. Our support groups have guest speakers such as health visitors and education staff, as well as structured feedback sessions to enable our carers to share their experiences.
Our support groups are held in Cannock, Tamworth, Burton, Burntwood, Rugeley, Newcastle and Stafford. The support groups include:
- Sons and Daughters support groups Sons and Daughters – fostering affects all members of the family; we understand that the sons and daughters need support; we have a well established support group for sons and daughters as well as regular activities in the school holidays.
- Male Support groups - We value the role of our male carers. Male support groups give our male carers the opportunity to meet up and discuss any issues they like.
- Mentors – Our more experienced carers help newly approved carers throughout their induction into fostering and meet regularly to develop this support
- Foster Care Advisory Groups – a consultancy group for the Fostering Service that helps the service to develop new initiatives.
- Family Link Support Group (family link)
- ‘Caring for Carers’ – Sustain is a therapeutic support group service for children in care and adopted children and their families. Sustain provides locality based specialist therapeutic work, training and consultation around the mental health needs of looked after and adopted children.
