We are offering kinship foster carers from each of the Health and Social Care Trusts the opportunity to participate in a one night residential with a focus on improving health and well-being in a relaxed environment. Attendees will also have the opportunity to gain an OCN Level 1 Award in Healthy Living.

The changes in The Special Guardianship (Amendment) Regulations 2016 include a strengthening of the assessment of prospective special guardians to ensure that they can fully meet the needs of the child through until adulthood.

The report, Keep Connected: Maintaining Relationships When Moving On, part of the charity’s campaign of the same name, spoke to over 175 children and young people, and over 1,100 foster carers. 

A survey of young people showed:

The strategy will support foster carers to better understand how the education system works, and to feel better equipped to engage, support, and educationally challenge the children young people in their care. It also calls for foster carers to be viewed as an equal part of the team around the child to ensure they are able to support the ambitions and aspirations of the children in their care.

The strategy is supported by a detailed action plan and the Welsh Government will monitor delivery against the plan on an annual basis.

The prestigious event will take place in the Hilton Hotel, Belfast on Friday 20 May 2016. Each year these awards recognise and celebrate the contribution individual foster carers and kinship foster carers make towards the lives of children in foster care.