A presentation Jane Asquith and Pat Beesley...CASE STUDY Mrs Applicant is employed as a Nursery Nurse, at a nursery in the town where she has worked for two years. Prior to this she

© British Association for Adoption and Fostering 2002 Should you wish to reproduce or adapt or exhibit in public this material, please get in touch with the Communications Department, BAAF, Skyline House, 200 Union Street, London SE1 0LX. Email [email protected] Charity registration 275689

A presentation Jane Asquith and Pat Beesley,

© British Agencies for Adoption and Fostering 2001

IFCO PRAGUE 2004

Welcome to the workshop

Evidence Based Foster

Carers Assessments

© British Association for Adoption and Fostering 2002

l  Provide information about BAAF and its work in the UK

l  Explain why evidence based practice has become essential when assessing people wishing to provide a service to children and their families.

l  Explore the evidence requirements and detailed information that is collected during the assessment process

l  Explore the ‘competence’ approach and its focus on skills and ability

THE WORKSHOP WILL


The British Association for Adoption and Fostering

l  BAAF operates throughout England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland

l  It has a high professional reputation that is reflected in the funding provided by the Government and by the 440 Local Authorities, Independent, Voluntary and other Care Agencies that make up BAAF’s membership base.

l  BAAF is well known for its professional publications, training, seminars and research and practice leadership.


l  The organisation functions from a multi-disciplinary base. National and Regional, medical, legal and social work groups inform its activities .

l BAAF is the leading organisation with a national voice promoting best practice in both adoption and fostering services for children separated from their families and for individual children in child care matters.

The British Association for Adoption and Fostering


FOSTER CARER ASSESSMENTS

Historical perspective

l  40,000 of the 60,000 children aged 0-17 years who need substitute care each year are placed in foster homes

l  The children come from complex situations, and many are traumatised by abusive experiences or developmentally delayed due to deprivation.

l  Foster Carers are expected to work with the children and young people , their birth families and other professionals

l  They are expected to contribute to assessments, provide reports, attend meetings or court, and work with adopters


FOSTER CARER ASSESMENT Historical perspective

The outcomes for many children placed in foster care have been of concern due to their. l  poor educational achievements l  numbers that become homeless l  poor mental and physical health l  contribution to the prison population l  unemployment l  teenage parenthood This is very significantly higher than in the general population




l  Foster carers have received poor levels of support and turnover has been high.

l  Some children have experienced multiple placement moves l  Some children have received poor standards of care or been

abused by their carers

Foster care has to provide safe and appropriate care to children and young people and promote their physical and emotional development and life skills.

It is now seen as a highly skilled professional task . We need another 8000 highly skilled foster carers .

For many it is their full time paid employment..




l  The assessment of foster carers has evolved over many years it has now developed into a comprehensive process.

l  Throughout the years BAAF has taken a lead role in the development of the framework.

l  The development has been informed by practice and research. l  The majority of the Agencies in the UK use the same model.

l  The model is also used in Adoptions

l  The frame work was revised in the light of recent findings to reflect the need for more evidence based practice.


HOW ARE FOSTER CARERS VIEWED IN YOUR COUNTRY ?

IS IT SIMLAR OR VERY DIFFERENT TO THE UK

?


‘Would I, on the basis of the information I have about these prospective carers, be willing to hand over to them , the care of

my own child?’


Assessment

§  Yes – positive recommendation No – process terminated

I don’t know – further data needed


Thus,

no test is too rigorous and no questioning too intrusive, where the credibility,

honesty and reliability of individuals who wish to become foster carers or adopters

are concerned’


BAAF FORM F

Used By the 98% of UK Agencies

as a guide to the assessment of both foster carers and adopters

and

As the format for compiling and presenting the information collected.


Aim of Assessment

To enable and support confident decision making based on comprehensive

information, analysis and evaluation


Discussion

How much evidence of a persons suitability to foster are

you required to collect when you are undertaking assessments ?


Our Learning Experience


PART 8 REVIEW INTO THE DEATH OF JOHN ANTHONY AGED 4½ YEARS

CONDUCTED BY ALYSON LESLIE FOR BRIGHTON AND

HOVE ACPC 2001 ON 24TH DECEMBER 1999

Findings Flawed basis of assessment Insufficient background information Inadequate corroboration Inadequately ordered information Crucial information overlooked Partiality of referees Failure to analyse information Omission of medical detail


Recommendations – Assessment Process

Distinguish between self reported and independently evidenced information

Compile a chronology · Certificates (birth, marriage residence, driving, divorce etc)

Verification of employment/student status with reference


Referees chosen from a list 6 (reflecting different life periods)

Separate referees for each applicant Standard form for collating

information from referees

* Previous partners (especially

Recommendations – Assessment Process


Essential

Comprehensive checking of applicants’ backgrounds to ensue

the safety of children


Statements They have successfully parented their own children They could deal with a young person who believed they were lesbian or gay

This (white) family would be well able to support a child of different ethnicity

They lead a healthy lifestyle

They don’t believe in gender stereotypes and will feel happy about boys playing with dolls

James (aged 8) is looking forward to having a new brother or sister and he will share his toys with the him/her

This couple would do well with a disabled child


DISCUSSION

Assumptions and Evidence

Finding Out Some Of The Answers

How do you do this now


Making good Assessments 1999

Assessment of families must relate to the needs of children requiring placement and be the foundation

for equipping them for the task.

Our approach must be rooted in the philosophy of what we wish to achieve for children separated from

their birth parents and we must strive for consistently high standards

We need a shared understanding of the criteria by which we assess families


Exercise

What qualities, values skills and knowledge would you want your

prospective foster carers to have ?


COMPETENCE

SO WHAT DOES COMPETENCE MEAN AND HOW DO YOU ASSESS IT

KNOWLEDGE SKILLS VALUES

COMPETENCE

A persons skills and knowledge gained

and their underpinning values demonstrated in action


Competence

The dictionary definition of competence states

“ Having the ability or authority to

do what is required to an adequate – satisfactory level ”

How do we measure competence?


How do we measure competence?

By having a standard of judgment A CRITERION

The Criterion = The job tasks Provides a job description

Criterion = Competencies

A person specification against which the person and family are measured throughout

the assessment process.


CORE COMPETENCES FOSTERING 1. Caring for children l 1.1 An ability to provide a good standard of care to other

people’s children which promotes healthy emotional, physical, and sexual development as well as their health and emotional achievement.

l 1.2. An ability to accept the individual child as he/ she is

l 1.3 An ability to provide care appropriate to the individual child as she/he is.

l 1.4. An ability to work closely with children’s families, and others who are important to the child


CORE COMPETENCES FOSTERING

1.  Caring for children: cont…

l  1.5 An ability to set appropriate boundaries and manage children’s behaviour within these, without the use of physical or other inappropriate punishment

l  1.6 A knowledge of normal child development and an ability to listen to and communicate with children appropriate to their age and understanding

l  1.7 An ability to understand and promote a young person’s development towards adult status.



2. Providing a safe and caring environment •  2.1. An ability to ensure that children are cared for in a home where they are safe from harm or abuse. •  2.2. An ability to help children keep themselves safe from harm or abuse and to know how to seek help if their safety is threatened.

•  2.3 An ability to recognise the particular vulnerability to abuse and discrimination of disabled children.



•  3.1 An ability to work with other professional people and to contribution to the department’s planning for the child/ young person.

•  3.2 An ability to keep information confidential •  3.3 An ability to communicate effectively •  3.4 An ability to promote equality, diversity and

rights of individuals and groups within society

3. Working as part of a team


CORE COMPETENCES FOSTERING 4. Own development

•  4.1.An ability to appreciate how personal experiences have affected themselves and their families, and the impact fostering is likely to have on them all.

•  4.2.An ability to have people and links within the

community which provide support. •  4.3.An ability to use training opportunities and improve

skill

•  4.4.An ability to sustain positive relationships and maintain effective functioning through periods of stress.


What Type of Evidence

T Specific task completion O Record of observation E Relevant experience or qualification S Supporting Statement A single piece of evidence may address a number of

different competences


Competence. How is it assessed?

For the Social Worker By considering relevant and reliable evidence of the

applicants ability to carry out the tasks required for the job i.e meet the criterion

For the Applicant To produce the evidence that demonstrates their ability

to carry out the tasks outlined in the criteria to the required standard


ASSESSMENT OF SKILLS

CASE STUDY

Mr and Mrs Applicant


Mr and Mrs Applicant are a couple whose own children are now adults. Mrs Applicant is 42 and Mr Applicant is 44.

Their son age 20 still lives at home and is studying at a local college.

Their daughter age 22 is married and lives locally. Mr. and Mrs. Applicant live in a three bed roomed

semi detached house with a large garden, on a small private housing estate in a small market town, where they have been settled for 15 years. They have a large extended family and wide circle of friends.

COMPETENCE ASSESSMENT CASE STUDY


COMPETENCE ASSESSMENT CASE STUDY Mrs Applicant is employed as a Nursery Nurse, at a

nursery in the town where she has worked for two years.

Prior to this she worked part time as a Nurse at the large general hospital in the large city 20 miles away.

She has a Nursing qualification. She is a governor of the local Junior School and a

volunteer with the Physically Disabled and Able Bodied Association through friendship with her neighbor whose child age 17 is disabled.


COMPETENCE ASSESSMENT CASE STUDY Mr Applicant is a full time manager of a local small

supermarket where he has been employed for ten years. He is the trainer / manager of the towns under 14’s

football team. He sometimes involves himself with his wife’s voluntary activities, football permitting.

They have thought about fostering a disabled child for

some time. The couples children are supporting their application.

All checks have come back clear. They have agreed to attend training sessions.


From the Tool Kit The Assessment matching sheet

CORE SKILLS – COMPETENCIES Ability and Skills in:- 1.Providing a good standard of care to children. l Example. They have parented their own children. How

would you know it was ok ? The children would be asked. Their statement would then become evidence of their ability.

l What else might go here ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

l  what evidence might be available -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


CORE SKILLS – COMPETENCIES Ability and Skills in:- 2. Working with all those involved with the child / young people. • Example. She works in a nursery • What else might go here

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

• what evidence might be available--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


CORE SKILLS – COMPETENCIES Ability and Skills in:- 3. Having people and links within your community

which support you. What might go here • -------------------------------------------------------------------

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- •  what evidence might be available-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


CORE SKILLS – COMPETENCIES Ability and Skills in:- 4.Promoting health / safety of children and preventing

abuse • What might go here ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ • what evidence might be available----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


CORE SKILLS – COMPETENCIES Ability and Skills in:-

6. Using a variety of ways to manage behaviour. • What might go here

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- • what evidence might be available------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


CORE SKILLS – COMPETENCIES Ability and Skills in:- 7. Communicating effectively.

• What else might go here ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- • what evidence might be available------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


From us

Thank You

For attending the workshop. Jane Asquith and Pat Beesley

Trainer Consultants BAAF


For more information

British Association For Adoption And Fostering Address

Skyline house, 200 Union Street LONDON SEL 0LX

Visit our website www. baaf.org.uk.

or Email: [email protected]

or [email protected]

Documents

A presentation Jane Asquith and Pat Beesley...CASE STUDY Mrs Applicant is employed as a Nursery Nurse, at a nursery in the town where she has worked for two years. Prior to this she