Aim High is a small, yet professional Agency and as such is able to treat all cares as individuals with individual strengths and skills. We offer a ‘family feel’ to fostering. At Aim High our carers receive a very personal and professional service to support them in offering the best possible care to children and young people.
The Agency prides itself on developing close and positive relationships with everyone in the fostering household. Directors and Seniors Managers are directly involved in all aspects of the Agency’s work. This includes getting to know prospective Foster Carers, their families and delivering training (before and after approval).Directors are available for discussion, advice and are hands – or when needed,bringing their own personal and professional experiences in fostering.Each fostering family is allocated an experienced Supervising Social Worker who offers regular visits, advice, advocacy and support. This ensures our Carers are completely scaffolded and listened to. Our Social Workers only have responsibility for a small number of families at any one time, allowing them the availability and time to fully support their fostering families. Foster Carers have regular and frequent opportunities to meet together at training, support groups and social events throughout the year. This helps to build support networks, friendships and the sharing of experiences. Training is offered on a group and individual basis and there is also an extensive on-line training facility available to carers. In recognition of the important job our carers do, we offer very competitive allowances and financial support packages.
WE WILL SUPPORT YOU EVERY STEP OF THE WAY
Foster Carers choose Aim High because we ensure they receive:
- A family feel to fostering, found only in small, independent agencies
- High quality, professional support 24/7, including Out of Hours support
- Careful matching and consideration given to placements
- On-going training programmes which offer core and bespoke training sessions.
- Monthly support groups for foster carers ( buddying – up scheme for newly approved carers)
- Generous weekly fostering allowances with additional financial benefits throughout the year
- Enhanced Foster Carer rates for carers who have the skills, experience and resilience to support children with challenging / additional needs.
- Membership to The Fostering Network
- Management that values the work you do and fully understands the fostering task (Management have previously been foster carers)
- A professional, experienced, qualified Social Worker to undertake your assessment
- A Supervising Social Worker who will be readily available and dedicated to supporting you, your family and child(ren) in placement
Local Authorities choose Aim High because we provide:
Good geographical coverage
A prompt, professional, committed service
Specialist placements for challenging children
Highly trained and well supported foster carers
Excellent outcomes against key performance indicators
Fast response to referrals with in depth and careful matching
A wide range of diverse placements to meet the individual needs of looked after children
Competitive fee rates whilst not impacting on our quality of care or service
To support our foster carers, we provide free on-going training throughout the year on regular basis. This includes onsite, online and one to one trainings. All of our trainings are held locally to make sure it’s convenient for our foster carers. We also arrange for regular local support groups where newly approved foster carers have the chance to meet up our experienced foster carers and share their experiences with them. During working hours, all our team members (from supervising social workers to senior management) are available to speak to, if required. During out of hours, our dedicated team will be on hand to support you, should there any situation arises.
Full Support Provided
All children and young people placed with Aim High foster carers should have their own social worker from the relevant Local Authority who will keep in touch with them throughout their placement, make statutory visits and make care planning decisions with and for them.However, in addition to the child’s social worker, every Sunbeam fostering agency has his/her own supervising social worker to ensure that they are fully supported.
What you can expect from your Supervising Social Worker
- You will be assigned to a named, qualified and experienced Supervising Social Worker (SSW) with whom you will be able to form a strong, trusting, and professional relationship.
- Your SSW will have responsibility for only a small number of families, thus allowing them the availability and time to fully support you and your family
- Regular contact, support and guidance, including monthly supervisions (as a minimum) . Additional support is offered during any periods of uncertainty or difficulty, or if the circumstances warrant it
- Your SSW will ensure you are provided with information, advice and strategies, to enable you to provide consistent, high quality care for a child or young person.
- Your SSW will attend and support you in all important meetings and Reviews .
- To identify training needs and help you to achieve your learning and development objectives, including meeting the TSD (Training, Support & Development) standards.
- To advocate for you and arrange for any additional support services needed, such as access to Support Services or respite care.
A qualified SSW will be available during Out of Hours – 7 days a week to offer guidance and support when the office is closed
If you are thinking about transferring to another Agency and are unsure of the procedure, please give us a call and we will talk you through it.
Transferring simply means going through the same process you went through when you first became approved. However, since you are already fostering, your application should be faster and simpler.
Aim High will support you throughout the transfer process and liaise with your current agency and the local authority to make sure everyone is working together.
If you decide you want to transfer to Aim High, the procedures below will need to be followed:
- Carer has to initially give notice to their current agency/LA explaining they are considering moving to another Agency. This should be in writing.
- Once Aim High has received information that notice has been given, we can begin to proceed with the Form F Assessment. (The Carer must not give resignation at this point)
- If the Carer has a child/young person in placement, a meeting will need to take place to make sure there are no gaps in the support for the child and the transition is seamless. This is usually organised by the LA responsible for the child.
- When the Carer is ready to go to Panel, they will submit their formal resignation letter to their current Agency / LA giving 28 days notice.
