Special guardianship support (post-order)
The post order support team has been in place since April 2024 following the decommissioning of Adopt Thames Valley who had previously provided the service.
Over the course of the year, the team has recruited an Assistant Team Manager and two experienced social workers as well as four hours of Social Care worker time. The team also has access to the wider resources of the fostering team, including administration and training opportunities for special guardians.
We have run consultation sessions to establish what carers would like from the service and have sought to tailor support groups and training around current presenting needs.
The Post Order Support Team carry out a number of duties including:
- running thematic support groups monthly: We have ran groups around self-harm, Virtual School kinship support, support for Education and Health Care Plans
- completing assessments of therapeutic need for children and families who need therapeutic support
- sourcing therapy and making applications to the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund (ASGSF)
- running a duty support service: Answering enquiries across a range of issues including finance, housing and education
- carrying out direct work in the home with children and carers to support their needs
- supporting multi-agency groups: Child in Need/Team around the child with advice and guidance
- supporting with the annual review of special guardianship support plans and financial packages
- working with wider teams to support the conversion of foster carers to special guardianship to achieve permanence for children
- supporting the wider kinship offer through signposting and support
- complete annual reviews for therapy and re-commission
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