Agenda item

Cabinet Member – Councillor Dilwyn Morgan

To consider a report on the above  (attached).

          An update was submitted on the National Fostering Framework, which included comprehensive and substantial information regarding the Framework along with the proposed development of the Framework on a national and regional level. Reference was made to the main work streams associated with the Framework's work programme, along with the regional priorities. In addition to the regional priorities, it was reported that the Service in Gwynedd was reviewing its structure in response to the Service's requirements in terms of achieving better balance when assessing and supporting kinship and general foster carers.

          Members were encouraged to attend activity days for foster parents which were arranged jointly by the Council and the Foster Parents Partnership in order to scrutinise the relationship and attempt to gain better understanding of the work.

          Gratitude was expressed for the information, and the staff were congratulated on their hard work in a very important field.

During the discussion, the following observations were made by Members:-

·         There was a concern regarding a lack of support from Welsh Government to fund the need

·         The anticipation of the need for 180 new general foster carers over the next three years was ambitious

·         There was a need for better marketing - some authorities were more innovative than others

·         There was a concern that the private sector would gain more influence

·         There was a need to ensure that Welsh speaking children were placed with Welsh families

·         The report was too general - there was a need for more information regarding the situation in Gwynedd

·         There was a concern, should two teams be established, that certain matters would fall 'between two stools'

·         There was a concern that people were withdrawing from the process as the process was to complex and difficult - a suggestion was made to ask fosterers who withdrew for their reasons

In response to a question regarding the additional work which has been created with the arrival of the national work programme, it was noted that positive regional collaboration was in place across the regions and that, due to this, there were not many changes / amendments to be made.

In response to an observation regarding the reason people were withdrawing from the process, it was highlighted that the reasons varied but that the majority were due to a change in personal circumstances rather than dissatisfaction with the Service. It was expressed that there was a need to ensure a robust process with safe regulations and guidelines; the requirements and criteria were high due to the nature of the field.

It was added that the re-branding of the Service across Wales to attract people into the Service was one of the Framework's key work streams. It was noted that a bid had been submitted to the Government for additional funds for branding and recruitment in Gwynedd. Traditionally, marketing had not been a part of job requirements within the Gwynedd fostering model; however, the Service was now confident that establishing a specific post for marketing and recruitment would be a substantial improvement.

In response to an observation regarding the need for 180 new general foster carers over the next three years, it was highlighted that this was a regional figure, and that Gwynedd anticipated the need for 30 carers over the next three years. While accepting that this was ambitious, the need to ensure a work programme for Gwynedd on what was needed was emphasised.

In response to a concern regarding splitting the fostering team into two, it was emphasised that there was no intention to split the team. What was being considered was a division of roles, in order for one team to focus on general foster carers and the other to focus on kinship foster carers.

          RESOLVED to accept the report

·         An update on the marketing element is required in 12 months' time.

·         An update on the successes / failures of dividing the fostering team's roles is required in 12 months' time.

·         A request is made for a report explaining how Gwynedd's work interlinks with regional work (successes and failures)