REDESIGNING FOSTER CARE EVIDENCE, CONGRUENCE AND BEST PRACTICE Mary McKinnon Executive Director, Practice and Quality
Life Without Barriers is a not for profit organisation committed to providing community-based programs to assist children, young people, adults, older people and families to live the best life possible. We are a values-based organisation committed to achieve positive outcomes for all clients. 2
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PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS 6
Increased family inclusion Children's lived experiences KEY and engagement THEMES Relationship based Stay engaged with people reciprocal assessment and considering caring review Increase carer connections Dual assessment – caring with each other and and adoption community More efficient and effective Increase learning options carer recruitment and consistency processes and systems Increase specialization in Introduce measures of our recruitment and assessment effectiveness / review Carers are, and feel part of the care team 7
LEAN Process RAPID Client-centric methodology DESIGN Improve process through elimination of waste in everything you do; PROCESS Based on the ideas of “Continuous Incremental Improvement” and “Respect for People.” 8
CRITICAL Professor Judy Sebba FRIEND Director, Rees Centre for Fostering and Education, Oxford University 9
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WHAT WE’VE DONE SO FAR 11
MOCKINGBIRD FAMILY The approach unites 6 to 10 foster and/ or The Mockingbird Family (MF) is an kinship carer homes in a local community innovative way to structure the support and called a Constellation supported by an supervision provided to foster and kinship experienced carer who takes on the role of carers. Hub Home Provider. The community network created by MF The Hub Home provider is responsible for focuses on the individual needs of its planned and emergency respite, the children and young people by ensuring coordination of monthly constellation carers are skilled, supported and confident in meetings, quarterly social activities and a providing the best care for children and range of practical and emotional supports to young people. Evaluations in the USA and the Constellation families. Remuneration is UK show promising results in decreasing provided to support the additional functions placement disruptions and improving the that are outside of the established caring role. attraction and retention of c arers.
Underpinned and driven by the CARE Model implemented across LWB and its six evidence-based principles: 13
“Foster Care Recruitment for Life Without Barriers: Enhancing assessment of the risk of sexual abuse” 14
NEW CARER WEBSITE 15
OOHC LEARNING PATHWAYS Around 4-6 new modules per month published on myLearning All modules to include a Coaching resource – support for local care teams in follow-up with carers A coaching workshop for case managers has been piloted and will soon be available to provide baseline skills in coaching using the GROW model 16
CARER ASSESSMENT PRACTICE GUIDE
CARER “AMBASSADOR” Building on local arrangements to develop an approach to identifying, selecting, training and recognising the work of experienced carers in promoting foster care, and LWB in their community Ambassadors will also be available to speak with prospective carers during the enquiry phase Anticipate release of materials in October 18 to support local identification and training of carer ambassadors 18
CARER HANDBOOK Developed with input and review from all states and covering a range of topics including: • • everyday caring such as emotional wellbeing • babysitting, travel, education and training • decision making, water leaving care, • safety legal matters, • • life story young people and the • culture justice system • • medication understanding and supporting teenagers Everyday caring
CENTRAL ENQUIRY TEAM – KEY FUNCTIONS First line of contact for people interested in learning more about foster care and becoming a carer Conduct a detailed initial screening conversation/s with prospective carers to provide a more qualified lead/ referral to local LWB care teams for personal follow up. Prioritise response to enquiries from areas of high LWB demand for carers Promote local events to prospective carers based on information from local LWB teams 20
CARER RECRUITMENT – IMPROVING THE DIGITAL EXPERIENCE AND CENTRALISING ENQUIRY MANAGEMENT AND INITIAL SCREENING Technology Content Website improvement – stronger links to Clear pathways through the site from the source of interest. Include carer stories but social media, increase self-assessment, also the child’s voice – more personalised improved SEO. Capture more data about engagement site visitors . Enhance CARES in short term towards CRM decision. Process Links to other work Make enquiry management and screening •Carer “ambassador” to support local a signature process. Complement with engagement, talk with prospective dedicated resources and performance carers during enquiry. measures – personal and ROI • Shape advertising strategies based on better data about motivation and screening success Pilot and measure Roles Develop clear success measures and milestones Clarity and agreement on central enquiry and for the pilot. Engage Client Services in local team roles, handovers and feedback loops. assessing value
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QUESTIONS AND DISCUSSION 24
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