Article: Support for you Article Body At Fostering in Barnsley we value our foster carers and recognise that their work with children is challenging and demanding. Fostering is teamwork and as a foster carers you will need to be able to rely on the support of your team members to help you care for the children placed with you. These are some of the ways we will do this. Fostering social worker You will have a social worker from the team who will be your supervising social worker. They will work with you to offer advice and guidance, will ensure that you have the practical things you need and help you to access any other support you may need. When your social worker is not available there is always a duty social worker in the fostering team to help you with any query or worry you may have. Child's social worker All children in care have their own social worker, who will know their birth family and will work with all the professionals involved in caring for the child. As a foster carer you will work closely with the child's social worker. Future Directions Future Directions leaving care team provides specialist support to help meet the health and education needs of children in care. They are also involved in training for foster carers around health and education issues. Support groups The fostering team provide a range of support groups, meeting at different times, which give foster carers an opportunity to keep in touch with other carers and share ideas, problems and advice. Support groups sometimes have some training input and it's a good way to keep up with developments in fostering. Training We provide a full and comprehensive training programme for approved foster carers. Courses provide an opportunity to meet other carers and professionals from other agencies and to develop your skills and learning. All foster carers now have to undertake the Children's Workforce Development Council's initial training and development standards. We are providing workshops and mentoring support to enable all carers to achieve this. Out of hours and emergency support You are never on your own when fostering. The department has an emergency duty service to provide social work support out of hours. The Emergency Duty Team 24 Hour Peer support Line Contact: 01226 775876 for further details Email: fostering@barnsley.gov.uk You will also develop your own network of support from other carers you meet at support groups or training and foster carers often support each other. Finance Weekly allowances are paid to cover the cost of caring for children placed with you. Grants for clothing can be paid and we will provide any additional furniture, bedding, car seats or equipment which are needed. Insurance cover is provided. In addition to the allowance for the care of the child, carers receive fee payments under our Care Plus scheme and, as skills and experience grow, through the Payment For Skills scheme. Specific education costs are met and carers are eligible for some mileage allowances. Fostering Network We pay for foster carers membership of the national fostering body which provides regular newsletters, independent advice, insurance cover and information on all fostering issues. See their website www.fostering.net Association of Barnsley Foster Carers This is the local independent foster carer group which meets monthly. The association arranges activities, like the children's Christmas party, for foster carers and also liaises with the service on issues raised by members. Mentoring We can link you up with an experienced foster carer who will support you when you first start fostering and at difficult times, when you may want specific support. Therapeutic services Children in your care may receive therapeutic services locally and foster carers can access consultation, advice and support from these services. Fostering handbook On approval you will be provided with a handbook which contains information about all the main issues you may need to consider.