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Friday, February 4, 2011

Shared care

I have decided i would like to try shared care. No not for my daughter but to help other families. A few girls from work foster and share care with families of children who have learning and physical disabilities. I was sat talking to my friend today and the idea and concept of it sounded great, even if i could only offer one day a week for day care. It would fit around my daughter, I could choose when i did and it would be helping families. Of course I am limited by where i live and my daughter so would have to be more mobile and not too challenging children but i feel i could still be of use and help. I am really loving my new job and often say i would love to take some of the children home.
http://boroughofpoole.com/go.php?structureID=U464054ba125b4&ref=S464C1E4CD02FA
If you get a moment copy and paste the link for more information.

How the scheme works

The scheme provides the family with respite from the stresses and strains of caring, providing parents with the opportunity to spend time with their other children or to have a good night’s sleep. The children benefit by developing new interests, friendships, experiences and independence skills.
The scheme recruits, approves and trains volunteers to be carers for children with disabilities. The carers may be single, couples, with or without children: all undergo a full assessment over a minimum of 4 months. Carers are paid a specialist fostering allowance but there is no charge to the child’s family.
Shared carers usually look after the child in their own home and can take them on outings, introducing them to new experiences, activities and having fun for all. The care can be day time or overnight. Often the pattern is that a child may go to a family for day care regularly for several months before first trying an overnight stay.
Depending on need, some children have care once a week for a day or a half day, some once a fortnight, others have an overnight stay once a fortnight or maybe a full weekend a month. We try to fit the needs of the child with the availability of the carer. Carers who can offer extra in school holidays are particularly useful, but the main demand is at the weekend.
There is a waiting list of children referred for a shared care link, so it is not a solution to emergencies but a long term plan. Matching a child with the right carers is very important for a successful link so the waiting list is not on a ‘first come first served’ basis. There is a constant need to recruit new shared carers as new children are referred.
The children are referred to the scheme by a social worker and all will have a significant disability such as learning disability, physical disability or autistic spectrum disorder. Children can be referred for a social worker to make an assessment of need by contacting the Referral and Assessment team at Poole Children and Young Peoples Social Care on 01202 735046.

Im guessing me and my fiance will both be crb checked even though its me providing the care but on the chance he may be at home hen i am caring and because he lives here i guess that's why, but they are only doing it to ensure the children our safe. So ive sent my enquiery form off so lets see what happens when the ball starts rolling :)













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