@vicfostercareFoster Care (Victoria)

KATIE HOOPER

Foster Care Association of Victoria

Creating a sustainable carer pool

@vicfostercareFoster Care (Victoria)

Foster Care Association of Victoria

• Information – via our newsletter, info sheets, website and through training sessions we facilitate.

• Support – via our telephone services (CISS) which offers information, listening and advice navigating the system.

• Advocacy – with the system, government, speaking at conferences and submitting responses to papers.

We are the voice of Foster Carers in Victoria. We provide information, support and advocacy

@vicfostercareFoster Care (Victoria)

Foster carer recruitment

What the essential attributes of a carer are…

What the profile of a current carer is…

Where the opportunities are by the way of current enquirers…

What the key motivations are of carers….

@vicfostercareFoster Care (Victoria)

Through interviewing current carers and Victorian CSO’s, SIG note that the essential person attributes include a person who is caring, committed and resilient. CSO staff also identified “willing to learn” as important.

Essential attributes

@vicfostercareFoster Care (Victoria)

Profile of the majority of current carers in Victoria

• Predominantly female

• 35+ years of age

• Married or in a relationship

• Employed full time, with some household duties

• Annual household income upwards of $76,000 (44%) or less than $40,000 (26%)

@vicfostercareFoster Care (Victoria)

Profile of the current enquirers

• Larger proportion of males making enquiries about Foster Care

• Slightly younger people (more than 18-34 years)

• More in employment

• Wealthier

@vicfostercareFoster Care (Victoria)

Both reports found motivation to be a carer was re: focus on children

• “that foster care has a positive impact on children”

• “that being a foster career gives something back to the community

Both reports note a wide variety of ways people heard about Foster Care

• Word of mouth is still very popular

• Internet is now a common medium

Reason Vic Carers leave

• Dissatisfied with the system

• Financial pressure

@vicfostercareFoster Care (Victoria)

RetentionSatisfaction and Creating a sustainable carer pool

@vicfostercareFoster Care (Victoria)

Comprehensive framework is one that includes the

following 4 components:

1. A clear and timely Pre accreditation training and assessment package

2. A clear information pack on accreditation

3. A well articulation framework of support and planning during placement

4. Annual carer review

@vicfostercareFoster Care (Victoria)

Information pack on accreditation

Includes three documents:

1. Welcome pack

2. A contract, service agreement or position description

3. Manual

@vicfostercareFoster Care (Victoria)

During a placement there should be support and

planning offered. This comes in 4 categories:

1. Catch ups – this could be via phone, text, email or in person. 2. Formal Supervision – this would normally be a face to face meeting. It is

an opportunity to reflect on the caring experience and the carers developmental needs.

3. Care Team Meetings – Care Teams are led by the Foster Care agency and the Care Team processes specifically focus on ensuring that the child’s day-to-day care needs are met.

4. Case Planning – processes are a sub-set of the overall Child Protection related Case Planning and Case Management processes.

@vicfostercareFoster Care (Victoria)

Values

Honesty, trust and respect create the foundation for building competency, confidence and resilience in carers; they are the values that strengthen the carer's capacity to care well.

@vicfostercareFoster Care (Victoria)

Other things to think about...

Financial Support

Therapeutic Support

Comprehensive training strategy

@vicfostercareFoster Care (Victoria)

KATIE HOOPER

Foster Care Association of Victoria

k.hooper@fcav.org.au

www.fcav.org.au