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Advocacy/Mediation

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FACTS offer quality, independent, professional support on behalf of fostering services to foster carers facing allegations, complaints and/or concerns relating to their practice. Fostering Services National Minimum Standard 22.12 states:

'During an investigation the fostering service makes support, which is independent of the fostering service, available to the person subject to the allegation and, where this is a foster carer, to their household, in order to provide:

  1. Information and advice about the process

  2. Emotional support, and

  3. If needed, mediation between the foster carer and the fostering service and/or advocacy (including attendance at meetings and panel hearings)'

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FACTS can also offer mediation when there has been a breakdown in the relationship between foster carer and their fostering service. 

We will support you to resolve issues together and rebuild trust and partnerships.

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Recent feedback

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“Mediation provided by FACTS has been really helpful to support our Barnardo’s carers. FACTS provided independent social work support to help us resolve conflict and improve our relationship with our foster carer.  This was a really positive process.  The FACTS mediator was a highly skilled practitioner who created a supportive environment for us all to reflect and re-evaluate how we communicate and relate to each other.

 

Whilst we were all apprehensive about engaging in this process – I am delighted to say that with the support of FACTS we now enjoy a more positive working relationship.  FACTS helped us to develop trust and ‘reset’ without the need to use more formal processes to address sensitive issues.

 

I would recommend using independent social work support from FACTS for mediation, conflict resolution and support to carers during allegations.”

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Rebecca Quigley
Operations Manager, Barnardo’s North West Fostering Service

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"I was very pleased with the timely response of the initial enquiry and that our foster carer was able to receive the service quickly by telephone communication from Steve. The foster carer had shared with the agency she had found this very helpful."

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Anna Rooney

Team Manager, Barnardo's East Midlands Family Placement

 

Contact us to find out more or to make a referral.

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Training

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FACTS offer a range of training to fostering services. We specialise in providing training for foster carers and social workers in 'Managing Allegations' (see below).

Training can be delivered to groups or via webinars.

 

Contact us to discuss your training needs.

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‘Managing allegations and concerns’

 

Course Objectives

To provide foster carers with a clear understanding of:

  • Best practice to reduce the risk of allegations

  • The investigation process

  • Support available and effective use of independent advocacy/mediation

  • Terminology, legislation and research

  • How to maintain positive relationships with your SSW and fostering service

 

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‘The role of the supervising social worker in managing allegations against foster carers’

 

Course Objectives

To provide SSWs and managers with a clear understanding of:

  • Roles and responsibilities

  • Legislation, practice guidelines, research and tips

  • Providing effective, timely and empathetic support to foster carers which maintains positive relationships between the FC, their SSW, fostering service and professionals involved, whilst ensuring children and YP are safeguarded.

  • Effective use of independent advocacy/mediation

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Recent feedback

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"NFA Group commissioned FACTS to deliver a webinar based training session on ‘The Role of the Supervising Social Worker in Managing Allegations’. This was delivered to a wide audience of social work qualified staff across the NFA Group. The FACTS team developed the webinar in line with our organisation's needs, drawing on their extensive experience of working within the fostering sector. The training was well received by social workers with positive feedback: 

“Really beneficial, just thinking about the impact on SSWs” (GK, Team Manager) 
“Informative and a good refresher as I’m new to this role as an SSW” (JS, SSW) 
“A very good refresher” (FM, SSW) 

Nikki and the FACTS team ensured the training was relevant and used real examples to bring the subject to life. I would have no hesitation in recommending FACTS training services and look forward to working with them in the future." (Gill Guy-Edwards, National Fostering Agency Group)

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‘FACTS training enabled me to have more insight and empathy for the foster carers undergoing investigations and allegations. It is also helped for me to consider how the agency can ease the constraints of the process as well as improve practice in order to prevent some allegations’ (IFA SSW)

 

‘it’s really helpful to know that any carer experiencing allegations will be offered the FACTS service as this should enable them to represent themselves better in a stressful panel situation’  (Fostering Panel member)

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Consultancy

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FACTS offer consultancy for fostering services including:

  • Ensuring your policies and procedures are effective and in line with current legislation and guidance

  • Updating your foster carer reviewing process

  • Optimising recruitment and retention

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Independent Reviewing 

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FACTS offer an independent reviewing service for foster carer annual reviews

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Areas covered

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FACTS provide services to most of England, Scotland and Wales.

 

Contact us for more information.

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