About us
Outlook Fostering Services is an independent fostering agency with offices in Kent, Sussex and Essex. We currently provide long and short term foster carers for more than 30 local authorities across London and the Home Counties.
We provide child-centred, reliable, efficient and cost effective fostering solutions. Our range of placement options includes:
- Parent and child/baby assessments
- Bridging placements (minimum of one month)
- Solo placements (where there are no other children within the household)
- Short term placements
- Long term placements
- Permanency options
Before placement, we carry out a full assessment to ensure that the best foster care solution is found.
This process works. Over 70% of our looked after children stay with their carers on a long term basis.
Mission Statement
'To work closely with all concerned parties, to provide a quality driven care service that promotes the security and well being of looked after children and their carers.
To involve young people effectively in the development, delivery and evaluation of services which affect their lives.'
Teamwork
We work closely with all agencies involved and become part of the professional team formed when a child is identified as needing support. This allows us to develop individual solutions that can be adapted to meet the changing needs of each foster parent and child.
Our staff and foster carers follow a programme of continuous professional development enabling us to provide support across a broad range of issues. Click here for information on Training.
Every Child Matters
Our services promote every aspect of a child's life including education, health, culture, religion, sexuality and therapeutic needs. We follow the government's Every Child Matters initiative, which promotes the following outcomes:
- Be healthy
- Stay safe
- Enjoy and achieve
- Make a positive contribution
- Achieve economic well-being
Education
Outlook is totally committed to ensuring that all children placed are offered appropriate schooling, but also acknowledges that there are times when immediate access to mainstream or special educational provision is temporarily denied. We are currently investing in nationally accredited educational resources and new technology offering continued support for those children who are out of full time education. Once in school, Outlook also operates a carefully monitored zero tolerance bullying policy, ensuring active support for those children who are most vulnerable and assisting them to reach their maximum potential without hindrance.
Therapy
Outlook aims to meet the therapueutic needs of individual children through the services of organisations such as CAHMS together with independent, nationally accreditted therapists, projects and organisations. Sometimes it is difficult for children and young people to speak to their carers about what has happened because of the distress or guilt that they carry around which can reflect in their behaviour. Through assessment, specific therapy is identified and sourced to support the placement through these difficult periods.
Outlook recognises that both education and therapy help to underpin and sustain a successful placement.