Regional Fostering Services Recensioni 28

I have been working for Regional Fostering Services for 15 months. There are a variety things I could mention, however the most significant which makes my role so rewarding, is working with those across the agency who work so hard to support our foster carers within their roles. All of which sharing the same passion for achieving the best outcomes for the children we care for.

I Have been working with RFS since 2022, my experience with RFS has been positive throughout my work journey. The work enviroment is supportive. The company values teamwork which is evident. Management is supportive and they genuinely care about employee well being.

I recently became a foster carer with Regional Fostering, and I can wholeheartedly say that my experience so far has exceeded all expectations. I look forward to the continued growth and positive impact that this journey will bring. If you're considering becoming a foster carer, I highly recommend it.

I have worked for RFS for almost 2 years now. I love my job and my team and have been supported in many aspects by my line manager. New ideas are always welcome and listened to. I am looking to remain here for the foreseeable future - as a person who likes to change jobs as I always need fresh challenges - this is a testament to RFS as employers for sure. Outstanding company.

Management felt compelled to write the reviews including the 'good service' to push down the bad reviews that have been posted. Refer to the bad ones if you want to work here

I’ve been with RFS for a year and the support from the team has been amazing. I’ve really enjoyed the role and working with everyone, they’ve truly become like a second family to me.

They have always put the LAC first and have gone above and beyond to ensure their needs are being met.

I have been with RFS for over 5 years. I have had the opportunity to start as a SSW and progress through positive opportunities offered. Support offered is amazing as managers and senior managers are always on hand with a open door policy.
The company has supported many carers some of who are new and others who are coming over from other LA's or agencies, the carers receive a high level of support as this supports the best outcomes for the children they care for. We offer a wide variety of support services such as therapeutic groups, support workers who work directly with children and their fostering families, focus groups and a whole load more. We also provide a high level of support to staff with therapeutic training, regular supervision, a great bonus scheme and team building opportunities. The social work staff team have the support of the office admin team to allow them more time on the ground to spend with the fostering families and children.
After 5 years with RFS, I am proud to be part of the team, RFS is child focussed and recognises the importance of supporting/developing staff and carers which will ensure the children outcomes are best achieved.

I felt compelled to write this review to share my experiences. I have worked for RFS for the past couple of years and have always been well supported. I have found my managers to be sympathetic to personal issues, promoted my development and also assisted financially with external training opportunities that have not been available to me elsewhere. My managers are focused on ensuring that children are provided with the best outcomes possible and ensuring that above all safeguarding and record keeping is at a high level. To support me to maintain this we have an amazing admin team who manage the compliance for your cases and we also have access to a support social work team who visit children and carers, support with contact, take children out for activities, complete direct work and much more. This alleviates time for the social workers to focus on the needs of the foster carers and the children and ensure statutory deadlines are met.
I struggle to understand comments such as professional curiosity being put on a back burner as whenever I have raised queries or concerns these have always been looked into appropriately, however of course there has to be evidence to support what you are saying. Yes social worker's will be asked to support carers with their record keeping if necessary and this is part of the role, this would be if carers have had emergencies, personal issues and they have struggled for example. It is up to the allocated social worker to support, train and supervise foster carers and develop them within their roles as carers.
The agency no doubt has high standards and this is not geared by "Ofsted grading", it is focused on the fact these requirements are necessary in order to ensure safety, safeguarding, and that the placements are safe and secure for vulnerable children. The agency reinvests in the service and has always been open to new ideas from what I have seen. Part of social work is having to document everything it is just the nature of the job!
RFS offer a great package of support both financially and practically and recognise hard work and staff that are dedicated and committed to their role and families.

If you are happy to; be over worked, patronised, undervalued, have concerns over looked, put the carers before the children, asked to back date reports, write carers reports for them, have your personal life discussed behind your back (as staff confidentiality does not exist). Importantly, if you are also happy to put your professional integrity and professional curiosity on the back burner as well as putting your registration on the line to tick the boxes to 'please OFSTED' then RFS is definitely for you!

If you don't, then you would be better off looking elsewhere. I think the many members of staff that have moved on from the company, even just in the last year says a lot about what of the company is like.

RFS has some amazing members of staff left that they will loose if they do not change the culture of pushing them to burnout. The staff need to be looked after and respected, as otherwise by this time next year there will be a whole new round of employees. As it was said by one of the senior managers on a team night out, 'you are all replaceable' - nice!

Be prepared to be completely ostracised when you hand your notice in and manipulated into thinking that you may not be 'cut out for the role'.

The main emphasis in these reviews is how the carers are fully supported, however it is a real shame that this support is often to the detriment of the staff and sometimes even the child. Please be aware that there will now be an influx of 5 star reviews written by staff and carers who are 'encouraged' to write reviews as OFSTED are expected soon.

I would recommend anyone who is interested in working for RFS to look at the Trust Pilot 1 star review from Oct 2021, and the one on indeed from March 2021 to take note of everything that is written. It has not and will not change unfortunately and this is a huge shame, as all the members of staff who are still there deserve so much better!

We have recently completed the process to move over from the LA to RFS and attended panel. We have had a very positive experience and the employees we have worked with have been very helpful and knowledgeable. We are looking forward to working with RFS

I have been part of RFS for the last year and have been witness to the hard work they put in to support their staff, children and foster carers.
There is a lot that happens to ensure that everyone is receiving the best possible support- which is evident though the positive outcomes achieved.

Honestly, I wouldn't even give 1 star but I wasn't able to rate any lower. All of the reviews are either by staff, in which management force you to do so. Or carers, in which again, management force or offer more money for the child they have per week. This company is NOT for the children, it is all about the family run business that they have. The business is there to benefit management, not the children. Management come first, carers come second, a random guy named Billy will come next and the very last of the list will be the children. How very sad and unfortunate.

Regional Fostering are an A class fostering service. Providing support, professionalism with empathy when 'we' as a carers may be face unexpected turbulent times. They provide an on call service therefore, being at hand when required of them.
The children in care are the primary concern, of course and are given structured support to cover all their needs. Also all carers are given all the training needs to self develop and equip themselves to do the very best for the looked after children who really need do us.
I am grateful to the experiences gained through Regional Fostering Services

The support I have from regional is an excellent service from communication to management , the last month has been a difficult one , my supervisions are always detailed and never cancelled or re arranged .
The management , Hannah and Mekhan are always at the end of the phone and offer different support and advise .
They have a very child focused approach and fully support my difficult role as a foster carer.

I have been fostering for about a year now, the support I have received since I started was absolutely amazing. The allocated social worker for foster carers are always available and supportive towards any issues or requests that might come up. The staff is super friendly at all times, can only recommended.

I have been working at Regional Fostering for nearly a year now. I love how the company really cares about the Foster Carers and the Children in placement. We have amazing staff who go above and beyond to support these wonderful people who open their homes up to children in need.

We have been fully supported through our first year and hope to have many more with regional

We have been fostering for just over 6 months now with regional, this being our first time fostering, they have supported us all through our journey and made us feel appreciated

Regional fostering has been so helpful in every way .They supported me during my allegation.They also care about the foster Carer’s wellbeing