Support, training, celebration and benefits

Right from the start of your journey, we work as team to support you, and this support doesn’t stop at the point you are approved as a Luton foster carer. Our offer to our Luton carers is as follows: 

Support

• All approved Luton foster carers have a dedicated supervising social worker who will offer support, as needed, around the fostering role. This could include attending meetings together, visits/calls or exploring additional support the fostering family may need externally. Supervising social workers are there for their carers, to champion them and to ensure they can do the best for the children they are looking after. We have a dedicated team of experienced supervising social workers, who thoroughly understand fostering in Luton
Luton Foster Carers Association (LFCA) is run by our foster carers as a resource to support, promote and enable the best outcome for foster carers and the children in their care. All foster carers automatically become members of the association following approval. More information regarding the LFCA
 
Foster carers have access to the virtual school. The virtual school helps children in care and care-experienced young people succeed in education
 
• Membership of The Fostering Network, a national organisation that provides additional access to external resources, including support training and 24 hour advice line
• Access to membership content with New Family Social. New Family Social is a UK charity, led by LGBTQ+ adopters and foster carers. New Family Social exists to help prospective carers decide if adoption or fostering is right for them and then support them on their journey. They also work with agencies to develop their services to be as LGBTQ+ inclusive and friendly as possible
• Foster Carers can access our employee assistance programme. This is a professional service that offers counselling, information and support for all types of work and personal related issues. It’s available 24 hours a day, seven days a week by calling a freephone number or via a live chat service

Mockingbird

 

Luton Council are excited to soon be launching Mockingbird.

Mockingbird, a global award winning and pioneering programme led by The Fostering Network in the UK, delivers sustainable foster care. It is an evidence-based model structured around the support and relationships an extended family provides.

The model nurtures the relationships between children, young people and foster families supporting them to build a resilient and caring community.

Led by a hub home carer and liaison worker, the constellation community offers vital peer support and guidance alongside social activities and sleepovers to strengthen relationships and permanence.

The following video explains more about Mockingbird

Training

We have a range of learning opportunities available for our foster carers and encourage our carers to complete a minimum of 6 learning/training activities in their first 12 months of approval, and a minimum of 3 learning/training activities per year for the duration of their fostering journey with Luton. 

The training offer includes learning themes around safeguarding, impact of trauma, communication and foster carer skills. Our online learning offer allows foster carers to access learning within over 90 different areas, within their own time.

We are excited to be consulting with our foster carers to launch a completely transformed offer over the next year.

Our partnership with Foster East has provided us with further learning opportunities such as access to Virtual Reality (VR) within our learning offer. VR is technology which creates an immersive experience, allowing us to interact and see simulated worlds as if they were real. For example, to experience life as an unborn baby in utero. It helps us to view the impact of experiences and trauma through a different lens.

All foster carers who are new to the role are additionally supported by working through the Training and Development Standards (TSD) workbook. The Training, Support and Development (TSD) standards form part of a foster carer's induction in the role. They provide a national minimum benchmark that sets out what foster carers should know, understand and be able to do within the first 12 to 18 months after being approved.

The supervising social worker will complete a personal development plan, which is reviewed at least yearly, which focuses on learning and development opportunities. 

Celebration

We have a commitment to celebrating our carers through recognising the amazing work they do every day, and also through celebration events. 

A yearly celebration event is held, with our recent celebration being in November 2024. This was an evening to remember with food, cake, inspiring speeches and a lovely space to come together, talk and celebrate each other. Below is feedback from one of our carers: 

“Could you please forward this to the people who made me feel important and appreciated at the fostering event I just wanted to say a big thank you for a lovely evening”

Benefits

Foster carers are able to access a package of offers and discounts. From takeaway pizzas, gym membership and travel discounts, to Luton Rewards, offering savings on holidays abroad and more. 

Alongside our competitive fees and allowances, Luton Council offer an annual £1000 contribution to council tax to all foster carers approved with Luton Council. This is reviewed yearly and paid on a pro rata basis for any carers approved within the year. This is a recognition by the Council of our foster carers and their commitment to supporting and caring for Luton’s children and young people. 

Contact us

Please reach out to us if you have any questions at all. Our team are available to answer your questions 8am to 8pm Monday to Sunday.

Phone: 01582 547633
Online: Express an interest: A member of our team will be in touch within 24 hours