Fostering Support Matters

There by your side

Your membership includes 7 days per-week availability to chat with an expert, safer care bulletins, information and advice, emotional support, help writing and responding to reports, advocacy at Panel, and mediation as required by Government Guidance.

We champion your practice with comparisons from your Annual Reviews and Supervision Records against National Fostering Standards.We include testimonials from Professionals, such as Teachers and Health Workers as requested and include it in your Panel Report, which we will ensure is included in Panel discussions. See Welcome

Fostering Support really Matters for your continued Registration. Foster Carers' evaluations state overwhelmingly, that they would have resigned if it wasn't for our support. When asked what more could we have done, the response was absolutely nothing. Thank-you! Practitioners are similarly complimentary; describing us as "safe hands".

Thats not to say, if after your Registration is renewed, you feel that you want to change Fostering Services for a new start, we can help you with that too via our friends at Simply Fostering. Fostering is a big decision for you and your family, have Ian Johnson and his team at Simply Fostering help you choose the right Fostering Service for you from the beginning.

Simply Fostering has extensive knowledge of Agencies in your area and of your Local Authority. Look at fees and allowances in this free and confidential service. Or as an already approved Foster Carer, transfer between Agencies or from the Local Authority in which you live, with their help using the National ‘Transfer of Foster Carers Protocol’, written accepted as best practice. Complete the online enquiry form or call free on 0800 0305501.

Message from founder Debra Gibbs

Being a foster carer myself and advocating on behalf of the County‘s Foster Carers, it became clear to me that a cloak of silence was wrapped around allegations and complaints, leaving colleagues confused about why children have been removed and their names no longer available on the vacancies board. Fast forward 15 years when involved in writing the 1999 National Standards, Fostering Support Matters was born with independent advocacy as a matter of right. 25 years later we have supported in excess of 1000 Foster Carers meaning retained registrations and a continued workforce.

Evaluations

Please ask if you would like to speak with any one of our members; we would be happy to put them in touch with you.

Lots of evaluation sheets start with what did we do well?

Well I know that you can probably gleen most of this information from the numerous emails where I am genuinely thanking you for what I feel saved my life... in so many ways... I remember my friend telling me just dial the number,!!! Debra will do the rest" I didn't know where to start, what to say.

She was right. I dialled the number, let it ring just once to see if it was still a valid number, and it was. less than 2 mins later you were on the phone at 07:33, telling me to stop apologizing, and that was it.

Debra Gibbs from Fostering Support Matters took over my worries, my fears, my hurt, my anxiety and everything else about the case. My guardian angel. Debra, you were everything that I had been promised and read about from the Fostering Network, who in my situation had failed me at my time of need.

Debra, you have worked with me, supported me, spoke on my behalf in all forms of communication with all parties involved and even given me that virtual kick up the bum when I needed it for over 9months.

It was always lovely of you to keep me posted as to what was happening, what was due next and the regular calls just to check in on me and my beautiful family. You never once came across as patronising or blowing smoke where the sun does not shine. you were honest, kind and always professional.

I have sung your praises from the rooftop and waved the banner for Fostering Support as and when I can and will carry on doing so. The only recommendation I can offer... is please advertise more in some way as I had never heard of you peeps. Kindest regards always.

Alex B and family Independent FS North.

“Through our complaint, Fostering Support Matters made us feel secure – ultimately professional. They treated us like human beings. We would recommend Fostering Support Matters in a heartbeat. We would not have continued fostering without their support. Thank you x” Caroline and Martin: Hampshire

Reference from our Mentor

Dear Debra
Thank you for asking me to record the successful outcomes of working together over many years.
Our initial contact was when I was Head of Children’s Services in Surrey and you were both a very able foster carer to some very challenging young people and also Chair of the Surrey Foster Carer’s Association. In this role you were able to give our foster carers a voice that enabled both senior managers and County Councillors to have a far better understanding of the demands placed on you all and hence we improved your terms and conditions and hence the retention rate. You also organised some superb conferences building support networks and improving the skills of Foster Carers
This level of understanding and problem resolution that you acquired lead you naturally into the long term role of advocate for carers subject to an allegation of inappropriate behaviour by a fostered child. I was very pleased to act as both a mentor and sounding board for your work and the successful resolution you achieved in so many cases was much admired both by professionals and foster carers. Again the retention rates you achieved demonstrated the value of both your investigatory and mediation skills.
Finally after I became the Director of the newly set up Department of Social Services in Southampton you carried out a superb piece of work in resolving the somewhat unhappy relationship between foster carers and the social workers. The outcome was a far more constructive relationship and far better support from the department for this invaluable service
Kind regards

Dr John Beer OBE
Former Director of Social Services
Southampton City Council

‘Suddenly I found myself in a whirlwind of confusion, uncertain of which way to turn. Everyone else involved too, we were just reacting to crisis, it was getting us nowhere, Being the one person who really understood the child and the big picture relating to what was actually going on, yet no one took much notice of that let only listened to me. I became more and more frustrated. It was such a relief to talk to Debra at Fostering Support Matters, she helped me raise my voice so it was heard, she confirmed my reasoning and empowered me to take control of a situation which was fast getting out of hand. She gave me the confidence to push for the outcome which was in the best interests of the child, which was thankfully, achieved in the end. Thank you, Debra, for your very professional yet understanding support.'

Belinda: Isle of Wight

Earlier this year my partner and I received an allegation. This was completely unseen and I don’t think we could have done much to guard against it. Being a member of Fostering Support Matters I contacted Debra for help. I am glad we are members as we received emotional support and expert advice. If you’ve not been through an allegation, it’s a tough, stressful and testing time. With help, we managed to provide our own Panel report to get our views across and were unanimously voted to be able to continue fostering. I was advised many years ago to subscribe at ‘skills to foster’ and I’m pleased I did. Allegations are fairly common and it saddens me to think of how many good carers have fallen by the way-side due to what are completely unfounded accusations.

Mike and Fran; Plymouth.

“Ann, we would like to thank you for your advice and support during our allegation process with Kirklees. Your knowledge of the relevant National Minimum Standards in particular was very useful and highlights the serious shortcomings in the way our Local Authority conducted their processes. We intend to put together a document for any other foster carers in a similar position.”

Graham and Linda; Kirklees