Competency Based Assessments and Assessments of Skills Level

Competency based assessments and assessments of skills level

1.Applicants who apply to become general foster carers for children not known to them, receive initial training, undertake a detailed family assessment, attend a competency workshop and complete a portfolio which provides evidence to demonstrate how they meet the required range of competencies for the appropriate level.

2. Applicants who are relatives or friends of children they care for, complete a detailed family assessment and can attend initial training the competency workshop and submit a portfolio, if they so wish.

3.If any applicant wishes to receive a skills uplift, in addition to the allowances paid for the care of the child, they need to demonstrate they possess those skills as set against core competencies.

4.These competencies cover areas involved in both caring for children who are in public care, and working with the Local Authority and other agencies, and are designed to address how foster carers meet the required national standards.

5.The competencies are based on areas assessed as essential by two national agencies involved with foster children; the British Agencies for Adoption and Fostering, and the Fostering Network.

6.Applicants are required to provide evidence of how they meet all the competencies, of which there 18 in total, under four headings:

Caring for children
Providing a safe and caring environment
Working as part of a team

Own development

7.Applicants are required to attend a workshop, held by staff from the Family Placement Unit, describing all the competencies and advising on how to obtain the evidence for a portfolio which they complete.

8.In addition, a guide is provided to help applicants (available on request from the Family Placement Unit).

9.Once the portfolio is completed this is presented to the Fostering Panel along with the family assessment on the Form F and all other information, medical reports, personal references. The Panel makes recommendations to the agency decision maker (The Head of Service Safeguarding and Specialist Provision) who makes the decision.

10.Most foster carers will have completed this process before a child is placed. However for family and friends carers the child may have been in placement prior to the portfolio being completed. If these carers wish to be considered for a skill uplift they will need to complete the above process. If it is in relation to that particular child it may be backdated to the time that child was placed, if within a year.

11.However family and friends foster carers may apply to be considered at any time. If the application to be considered for a skills payment takes place later than after placement then payment, if awarded, will commence from the date of their application.

Outline of requirements and skills which foster carers must demonstrate for each level

1.The level of skills uplift will be considered at a carer’s annual review and carers must be able to demonstrate that they have attended support groups and training as required.

The requirements for each level are as outlined below:

LEVEL 1

(a) Have sufficient accommodation for child/children for which they wish to be approved.

(b) Have successfully completed an initial preparation group – Skills to Foster.

(d) Have completed a portfolio, which demonstrates that National Standards are met. If applicants have been caring for a child within the last year, prior to completion of the portfolio, the skills allowance will be paid following its completion, presentation and approval at Fostering Panel. The skills payment will be backdated to the date of the initial approval at Fostering Panel if within one year of placement.

(e) Carers must demonstrate from their fostering practice, that within their profile they are able to meet the needs of most of the children who would be likely to be placed.

(f) Live within Kirklees or bordering Authorities if offering a short-term placement, unless to be approved for a specific child where the existing relationship indicates this placement is likely to best meet their needs.

(g) Attend support groups on a regular basis, at least 50% of those offered.

(h) Complete the following four training courses within the first year of fostering :

Health and Hygiene
First Aid
Skills Development (including bullying behaviour)
Safe Care

(i) Foster carers may also access a range of courses, outlined in the annual Foster Carer’s Training Programme and identified as a training need during their assessment and/or during their first year of fostering.

(j) It would be expected that one carer is available during the times the child is at home. Work outside the home would usually be limited to no more than 18.5 hours per week as long as this has been discussed and agreed with their link worker. 18.5 hours usually constitutes approximately half of a fulltime post and often opens the opportunity to job share. This factor may assist foster carers in successfully negotiating a reduction of working hours with employees and maximises their income from other sources. Hours of work must be compatible with their fostering task and the level of need and required care of the child in placement.

(k) At the first annual review foster carers should indicate if they wish to be considered for progression to level 2. If foster carers feel they meet the criteria for the next level, they may request a review within the twelve month period.

LEVEL 2

(a) All requirements for level 1 must have been demonstrated before consideration can be given for application to level 2.

(b) To have one year of experience of fostering or an early successful first review as set out above or at approval stage (through formal application in addition to the assessment), where it can be demonstrated to Panel via the assessment and the portfolio that they have the specialist skills required for a particular child whose needs would best be met by this placement. Previous proven fostering experience will be taken into account but may or may not have an impact on the final recommendation.

(c) To have completed a minimum of six post approval training courses identified as part of their training needs and which must include the 4 mandatory courses.

(d) To complete further training courses according to the carer’s identified needs as determined at review. These courses are outlined in the annual Foster Carers Training Programme, the Departments’ general annual Training Programme and the Safeguarding Programme, including such topics as:

The role of foster carers in Education.
National Foster Care Standards
Basic Awareness in Child Protection
Moving and Handling (for carers specialising in taking children with disabilities)
Attachment issues

And many more

(e) Where a carer does not agree with any aspect of their review, including any identified training needs, they may make representations to the Fostering Team Manager. If their review is presented to the Fostering Panel, they may make representations to the Panel.

(f) To have attended a minimum of 50% of support group sessions.

(g) Carers must demonstrate their ability through their annual review, that within their profile they are able to meet the needs of most of the children who would be likely to be placed.

(h) To be prepared to assist in events to recruit other carers, giving information to members of the public.

(i) Possess the ability to offer some planned respite placements to other carers in line with their profile.

(j) It would be expected that one carer is available during the times the child is at home. Work outside the home would usually be limited to no more than 18.5 hours per week as long as this has been discussed and agreed with their link worker. Hours of work must be compatible with their fostering task and the level of need and required care of the child in placement.

LEVEL 3

(a) To have achieved NVQ Level 3 in Caring for Children and Young People OR to demonstrate they are working towards NVQ3 by achieving a set number of NVQ3 units within a timescale agreed on commencement, with the Fostering Team Manager. This will usually be 50% completion in a twelve month period (completed within 2 years). Those applicants who wish to be considered for Level 3 will need to demonstrate they have fulfilled the requirements of Level 2 including all core training updates required as underpinning knowledge to NVQ3.

(b) To have the ability to meet the needs of most children in the age profile for which they are approved and can demonstrate that are able to meet the needs of children who exhibit challenging distressed behaviour.

(c) Have developed experience and proven ability in assisting at Family Placement events to recruit other carers and work along side workers from the fostering team in information sessions for other members of staff and the general public.

(d) To offer planned, and unplanned, respite to other carers in line with their profile.

(e) It would be expected that a carer is available to the child for most of the time and not be over reliant on other people. Work outside the home would usually be limited to no more than 18.5 hours per week as long as this has been discussed and agreed with the link worker. Hours of work must be compatible with their fostering task and the level of need and required care of the child in placement.

(f) Be able to participate in providing 24 hour emergency cover and support to other foster carers.

(g) Continue to attend support and training groups and be prepared to assist as requested by workers in running these groups.

LEVEL 4

Carers receiving this level of payments for skills will be performing one of the following specialist tasks:

(a) Provide remand placements, to work with the Youth Court and be willing to attend additional training provided by the Youth Offending Team.

(b) Provide a 24 hour 48 week service to the Emergency Duty Service for up to three children in the full age range 0-18 in order to offer placements out of office hours. (Carers whose profile indicates they can offer this service on an occasional basis will receive an additional skill payment for the period in which they have been available).

(c) Provide a service to a child/young person who has considerable health needs arising from a disability where the payment is made for a higher rate of Disability Living Allowance.

(d) Provide a service to a young person whose behaviour is very challenging where alternative specialist residential placements would otherwise be required and who is likely to need specialist resources to support the placement (in some instances this may be a time limited assessment or other temporary placement which attracts this skills uplift for that placement only).

(e) To hold NVQ3 or its equivalent plus an NVQ Assessor Award, and at all times to be in the process of assessing at least one Kirklees foster carer candidate for NVQ3

(f)To be an integral member of the Family Placement recruitment and training team, involved in delivering aspects of the pre and post approval foster carer information and training programme.

NB The availability of some Level 4 specialist roles may be restricted due to the identified needs of the service, which will be reviewed from time to time by the relevant Divisional Manager and /or the Unit Manager .

In order to be eligible to apply for Skills Level 4 skills the carer will need to be able to demonstrate:

Through their review that they are working to at least Level 3 and their skills profile indicates that they can meet the requirements of the task and the needs of the young people who would be placed.

In exceptional circumstances carers who have not achieved this level may be approved if they are able to demonstrate that they are competent to meet the needs of a particular child whose assessment indicates that they require such specialist provision.

It is expected that these carers (one if partners are fostering) will achieve NVQ Level 3 in Caring for Children and Young People if they have not already done so.

As our most skilled and experienced foster carers, to have developed presentation skills and be prepared to assist in events to recruit other carers and provide information to other workers, foster carers and members of the public.

To offer planned and unplanned respite placements to other carers within their profile.

It would be expected that one carer would be at home full time.

Be able to work with a multi-disciplinary team of professionals

LEVEL 5

Only achievable by a combination of Skill Level and Continuous Service uplifts.

The amount designated at Level 5 is the highest uplift achievable and cannot be exceeded.

CONTINUOUS SERVICE PAYMENTS

It is accepted that some current foster carers will not wish to extend their fostering career into the more specialist roles or by achieving the NVQ qualifications that are available.

It is felt that all foster carers who continue to commit to caring for children and young people over time and evidence good outcomes for them (by the meeting of the National Minimum Standards adhered to by the service) should be rewarded.

Evidence of foster carers’ achievements over time will be demonstrated via the annual review process. The continuing commitment to personal and professional development in foster caring practice will be part of that, including ensuring appropriate updates of core foster carer training and the monitoring of a carer’s core competencies over longer periods of service.

For all foster carers who are successful in the task and who continue their registration with Kirklees MC unbroken, there will be the opportunity to receive the equivalent of the upper skills levels for continuous service as follows:

For each full year of service, an increment, payable the following April, of £10.00 per week.

A combination of Skills Level and Continuous Service may enable a foster carer to achieve Level 5.

There will be a maximum of continuous service uplift achievable, equating to 15 years service. This enables Level 2 carers to achieve Level 5 by a combination of skills and experience.

For example:

Mr & Mrs A have fostered 3 brothers for the past 15 years. Level 2 skills payments (£125) plus continuous service award (£10 x 15yrs = £150) means they have achieved the equivalent of level 5 (£275)

Mr & Mrs B have been fostering for 5 years, during which both achieved NVQ 3. In addition to fostering a teenager with complex needs they offer respite to 3 other foster families and do 4 sessions per year training new foster carers. They are paid Skill level 4 (£225) plus Continuous Service award (£10 x 5 = £50) which is the equivalent of level 5. This is the maximum they can achieve and they have done so in 5 years.

DISRUPTIONS

Please note that where foster carers have experienced a disruption of a placement in the most recent period, their annual review may be presented to the Fostering Panel for their consideration. Panel may wish to make comments as to support needs and any necessary adjustments to the foster carers’ profile.