How do we do it?
How do we recruit and select our foster carers?
People who wish to apply to become foster carers contact the agency through a variety of mediums.
Following a short filter of mandatory questions, the agency will provide a one-hour call known as an 'expression of interest' which is a tool designed to check a person’s suitability to foster with Evergreen. Assuming this is successful, a home visit will be conducted which includes meeting all family members and pets.
If everyone is happy to proceed, the assessment can begin. Evergreen provides pre-approval training lasting approximately five days. This is designed to filter out those people who are not suitable to foster, and likewise, to upskill and prepare people prior to the child moving in. We provide this during weekends and evenings as we understand people may be working alongside their fostering assessment.
How do we select, match and place children with our foster carers?
Local Authorities can refer directly to Evergreen. Following the initial filtering of these, the Registered Manager will contact the Local Authority for further information, including a discussion with the child's social worker. If Evergreen feel the child is a fit for our fostering model, a visit to the child will be completed. This can last anywhere up to 3 hours, and the idea is to assess the child's needs and to gather the child’s views on what they would like from a foster carer. It also gives the opportunity to talk to the child’s current home and key workers, in order to observe routines and approaches.
Once a suitable fostering household has been identified by Evergreen, the Local Authorities will be sent a formal offer with details of our proposed ‘match’. A meeting between the Local Authority, Evergreen, foster carer, therapist and social workers will be completed to share information and inform the plans moving forwards.
When everyone is happy to proceed, a step-down and matching meeting will take place, highlighting plans for introductions and transition.
What is the introduction and transition?
We ensure the child and foster carers are provided with the information about each other. Children are told by a trusted person. They are given time to process the information and ask questions. They are provided with a profile of the foster carer, including videos and photographs of the household and family members. This is designed to offer the maximum chance of success.
Plans are child-led with a focus on flexibility and inclusion.
Foster carers will be given the opportunity to meet the child in a safe place and gradually increase the time they spend together, moving towards overnight stays.
Transitions can last anywhere between two and nine weeks, depending on progress and what is best for the child.
They are bespoke and tailored to the foster carer and child’s own personalities and interests. The introductions are bespoke and tailored for the foster care and child. Previously, foster carers have spent several weeks calling the child at bedtime to read them a story over the phone before they move in.
How do we monitor and track progress and outcomes?
Evergreen use a monitoring tool known as ‘Outcomes for Children's Scale’. This tracks personal progress in six key areas; self-control and management of behaviour, social skills, self-awareness, confidence and self-esteem, skills for independence, approach to learning and attitude to health.
This evidences the progress the children are making in their foster home, it reminds foster carers why they do what they do, and it shows areas for growth and development.
Children and foster carers have targets to work towards.
We have high aspirations for our children, and so do our foster carers. Our overall aim, is for children to become the best version of themselves, and to feel happy and safe.