Support for Carers

Your Own Link Worker

“At the beginning, I was overwhelmed by the responsibility. The support I received from my link worker was a God send. They listened to my worries and gave me back my confidence.  Without them, I don't think I would still be fostering and I would have missed out on a wonderful experience.”  

SWIIS carers are supported at all times by their own ‘supervising link social worker’ who visits regularly to talk through all the issues.  Link workers are fully qualified social workers with a great deal of experience of work with children and young people.  Their role is to provide all the information, advice and support you may need as well as to act as the link between carers and the social workers responsible for the children.  Your link worker will attend meetings with you if necessary and also take part in the out of hours telephone support rota and in carer training and support groups.

Education, Health and Placement Support

Each local SWIIS team also includes fully qualified teachers, health advisers and placement support workers.  These staff work closely with carers and all other professionals involved with children in placement to ensure that their educational needs are being fully addressed and that any health issues or concerns are followed up thoroughly.  Where necessary education staff will work with the child or young person in school or visit the carers’ home to help with particular areas of difficulty.

Education caseworkers and health advisers also contribute to foster carer training and can offer their expertise and support to carers to ensure they have all the necessary resources to meet children’s needs.  SWIIS Placement support workers are available to offer practical help including accompanying children and carers to appointments, help with transport or supervision, taking young people out for activities or one to one work

We know that what carers need and value is good support, training and a team who will respond to their needs quickly and professionally.  We think that recent feedback from our carers shows they appreciate this too:

“I have found SWIIS to be very supportive and any problems are quickly attended to.  Their help is just a phone call away.  Day or night.”

“They (SWIIS) are genuinely very caring and interested in the children – but also in the carers.”

“SWIIS are very down to earth, friendly people that are always there when needed.”

Carer Support Groups

We hold regular support groups where carers meet and discuss the real issues with other people doing the same job and learn from each other’s experiences.  These may also include outside speakers or training on specific areas.

The carer consultation group is a forum for you to feed back any issues to us and help SWIIS to improve the service we offer to you and the children and young people you care for.`