Hull Fostering have been nominated for a national award under the ‘Amazing Social Worker Team’ category by the British Association of Social Workers.
Hull City Council’s Principal Social Worker Claire Rutherford nominated the fostering team and said;
“When a child cannot live with their own family sometimes, they need to live with an approved foster person or family, and that is fostering.
Our carers are amazing, they are a diverse community, from a wide range of different backgrounds, lifestyles, relationship status’s and professions.
The fostering team is made up of dedicated, passionate, and caring social workers who’s job it is to make sure children can remain living in the city they know and love. The children and young people in our care deserve the most nurturing setting possible to enable them to thrive. The teamwork flexible hours to ensure that when children cannot live with their family, that they seek foster carers or supported lodgings who can provide a safe and supportive home for children to live. The nomination comes because Hull is the largest fostering service in the local area and when things are tough they all come together to ensure that they provide the best possible support to foster carers, they have the same goals and aspirations for children and young people.
Over the last year the leaders and the Group Manager have worked relentlessly to reinvigorate the service and their marketing campaign has put a spotlight on the importance of fostering and the difference carers can make. The team have shared their messages on a weekend in the Hull community to raise awareness, they walked the Humber Bridge to raise awareness and featured on BBC Look North.
They have focused on the messages from foster carers in terms of what they needed to thrive as carers and as a result have an excellent training package which is linked to trauma informed practice . The team have a dedicated website, that they developed this year. The news stories are regular and shine a light on the reality of the role, including interesting articles about carers.
Raising the profile of fostering has all been done alongside the day job and at the same time they launched the Mockingbird Family Model in Hull. In true Hull style they celebrated the success of this with families, children and young people and carers. Who were presented with awards in recognition of their kindness and care.
Mockingbird is a unique programme, that brings together up-to 10 fostering families to offer mutual support, respite, and stability to one-another, building a family style relationship between them all who they can confidentially rely upon when support is needed.
They are a team who respect each other and play a vital role in the lives of children and young people’s future care. The tremendous work that has been achieved from the leaders and the entire team has absolutely made a difference to children and those who care for them. This is a special thank you from your colleagues across the City of Hull.“
Lindsey Bates, from British Association of Social Workers, said; “We’d like to say a heartfelt thank you for your selfless dedication to our profession and the people we support – for being an Amazing Social Worker. You will receive a certificate as acknowledgement of your achievement in April.
Congratulations again – and thank you.”
To read more about our nomination, please click on this link: Amazing Social Workers 2023 profiles | www.basw.co.uk
To learn more about Hull Fostering, please visit our website www.HullFostering.co.uk.
