An Evaluation of the Fostering Links Project · 2019-04-03 · An Evaluation of the Fostering Links Project7 Chart 1- Summary evaluation of participants in Focus Groups 2005-2007

An Evaluation of

the Fostering Links Project

The Fostering Network Scotland

November 2007

Mary McKenna CQSW,

MSc. Applied Social Research

the voice of foster care

2 The Fostering Network Scotland

An Evaluation of the Fostering Links Project 3

Table of contents

Table of contents

Executive Summary 4

Introduction and Background 5

Methodology 5

The Fostering Links project 6

Focus Groups 6

Membership Meetings 11

The Islands Initiative 13

Independent Providers Forum 14

The Scottish Newsletter 15

Publications 15

The Website 17

Media 17

The Cost of the Fostering Links project 19

Summary of the evaluation 20

Appendix 1 22

Appendix 2 References 23


Executive SummaryThere are over 3,000 foster carersproviding care in their own homes forsome of the most complex andvulnerable children in Scotland. Thisreport describes the impact that theFostering Links project has made in thelast three years in strengthening thefostering community and enabling themto have an influence on policy, practiceand developments in foster care. Sinceits inception in 2005, the Fostering Linksproject has developed a range ofactivities to involve foster carers,fostering workers and fostering agenciesin identifying common issues of concern;to reduce isolation of foster carers; andto enable foster carers to becomeinvolved in developments at a strategiclevel in fostering practice in Scotland.

Through the development of aprogramme of Focus Groups, regularlybringing together representatives offoster carers and agencies, the FosteringLinks project has identified key areas ofconcern and made proposals forimproving services. It has publishedreports of the findings from FocusGroups and these have been influential ininforming the draft National Fosteringand Kinship Care Strategy. Alongside thisthere have been a series of MembershipMeetings held to inform and educate allthose involved in fostering children andthese have helped reduce isolation anddeveloped the knowledge, confidence andskills of foster carers. Meetings havebeen arranged in a number of venues toensure accessibility, and specialinitiatives have been developed to involvethe fostering communities in the remoteislands. Through regular ScottishNewsletters and the updates to theFostering Network website, the FosteringLinks project has informed the fostering

community on news and developments infoster care and reduced the isolation ofcarers. The project has also trainedfoster carers and young people toparticipate in media events that publiciseand promote foster caring and inform thewider public of the issues that affectfoster carers.

This report has evaluated these activitiesand concluded that the Fostering Linksproject has made a considerable impactin strengthening the fostering communityin Scotland. There is now an effectiveinfrastructure for consulting the fosteringcommunities on developments and this isinforming policy and planning within theScottish Government. Foster carers'vision of their contribution has expandedand they are now empowered to take upa role in influencing the future of theservice. Through the Fostering Linksproject, the Fostering Network hasbecome more effectively informed of theviews and concerns of all of itsmembers. Clearly, the Fostering Linksproject has strengthened the ability ofthe Fostering Network to represent itsmembers and promote improvements infoster care services in Scotland.


1 Until September 2007 the Scottish Government was called the Scottish Executive; for consistency it will be called the Scottish Government throughout this report.

Introduction and BackgroundThe Fostering Network is the leadingvoluntary organisation involved in fostercare in the UK. Its members include50,000 foster carers, 214 localauthorities and 196 independentfostering agencies. In Scotland, theFostering Network has a membership ofover 3,000 individual foster carers, 54foster care providers, including all 32local authorities.

Following the success of a membershipdrive in Scotland in 2004, three-yearfunding was obtained from the BigLottery Fund to secure a post to build onthe strength of the fostering community.This work is called the Fostering Linksproject and the worker appointed hasestablished a range of activities to bringfoster carers, fostering workers andpolicy makers together to strengthen thefostering community in Scotland.

This report outlines the main activitiesundertaken by the Fostering Linksproject from January 2005 - Sept 2007. Itidentifies the impact these have madeon foster carers and the fosteringcommunity and the influence it hasmade at national and UK level in relationto its three key aims:

• To strengthen the support to groups within the fostering community

• To reduce isolation within the fostering community

• To highlight the issues facing the fostering community.

MethodologyThis report is based on evidence fromthe following sources:

• An analysis of evaluation forms completed by the participants attending 18 Focus Group and Membership Meetings held between2005-2007. This data has been collated, analysed and, where appropriate, charts illustrate the evidence obtained.

• A series of interviews with key stakeholders in fostering services inScotland, including:

• The Scottish Government Team Leader for foster, kinship and residential services for looked after children

• The Care Commission, Team Leader Fostering Inspections

• The Association of Directors of Work

• The Chief Executive of The Fostering Network in the UK

• The Director of the Fostering Network Scotland

• The Chair of the Advisory Group of the Fostering Network Scotland

• Five Regional advisors for the Fostering Network who are also foster carers.

• The Fostering Managers in Western Isles Orkney, and Shetland Island Councils.


Most of these interviews were conductedby telephone, using a semi-structuredquestionnaire. Transcripts of theinterviews were sent to interviewees forverification. Quotes have been drawnfrom interviews and used throughoutthis report to illustrate themes raised. A list of those interviewed is appendedto this report.

The Fostering Links projectThe Fostering Links project hascontributed to the development of arange of activities, meetings, events,publications and training, many of whichinvolve and complement the overallservice provided by the FosteringNetwork Scotland. However, for thepurposes of this report, the mainactivities and those where the FosteringLinks project has had primaryresponsibility for developing anddelivering, are described and evaluated.The main activities are as follows:• Focus Groups• Membership Meetings• The Islands Initiative• Independent Providers Forum• The Scottish Newsletter• Publications• The Website• Media Training

Focus Groups In order to strengthen support to thefostering community, reduce isolation,and identify issues of shared concern,the Fostering Links project has beeninstrumental in establishing a series ofFocus Groups across Scotland. Thepurpose of Focus Groups has been tobring together foster carers and

fostering workers to identify commonissues and concerns about the fosteringservices in Scotland and to helpinfluence policy and planning at astrategic level. All local authorities andfostering agencies are invited to sendrepresentatives to Focus Groups, bothfoster carers and fostering workers, inproportion to the size of their agency. To enhance the Focus Groups, regionaladvisors have been appointed to gatherthe views of carers in preparation formeetings and actively encourageagencies to participate in Focus Groups.They are also available for advice locallyand feed back the outcome of FocusGroup meetings to foster carer groupsand agencies in their area. The regionaladvisors are all active foster carers whohave now become an important part ofthe infrastructure to support theinvolvement of foster carers in policyand service development.

Between 2005 and 2007 ten Focus Groupmeetings have been organised, in arange of locations, the length andbreadth of the country. In total 103 fostercarers and 79 fostering workersparticipated in FocusGroups, with an averageattendance of 18members at eachmeeting. All those whoattended meetings wereasked to completedetailed evaluationforms. Based on 152returns, representing83% of participants,these evaluationsreveal that FocusGroupsconsistently meetthe aspirationsof thoseattending.


Chart 1- Summary evaluation of participants in Focus Groups 2005-2007.

Very Good

Good Fair Poor

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10092

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This chart illustrates that 97% ofparticipants rated the Focus Group theyattended as Good or Very Good. Wherepoorer ratings are mentioned inevaluation forms these relate to thevenue or catering.

A more detailed analysis of evaluationforms confirms that foster carers valuethe opportunities to meet other fostercarers and fostering workers, to shareexperiences of fostering and to discusskey concerns.

In this evaluation both foster carerepresentatives and policy makersconsistently highlighted the value ofbringing foster carers and fosteringworkers together to identify commonissues.

'When meetings started there was athem and us. Groups separated intoworkers and carers and then we found

we identified the same issues, so nowwe all meet together. This is veryimportant in improvingcommunication'.Regional advisor

'The mix is very important, carers andworkers, agencies and authorities'.Regional advisor

One regional advisor acknowledged theimportance of having meetings acrossScotland:

'In the past, carers in the north felt veryisolated and there was no opportunityto have their views heard or to beinvolved in consultation….I have alsobenefited from hearing the views ofrepresentatives of different agenciesand therefore have a more informedview of fostering'. Regional advisor

Some of those interviewed for thisevaluation had not attended FocusGroups. Nine interviewees, four regionaladvisors and four policy makers wereable to rate the content and impact ofFocus Groups on a scale from Poor toVery Good as follows:

• Seven out of eight considered FocusGroups are a Very Good way of

informing people of new developments.

• Six out of eight considered Focus Groups provided a Good opportunity for foster carers and fostering workers to influence policy makers. The other two interviewees rated this as OK.

• All nine rated the organisation of meetings as Very Good.

The regional advisors, were also able tocomment on the value of Focus Groupsfrom the perspective of a foster carer:

• Four out of five rated the peer support available for foster carers atFocus Groups as Good or Very Good.

• All five had great confidence that

their issues would be heard at Focus Groups.

• Four out of five thought Focus Groups were Good or Very Good at reducing isolation of foster carers.

Some Focus Groups have involvedrepresentatives from the ScottishExecutive, Care Commission and otherkey stakeholders to update and informthe Group on developments acrossScotland. The evaluations indicate thatthis is appreciated:

'The knowledge that everyone is pullingin the same direction to further andimprove foster services. That someoneis sticking up for us'. Regional advisor.

Over the last three years the Director ofthe Fostering Network Scotland hasobserved the development of the serviceand considers that the Focus Groupshave been instrumental in helping fostercarers understand the contribution theycan make to influencing policy inScotland:

'There is a growing recognition, bysome foster carers, that they representthe service. They are becoming awareof the power and influence that theyhave. It is no longer about their ownparticular placement, or theirdifficulties with their local authority, itis about the future of fostering inScotland. They have left their baggagebehind and are able to engage at amore strategic level.' Director, theFostering Network Scotland

The Chief Executive of the FosteringNetwork identified the benefits FocusGroups in Scotland have made to theFostering Network throughout theorganisation:



'They ensure we are more connected tomembers than otherwise. When makingrecommendations on policy togovernment it is rooted, grounded in ourmembers experience'. Chief Executive ofthe Fostering Network

When issues and concerns are raised atFocus Groups, they are progressed by theFostering Network in a range of differentways. One regional advisor commentedthat feedback on action taken hasincreased confidence in the value of theFocus Groups:

'Participation has improved over time,as foster carers know their concerns areheard, see their words written down,feel their issues are taken forward.

They come more prepared for meetings.They understand the structure forconsultation and the processes. They have confidence they will getfeedback from meetings withProcurators Fiscal, Chief Constables,Ministers'. Regional advisor

The same Regional advisor illustrated thedegree to which Focus Groups haveraised expectations of having an ongoingconsultative role in fosteringdevelopments in Scotland:

'The Fostering Links project does veryvaluable work. If the Fostering Networkwere not doing it, it would be missed byfoster carers and fostering workersalike. Focus groups are now a taken forgranted part of the fostering calendar,one of the ways experience is shared,and people are kept informed'. Regional advisor

A minority of fostering agencies do nottake up invitations to participate in FocusGroups for which there could be severalexplanations, including: the self

sufficiency of the agency, the logistics ofdisseminating information and identifyingrepresentatives, or the reluctance toexpose their foster carers to theexperience and practice of other fosteringagencies.

In early 2007, in partnership with theScottish Government, the Fostering Linksproject organised a series of sixconsultation events to consult foster carersand fostering workers on the NationalFostering and Kinship Care Strategy. Intotal 16 events were organised in sixlocations: Edinburgh, Kilmarnock, Perth,Inverness, Aberdeen and Glasgow. Whilesimilar in style to earlier Focus Groups,these meetings had a wider constituencyof participants. They involved 150delegates, including 28 kinship carers, 61foster carers and 61 fostering workers,from 28 local authorities and 13 voluntaryand independent fostering providers.

The meetings stimulated considerableinterest in the proposals contained in theNational Fostering and Kinship CareStrategy and the feedback from theseconsultations was recorded and submittedto the Scottish Government. The TeamLeader from the Scottish Governmentappreciated the value of these meetingsand confirmed they provided a majorcontribution to its consultation on theStrategy. She acknowledged that it wouldhave been extremely difficult for theGovernment to obtain such comprehensivefeedback without the help of the FosteringLinks project:

'The challenges of organising such aconsultation process are beyond ourcapacity'. Team Leader, Foster, kinship, andresidential services for looked afterchildren, Scottish Government.


To make the Focus Group more effectivethe Fostering Links project hasdeveloped some infrastructure tosupport these meetings over the threeyears. To improve the dissemination theworker has identified Focus Grouprepresentatives to provide a contactpoint within each fostering agency. It hasalso identified regional advisors, fostercarers from across Scotland, who attendthe Scottish Advisory Committee of theFostering Network and who have helpedestablish the links between the fostercarers, Focus Groups and the nationalagenda. These representatives andregional advisors promote the value ofFocus Group participation and developinitiatives in their region and supportindividuals in the responsibilities theyundertake. The Team Leader from theScottish Government recognised theimportance of this behind the scenessupport:

'The example of the foster carers'involvement in meeting with Membersof the Scottish Parliament on theEducation Committee illustrates howthe Fostering Network effectivelysupports individual foster carers toinform and influence policy makers. Iheard the foster carers feedback theirexperience at a Focus Group and it wasclear they were empowered by thisprocess'. Team Leader, Foster, kinship, andresidential services for looked afterchildren, Scottish Government

As well as supporting individual fostercarers, the infrastructure developedaround Focus Groups has supported thedevelopment of the Fostering NetworkScotland. One regional advisor describedher role as:

'Supporting the Scottish Boardmembers of the Fostering Network intheir governance'. Regional advisor


In November 2006 a Super Focus Groupwas organised to bring together themembers of the Scottish Advisory Group,regional advisors, and Focus Grouprepresentatives with key members of theScottish Government and the CareCommission to update and inform themon current issues. The focus of thismeeting was primarily around areas ofpolicy and practice that would beincluded in the draft National Fosteringand Kinship Care Strategy.

The Chair of the Fostering Networkconsiders that the Focus Groupsinformed and influenced policydevelopment in Scotland and, moreroutinely, she considers theinfrastructure and information fromFocus Groups has strengthened theFostering Network:

'The Advisory Group is now informed bythe issues from across the membershipand can talk with more authority'. Chairof the Scottish Advisory Committee

During the lifetime of the Fostering Linksproject there have been additional fundsidentified by the Scottish Government toassist recruitment and retention of fostercarers and to improve availability andaccess to training. The FosteringNetwork appreciate that these funds aretargeted at some of the key issuesidentified by foster carers and fosteringagencies through Focus Groups.

Informed by the effectiveness of theFostering Links project in Scotland theChief Executive of the Fostering Networkconfirmed that an equivalent post hasbeen developed in Wales to developsimilar consultation processes.

There is substantial evidence that theprogramme of Focus Groups hasstrengthened the fostering community inScotland in the following ways:

• By creating a regular forum for foster carers and fostering workers to share experiences beyond their agency.

• By highlighting key issues facing the fostering community.

• By informing and influencing developments in fostering services ata strategic level with the Scottish Government.

• By influencing the Fostering Networkin Scotland, and the UK.

Membership MeetingsTo increase knowledge and strengthenthe whole of the fostering community inScotland, the Fostering Links project hasestablished a series of MembershipMeetings. Membership Meetings have atraining remit, often focussing on aparticular aspect of fostering practice.These meetings are open to all peopleinterested in foster care, professionals,and carers, and follow a workshopformat, often led by an expert in anaspect of fostering. Like Focus Groups,these meetings have also been arrangedin venues across the country to increaseparticipation and accessibility formembers.

Since 2005, there have been eightMembership Meetings, involving 284members, with an average attendance of35 at meetings. There is substantialevidence from the evaluation formscompleted by 214, 75% of those whoattended, that these meetings achievedtheir aim of increasing the knowledge ofpeople involved in fostering services.Evaluations are exceedingly positive, asillustrated:


Chart 2 Summary evaluation of participants in MembershipMeetings 2005-2007

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Very Good

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This chart illustrates that MembershipMeetings were consistently rated highly,that 70% of those who attended ratedthe meetings as very good, and less than1% rated them as fair.

Analysis of the evaluation formsindicates that participants appreciatedMembership Meetings for the followingreasons:

• Gaining new knowledge and skills:

'Input on attachment was excellent.Workshop on foetal alcohol syndrome was very interesting andthought provoking'.

• Increasing confidence:

'Renewed my enthusiasm for doingwhat I believe I can do well'.

• Understanding of the wider context of fostering services:

'I gained an awareness of the role ofthe Care Commission'.

'I know more about what the FosteringNetwork are doing on our behalf'.

Over the three-year period of operationof the Fostering Links project,Membership Meetings have consistentlyattracted members and, in total, 285people have participated in meetings.This attendance should be set against abacklog of logistical challenges whichface everyone organising events forfoster carers. Foster carers often livesome distance from their agency anddue to their child care responsibilitiesoften have to plan their outings to beable to return home before schoolsfinish. When surveyed in 2003, somefostering agencies struggled toovercome these problems and, as aresult, do not arrange regular meetingsor forum for foster carers and havedifficulty securing foster carers'participation in events:

• 10% of fostering agencies do not arrange regular group meetings for


foster carers to share information and support.

• 48% of fostering agencies do not involve foster carers in a consultative group or equivalent forum in their agency.

• Over 50% of foster carers who had not participated in training in two years, blamed timing, distance and lack of childcare cover as the reasons for not participating. (Caring for Our Children, Parts 1 and 2, 2003).

There is evidence that MembershipMeetings have made a contribution tostrengthening the fostering communityin Scotland:

• By creating opportunities for foster carers, fostering workers and othersinvolved with looked after children

to share knowledge and experience

• By educating and informing the fostering community about new developments.

The Islands InitiativeIn order to reduce the isolationexperienced by foster carers andfostering workers in the remoter islandcommunities in Scotland, the FosteringLinks project has devoted time to delivera programme to the two NorthernIslands authorities, (Shetland andOrkney) and to the Western Isles. TheFostering Links project recognised thatit was unrealistic to expect remoteisland Councils to be able to support theattendance of foster carers and fosteringworkers at Focus Groups andMembership Meetings on the mainland.The Fostering Links project hasdeveloped a unique initiative to thesefostering communities by working inconjunction with the FosteringNetwork's training manager, to developa programme of information sharing,training and consultation, involving theirfoster carers and staff. All threeCouncils were enthusiastic about thevalue of the Fostering Networks visits:

'It is vital to us. It is unrealistic toconsider that we could send all ourworkers and carers off the island as agroup. When they, the FosteringNetwork, come here we can worktogether, we get better attendance,there is some status in the trainingprovided. It is hugely valuable. We arelimited by finance and we also needtraining geared to our needs. They are


attentive to our particular needs.'Adoption and Fostering Manager

All three Councils acknowledged theyhave difficulties in recruitment of newfoster carers and providing carers withthe range of support and trainingneeded to sustain foster carers whenthey have a difficult placement. Anotherchallenge, which became apparent indiscussion with each of the IslandCouncils, was how vulnerable thesesmall fostering services are to staffchange. The fostering service canbecome precarious when they lose justone or two key members of staff andeach authority has challenges recruitingand retaining qualified and experiencedfostering workers.

There is evidence that the initiative theFostering Links project has developed inrelation to the three island Councils isappreciated and that it has strengthenedtheir connection with the wider issues infostering in Scotland and reduced fostercarers' and fostering workers' sense ofisolation.

Independent Providers ForumIn order to strengthen the fosteringcommunity across Scotland theFostering Network, through theFostering Links project, have supportedthe establishment of a forum to bringtogether the independent fosteringproviders to share experience andidentify common concerns. There havebeen some tensions in bringing thevoluntary sector fostering services andthe growing number of independentfostering providers together to recognisecommon concerns and to find ways ofworking together. However this Forum isestablished and providers arerecognising that they have a contributionto make to improving service provision.

The past chair of the IndependentProviders Forum was interviewed andshe acknowledged that the FosteringLinks project and the Fostering Networkhave made a key contribution infacilitating meetings and patientlyfinding formats for sharing information.This has enabled the group to:

'….recognise that the independentproviders can have an impact andinfluence on fostering practice'. Chair of the Independent ProvidersForum 2006-07

One outcome of the IndependentProviders Forum has been to develop abest practice Guide to improve thetransfer arrangements when fostercarers move from one fostering providerto another. It is hoped this Guide willprevent some of the difficulties whichhave arisen in the past and improve theability of agencies to work together infuture. This Guide was presented to theAssociation of Directors of Social Workin Scotland for their consideration andagreement. The Fostering Manager whorepresents ADSW on the FosteringNetwork Advisory Group confirmed thevalue of this guidance:

'The Guide is helpful as it lays out someprocedures for dealing with an areawhere there have been difficulties andhelps agencies address this areabetter'. Local Authority Fostering Manager andADSW representative on ScottishAdvisory Group.

There is evidence that supporting thedevelopment of the IndependentProviders Forum has enabled this groupof service providers to share commonissues and to work together to producean outcome, which should improvefostering practice between agencies.


The Scottish NewsletterAnother method of strengthening thefostering community in Scotland hasbeen through the preparation of aScottish Newsletter, Fostering inScotland, which the Fostering Linksproject has produced four times perannum over the last three years. In 2005,3,000 copies were produced. This hasrisen to 3,800 copies, which are deliveredto every fostering household andfostering agency in Scotland. While acomprehensive evaluation of theNewsletter was beyond the resources ofthis report, five of the seven intervieweeswho were familiar with the content ofNewsletter considered the relevance andthe quality of the Scottish Newsletter asVery Good.

'There has been a huge difference in theawareness of the Newsletters since allLocal Authorities and agencies becamemembers of the Fostering Network. Theprofile of it has been raised both forfoster carers and fostering workers.'Regional advisor

'The Newsletter has been helpful ininforming foster carers about policiesand grants in the last year.' Scottish Government Team Leader,Foster, kinship, and residential servicesfor looked after children.

Three of these seven foster carers,fostering managers and policy makersconsidered that the Scottish Newslettermakes a Very Good contribution tostrengthening the fostering community inScotland while the remaining four allrated this as Good.

There is evidence that the ScottishNewsletter is relevant and keeps fostercarers and fostering workers informedabout developments in fostering in

Scotland. It highlights key issues forfoster carers and helps strengthen thecommunity.

PublicationsIn order to highlight the issues facing thefostering community the Fostering Linksproject has published four reports,during the period of this evaluation;

• Planning the changes, 2005

• Steps forward, 2005

• Feedback on the Consultation on theDraft National Fostering and KinshipCare Strategy 2007

• Support to foster carers, 2007.

The first two reports collated findingsfrom Focus Groups held in 2005. Theseidentified the concerns of foster carersand fostering workers and madeproposals for policy change in four keyareas:

a) Handling allegations against foster carers

b) Recruitment, retention and support of carers and workers

c) Allowances and feesd) The education of looked after

children.


The Chair of theFostering NetworkAdvisory Group inScotland confirmedthat thesepublications had asignificant impact atthe time andfocussedsubsequentdiscussions withthe Scottish

Government, such that she consideredthat they had:

'…..laid the foundation of the FosteringStrategy in Scotland'. Chair of theScottish Advisory Committee

Six of those interviewed were familiarwith these publications, three rated themas Very Good, and three rated them asGood. They confirmed that thepublications reflect the views of fostercarers and highlight significant issuesrelating to the fostering community.Those interviewed considered that thepublications made a Very Goodcontribution to building the strength ofthe fostering community in Scotland.

The Team Leader of the foster, kinshipand residential services for looked afterchildren, echoed these sentiments and

confirmed they had informed ScottishGovernment thinking at that time. Sheacknowledged that the themes raised inthese early reports had been the focus ofregular meetings with civil servants andthe Fostering Network in the interveningyears. She also identified that in relationto influencing politicians the FosteringNetwork publications have hadsignificant impact and outlined thereasons for this:

'The publications, policy briefings, andcampaign materials are very goodbecause they are informed from a widebase of information, from foster carersand fostering agencies'. Team Leader, Foster, kinship andresidential services for looked afterchildren, Scottish Government.

The Director of the Fostering NetworkScotland also recognises that the reportsinformed the Education Working Groupon the issues facing looked after childrencontained in the early reports. Thissupported the input of young people andfoster carers into this Working Group,and can be evidenced in the subsequentgovernment report on Looked AfterChildren and Young People: We Can andMust Do Better; published in January2007 by the Scottish Government.

The third report collated the feedbackfrom the special Focus Groups on theDraft National Strategy and, asmentioned earlier, formed a significantelement of this national consultation.

In 2007, the Fostering Links projectundertook a survey of the support needsof foster carers and recently publishedthis report which highlights shortfallswithin existing support provision forfoster carers. Like the other reports, thisis being circulated to all agencies and


the findings of this report will be thefocus of discussion with policy makers.

While the Fostering Networkpublications appear to inform andinfluence policy at a national level, it ismuch more difficult to identify theirinfluence at a local authority or agencylevel. One foster carer, who was also ona National Working Group on Education,was so disappointed to find her localconvenor of social work services wasunaware of the Fostering Networkpublications, she arranged for him toreceive copies of reports.

There is evidence, from interviews, thatthe quality and content of the FosteringNetwork's publications are highlyvalued. There is evidence that tworeports in particular, prepared followingFocus Groups in 2005, have informedand influenced policy makers inScotland.

The WebsiteThe Fostering Network have a UKwebsite and the Fostering Links projectis involved in monthly tele-conferencingmeetings with the Fostering Network UKto update the Scottish content of thesite. The Fostering Network confirm thatin 2006-07 the UK website had 3,099,101hits and 229,731 visits within the site.The increasing use of the web site isevidenced, in there being 3,649,378 hitsin just seven months, April to October2007, with 140,826 visits within the site.

Foster carers interviewed recognised theimportance of the Fostering Networkhaving a website, but some confessedthat they did not use it themselves.However the Team Leader from theScottish Government and the IslandCouncil Managers indicated that they,

and other policy makers, found the website valuable.

While the Fostering Network websitemay not be widely accessed byestablished foster carers, there isevidence that it is used by the publicand by policy makers, and it isincreasingly accessed as a method ofproviding information about fostering inScotland.

MediaIn order to bring some of the issuesfacing the fostering community inScotland to public attention theFostering Links project has supported arange of media events, including TV andRadio interviews, and local and nationalnewspaper articles. The table overleafillustrates the extent of media coverage,newspaper articles, radio and TVcoverage generated by the FosteringNetwork in Scotland between January2005 and July 2007.


In order to support this activity, theFostering Links project has deliveredmedia training for foster carers in 21local authorities, three voluntaryfostering agencies and two independentfostering agencies. In all, 34 fostercarers and three young people havebeen trained, to increase theirconfidence and ability to promote publicawareness of the needs of children infoster care and the value of fostercaring. Foster carers welcomed thistraining and the opportunity to beinvolved in practice interviews. Theyreported increased confidence andpreparedness to be involved in media

who the Fostering Network can provideto support media events:

'In publishing “Sons and Daughters”they were able to identify young peopleto talk to their stories. This isinvaluable for public awareness and forpolicy makers'. Team Leader, Foster,kinship and residential services forlooked after children, ScottishGovernment

The media also have confidence in thequality of responses the FosteringNetwork provides, such that one TVcompany had commissioned a series ofprogrammes to support Foster CareFortnight in Scotland. While it is notwithin the extent of this evaluation tosurvey the public impact of such mediacoverage, it is beneficial that theFostering Network is providing positivemedia stories to raise awareness of theneed for more foster carers in Scotland.

There is evidence of regular, supportive,media coverage of foster care generatedand supported by the Fostering Linksproject which is appropriately involvingfoster carers and raising awareness ofthe needs of children and the fosteringcommunity in Scotland.

2005 2006 2007 (Jan-July only)

Newspapers 35 46 12

TV 11 5 12

Radio 24 17 1

Online 4 24 2

Table 1: Details of the media coveragein Scotland 2005-2007

opportunities and their evaluations werevery positive:

• 81% of foster carers who participated in the media training rated it as Very Good and the remaining 19% rated the training as

Good.

Once trained, the foster carers havebeen involved in a wide range of mediaopportunities created by the FosteringNetwork and there is now a pool ofknowledgeable, confident carers andyoung people whom the FosteringNetwork can call on when required bythe media to illustrate and support newsand features. This is invaluable to policymakers who reported that they areconfident in the quality of the people


The Cost of the Fostering Linksproject Since its inception in January 2005, theBig Lottery Fund, through a granttotalling £184,885.00, has supported theFostering Links project financially.

In total the Project has been running for3 years and the costs are projected to theend of the financial year 2007-2008. Thetotal expenditure of the Project has been£202,303. An analysis of the budgetindicates that almost half theexpenditure is staff costs, with a further25% for travel and subsistence, trainingand development, management andoverheads. The other 25% of expenditurerelates to direct costs of hiring venues,

printing and posting newsletters andpublications. The average annual cost ofthe Fostering Links project is £67,500.

The pie chart below indicates how thecosts of the Fostering Links project havebeen spent throughout the three years.

Chart 3 The distribution of costs of the Fostering Links Project


Summary of the evaluation There is substantial evidence thatthrough the activities described in thisreport the Fostering Links project hasmade a considerable impact on fosteringservices in Scotland. It has raised theprofile of fostering and has created aninfrastructure to support ongoingdialogue between foster carers, fosteringworkers, agencies and policy makers. In relation to its three key aims:

The Fostering Links project hasstrengthened the support to groupswithin the fostering community by:

• Increasing the knowledge, skills and confidence of foster carers to participate in meetings.

• Creating opportunities for foster carers and fostering agencies to be involved in service planning and development.

• Empowering foster carers through the development of Focus Groups for effective consultation with the Scottish Government.

• Influencing the financial support thathas been made available for fostering services in Scotland.

• Increasing the profile of fostering through a range of media events.

• Enhancing the contribution of the Fostering Network in Scotland to policy and practice developments within the UK organisation.


The Fostering Links project has reducedisolation within the fostering community by:

• Producing regular Newsletters distributed to foster carers in their homes.

• Arranging meetings in venues acrossScotland, and consulting widely on the issues and concerns that affect foster carers in different agencies.

• Developing an initiative to support foster carers and fostering services in the remote island communities.

• Creating an Independent Providers Forum for new and emerging fostering agencies to come together to influence policy and practice.

The Fostering Links project hashighlighted issues facing the fosteringcommunity by:

• Publishing reports, relevant to foster carers throughout Scotland, with recommendations for improvements to services.

• Empowering foster carers and fostering workers to become key stakeholders in fostering services in Scotland.

• Informing the National Foster and Kinship Care Strategy of the key concerns raised by foster carers and fostering service providers.

• Influencing policies within education to support looked after children.

• Expanding the vision of foster carers and increasing their confidence to participate at a strategic level.

In conclusion, the Fostering Linksproject has strengthened the influenceof foster carers and fostering workers inimproving services and has enhancedthe voice of foster care in Scotland.


Appendix 1 - List of people interviewed

List of people interviewed for this evaluation

Anne Black Chair of the Scottish Advisory Group and Vice Chair of the Fostering Network UK

Debbie Booth Foster Carer and Regional Advisor

Marjorie Booth Team Manager, Care Commission

Jackie Brock Team Leader, Foster, kinship and residential care team, Scottish Government

Anne Hampton Manager Fostering Services, West Lothian Council and representative of the Association of Directors of Social Work on the Fostering Network

Lynne Isaacs Foster Carer, Regional Advisor and member of We Can and Must Do Better Advisory Group

Kay Jackson Foster Carer and Regional Advisor

Donald MacIver Social Worker Fostering and Adoption, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar

Stephan Morgan Director of Children's Services Shetland Islands Council

Bryan Ritchie Director, the Fostering Network Scotland

Marjorie Ruddick Foster Carer and Regional Advisor

Robert Tapsfield Chief Executive, the Fostering Network UK

Shona Thain Social Worker, Job share Fostering, Orkney Islands Council

Katrina Weldon Foster Carer and Regional Advisor


Appendix 2 References

Crangle, S; the Fostering Links project, Planning the changes, the FosteringNetwork, 2005

Crangle, S; the Fostering Links project, Steps forward, the Fostering Network, 2005

Crangle, S; the Fostering Links project, Response to the Draft National Fostering andKinship Care Strategy, the Fostering Network, 2007

Crangle, S; the Fostering Links project, Support to foster carers, the FosteringNetwork, 2007

McKenna, M, Caring for Our Children Parts 1 and 2, the Fostering Network, 2005

Draft National Fostering and Kinship Care Strategy, Scottish Executive, 2007

Looked After Children: We Can and Must Do Better, Scottish Executive, 2007

An Evaluation of the Fostering Links Project

The Fostering Network Scotland

2nd floor, Ingram House

227 Ingram Street

Glasgow G1 1DA

t 0141 204 1400

f 0141 204 6588

e [email protected]

www.fostering.net

Fostering Network: registered in England and Wales as a Limited Company no. 1507277

Registered charity no. 280852

Registered office: 87 Blackfriars Road London SE1 8HA

VAT registration no. GB 231 6335 90

Photographs; photos.com, Getty images

Documents

An Evaluation of the Fostering Links Project · 2019-04-03 · An Evaluation of the Fostering Links Project7 Chart 1- Summary evaluation of participants in Focus Groups 2005-2007