How we will support you

Practical

Before, during and post assessment, post approval and post order, we will support you in any way possible with practical tasks to help with the functioning of your new family set up. Whether this be making sure you have the right benefits in place, housing applications, nursery funding applications, school applications or the latest advice and guidance for a child’s health and development. If we do not know ourselves directly, we will be able to find a service who can support you.

Post order, where needed and deemed supportive, visits will be undertaken and interventions can be put in place to help with areas of difficulties or concern, such as managing behaviours or education.

Emotional

We recognise that, stepping up to being a kinship carer and looking after someone else’s child during time of crisis and the months following is a huge commitment and can be emotionally difficult. That’s why we are committed to making sure you are supported.

You will have your own worker to complete your assessment, we will provide you with all relevant information in a timely manner regarding our processes and decision making, we will be on the end of the phone so that you can voice any worries but equally share your wins and happy moments and we will visit regularly to make sure you have time and space to ask any questions and feel listened to.

Following assessment and post order we are always on the end of the phone to speak to. We will listen to you, try and help you and where necessary come and visit you to make sure you are ok. If needed, we can signpost and refer to other services to make sure the right service is helping you and your family.

Finances

We will aim where possible to match our in-house fostering allowances for all carers where care proceedings have had to be initiated in relation to the child or young person.

We will consider matched discretionary allowances where this is deemed appropriate for you and your family considering your circumstances.

We will complete means test financial assessments on all kinship arrangements as a result of private proceedings and will consider discretionary allowances to support the child remaining in your care.

For private fostering arrangements we will encourage the parents (parental responsibility holders) to support you financially and support you in applying for the relevant benefits.

Therapy

We are dedicated to applying for funding via the adoption and special guardianship support fund by having an allocated part time social worker employed to complete these assessments with yourselves to make sure children who meet the ASGSF criteria get the right therapy at the right time. We will work with therapeutic services to devise the right package for children and make sure this is regularly reviewed and reapplied for in a timely manner where needed.

For those children who do not meet the criteria for ASGSF but where therapeutic needs are identified during the assessment or post any order, we will identify and refer to services within the council and our commissioned services to establish a package of support and to put this into place.

For information on benefits, welfare rights or financial advice visit the Derby Advice page.

For information and eligibility on free funding childcare hours, tax free childcare, visit GOV.UK - Free childcare for working parents.

For more support and information on kinship charity, training, coffee mornings, 24/7 support visit the Kinship website.

For support around family time, venues, separations, changes in relationship:

• Derby Child Contact Centre - NACCC
• Child Contact Centre - Women’s Work
• Family Mediation Council

Diversity and heritage

We value you and your family’s background. We are committed to seeking and identifying your strengths and we will work with you to make sure we understand who you are, your beliefs, culture and your identity.

We will do this by:

• supporting you in celebrating special moments and occasions as a family
• listening and learning from you
• guiding you to allow you to give the care that's needed which reflects the child or young person’s unique identity and heritage
• developing your confidence
• valuing you and understanding your uniqueness
• celebrating your language, special days and events
• take the time to talk with you and your family to understand your culture and identity

Fairness

All kinship carers have the right to be treated fairly in all circumstances. So, we will:

• ensure open, honest and clear communication verbally and in writing
• ensure that you are treated with respect, kept informed and given emotional support from your assessing or supervising social worker
• provide independent support from Fostering Network or Kinship Charity if you want it
• ensure that you know the arrangements for the payment of fees and allowances
• give you feedback following and ensure you have the opportunity for your views to be heard at our internal panel processes
• we will provide advice should you wish to make a formal complaint to the council
• attend meetings and work with all agencies involved with the child such as schools, health and religious establishments
• be committed to working with the parents and other people significant to the child or young person
• respect confidentiality
• contribute by supporting training, mentoring and support groups
• meet the standards, regulations and guidance set out by the Government and follow departmental policies and procedures