Service Provider Scheme
Several years ago, in recognition that fostering was becoming a more complex and professional task, we introduced the Service Provider Scheme for all our foster carers. The Service Provider Scheme recognises a carer’s growing competence and confidence through looking after children, attending training and/or achieving the SVQ award.
Most carers enter at Service Provider Level 1 but, in some cases, where carers already have relevant experience (e.g. a professional qualification such as nursing, teaching or social work) they may enter the scheme at Level 2 or Level 3.
After registration foster carers are reviewed at the fostering panel every year. This is an important aspect of our quality assurance but is also an opportunity for foster carers to voice their views about the service they have received in the previous year. Evidence is provided to the fostering panel by both the supervising social worker and the foster carers about the work the carer has undertaken in the previous year and it is the fostering panel which would decide if a fostering family could move up a level (from Level 1 to Level 2 or from Level 2 to Level 3).
Other factors such as availability, attendance at training and personal circumstances can also influence a carer’s ability to progress to the next level.
We hope that having the Service Provider Scheme enables people to see fostering as a career in which they can enhance their skills and progress, as in any other occupation. Different fee levels are paid for the different service provider levels - please see the financial information section.
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