News and Resources
Foster care must be commissioned on a level playing field, 24 January 2012
Child-centred care: service delivery for looked-after children, 21 February, London
A one-day seminar to explore the financial environment for delivering children’s services, identifying and sharing examples of good practice, chaired by Harvey Gallagher, Chief Executive of NAFP. The seminar will examine the effects of the March 2011 Foster Carer's Charter and how this has bedded down in practice, with perspectives from central government, research, care providers and commissioners, and people with first-hand experience of care. Other issues covered on the day will range from managing a mixed economy of direct local authority and independent provision, to parent and child placements. The seminar will feature facilitated discussion sessions to optimise delegates’ learning and networking opportunities.
Members of NAFP are entitled to a discounted delegate rate.
NAFP in the news
We must avoid a free-for-all over delivery of services, Third Sector, 10 January 2012
Councils pressurise foster carers to become special guardians, Community Care, 14 October 2011
Adoption debate misses the reality of children in care, Community Care, 30 September 2011
Residential care sector proposes radical rethink of public sector reforms, Children & Young People Now, 12 September 2011
Foster carer shortages versus extreme beliefs, Community Care, 23 May 2011
Foster care: 'The best job I've ever done', The Guardian, 18 May 2011
Foster providers need to make long-term plans sooner, The Guardian, 18 May 2011
The charity's 'squeezed middle' cuts challenge, guardian.co.uk, 4 April 2011
New charter to bust foster care myths, PIR Education, 23 March 2011
Bid to make foster carers undergo drug/alcohol hair tests, Community Care, 21 March 2011
Open Public Services White Paper
NAFP, in partnership with the Independent Children's Homes Association (ICHA), National Association of Special Schools (NASS) and the Social Care Association, have agreed a short paper in response to the Government’s Open Public Services White Paper. Our four organisations strongly welcome the White Paper and its recognition of the role of the voluntary and private sectors. However, we are asking the Government to examine how their proposals will enhance the lives of children and young people by reducing barriers to the essential work of these sectors. This short position paper uses the five key principles set out in the White Paper and indicates where we are now and what is needed for the future in these five areas.
Position paper on the Open Public Services White Paper
All-Party Parliamentary Group on Adoption and Fostering
A list of the members of this group can be found on House of Commons Register of All-Party Groups.
Minutes of meeting held 15 June 2011
NAFP newsletters
National Fostering Contract
A new version of the National Fostering Contract was launched on 1 May 2011:
Schedule 1 - Service Specification
Schedule 2 - Service Delivery and Outcomes Monitoring
Schedule 3 - Individual Outcomes Tracker
Schedule 6 - Variation Form Parties to the Agreement and Signatories
As well as the contract itself, there is also a useful guide to changes from the previous version.
Events Archive
Talking it better: child mental health (28 September, London NW1)
Summer member's seminar, 9 June 2011, Birmingham
The delivery of independent and voluntary sector fostering provision is happening against a background of major cuts in public sector spending. Regional commissioning consortia now cover most of the country and placement framework contracts implemented. There are also new sufficiency duties for local authorities. New, more child-centred fostering regulations, guidance and National Minimum Standards have come in. How is your organisation responding to these new challenges?
Speakers included:
Jonathan Ewen, Director of Barnardo's North East/Family Placement Lead (chair)
Brenda Farrell, UK Assistant Director for Family Placement, Barnardo's
Harvey Gallagher, Chief Executive, NAFP Responding to the Challenge
Claire Lazarus, Senior Fellow, Office for Public Management
1. Commissioning services for children in care
2. Improving placement stability - further in-depth analysis of brokerage models
Martin Quinn, West Midlands Commissioning Partnership
Rachel Taylor, Team Leader Fostering, Children in Care Division, DfE An update on government policy for foster care
Dr. Andrea Warman, Fostering Consultant
Members only seminar 2 November 2010 - Friends Meeting House, London. 10.30 to 3.00 pm. Consultation on Fostering Services Regulations 2002 and related guidance.
The Department for Education has announced a consultation on "Regulations governing Fostering Services, Children's Homes Providers, Adoption and Fostering Panels and Statutory Guidance on Children's Homes and Fostering". This runs from 27 August 2010 until 19th November 2010.
The Nationwide Association of Fostering Providers therefore plans to hold a members only seminar in order to collate member's input to this important consultation. Places will be limited to 2 per member organisation and further details will be circulated shortly. Expressions of interest in attending the seminar can be emailed to contactus@nafp.co.uk
Annual General Meeting - 22nd March 2010
NAFP celebrated its first birthday in style with an AGM/Open Meeting at the Friends Meeting House, 173, Euston Road, London, at which the keynote speaker was Tim Loughton, MP, Shadow Minister for Children. Tim praised the independent and voluntary sector for achieving excellent outcomes for children and outlined what he hoped a future Conservative Government would be able to do to streamline the processes which affect the ability of social workers to do their job of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. Tim praised NAFP for raising the profile of the independent and voluntary sector and in wishing NAFP a happy first birthday, said he thought we had been around for much longer, such is our profile in the sector.
Members and non-members heard a presentation from our Chairman Kevin Williams, with a review of the work undertaken by NAFP over the past year, together with an outline of our future plans. Kevin also outlined the findings of our recent membership survey into what our members valued and what they wanted from NAFP in the future. Both speakers took questions and a lively and informative debate took place, before lunch was served at 12.30 p.m.
For a copy of the documents discussed at the AGM please click here:
Reponse to Membership Survey (pdf)
NAFP Official Launch Success, March 2009
NAFP was formally launched in London and Manchester in March 2009. Keynote speakers included David Holmes, CEO, BAAF, Estella Abraham, Deputy Chief Executive, FCA, Brenda Farrell, Assistant Director, UK Family Placement, Barnardo's, Robin Short, Operations Director, FosterPlus, Johnson Shebioba, By The Bridge and Jonathan Ewan, Director, Barnardo's North-East.
The event was chaired by Jackie Edwards, Chair of the Steering Group and Co-Founder of NAFP, who welcomed representatives from Ofsted and the Department of Children, Schools and Families, together with over 50 delegates from independent and voluntary sector fostering providers.
David Holmes said: "IFPs have a reputation for providing high quality support and services to foster carers, which in turn helps those carers to provide high quality care to looked after children. BAAF welcomes the establishment of NAFP and we look forward to working with the new Association as it develops in the future."
Jackie Edwards commented: "Through the launch of NAFP we aim to give a voice to the independent sector and share models of good practice. We have been overwhelmed by the positive response from providers who welcome the launch of a trade association of this kind."
Business Plan 2009-2011
Please click here for NAFP's Business Plan for 2009-2011
Please click here for NAFP's Annual Accounts 2009