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Outstanding fostering teams

Date: 24 Apr 2008

Our Family Placement and Family Link teams have been rated as being "outstanding" following an Ofsted inspection in February.

In the inspection categories of 'helping children to be healthy', 'helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do', 'helping children make a positive contribution' and 'achieving economic wellbeing' the teams were rated as being "outstanding", showing that the service provided is of an exceptionally high quality. In the area of 'protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe' the provision is "good".

The inspector's report highlights that: "managers and staff of the fostering service provide a high standard of care for looked after young people. The health and well being of young people is paramount and a commitment has been made to their educational and social development and their preparation for independent living."

The report highlighted in detail the work carried out by the teams and the improvements made since the last inspection.

These include:

  • The service developing a 'user friendly' health record for young people to keep themselves.
  • The service is more proactive in helping foster carers who smoke to give up
  • A mentoring service for newly appointed foster carers is now in place
  • An increase in administrative support for the service

North Somerset Council's Fostering Service recruits foster carers to look after children living away from home on a respite, short-term and long-term basis. Whilst the Family Link Scheme recruits carers to offer short breaks for children with disabilities who live at home.

There are 85 foster carers and 16 Family Link carers in North Somerset.

If you are interested in becoming a carer then contact the Fostering Team on 01275 888 999 or on our Fostering pages.