Out of Hours Support for Foster Carers and the Children They Look After

This chapter was added in January 2024.

1. Introduction

The Fostering Service National Minimum Standards (NMS 21) require that all Fostering Agencies provide appropriate out of hours support to its Foster Carers. How this is achieved is not dictated by policy or legislation. Therefore, as a Fostering Agency it is vital that an internal policy is in place to ensure a consistent approach is being undertaking.

Bracknell Forest Council has consistently provided this out of hours support to its Foster Carers via access to a telephone number that is answered by members of the Family Placement Team. This has enabled Foster Carers to talk to people who they know and who know their current situation so can provide appropriate advice and guidance when they need it without having to give full background information and details.

The telephone support is provided at the following times:

Monday 6-11pm
Tuesday 6-11pm
Wednesday 6-11pm
Thursday 6-11pm
Friday 6-11pm
Saturday 12pm -9pm
Sunday 12pm - 9pm

The telephone support is not available on Bank Holidays.

At all other times Foster Carers are able to access the Emergency Duty Service for advice, support and guidance.

2. What Support is provided Out of Hours by the Family Placement Team?

The out of hours support provided includes the following, this is not an exhaustive list but provides examples of the type of support available:

  • Advice and guidance to be given to Foster Carers if a child is missing or not where they are expected to be;
  • Advice and guidance on behaviour management;
  • Advice and guidance in relation to family time arrangements or changes;
  • For Foster Carers to report and share a disclosure or allegation that has been made;
  • For Foster Carers to report significant events and or changes that cannot wait until the next working day;
  • For Foster Carers to report any hospital admissions or health changes for either themselves or a child;
  • For the team to contact Foster Carers who have had a new child move into their home to provide support and advice;
  • For the team to contact Foster Carers who have been experiencing challenges to provide them additional support and a professional to talk to;
  • Liaise with OOH head of service;
  • Understanding the availability list...

The support is intended to be for phone call support rather than by means of text message or Whatsapp so that instant advice and guidance can be given to the Foster Carers.

3. What is the Difference between Out of Hours Support and the Emergency Duty Service?

As stated above the Out of Hours support provided by the Family Placement is based on advice and guidance and does not replace the role of the Emergency Duty Service.

The Emergency Duty Service is available for the following;

  • To respond to emergencies where immediate social care intervention is required to safeguard a vulnerable adult or child, this can include visiting the home;
  • To provide crisis intervention where there are significant welfare concerns that cannot wait until the next working day, this can include visiting the home;
  • To respond to all statutory emergency referrals to the unitary authorities.

4. What happens to the information shared via the Out of Hours Support?

All telephones will be written up and shared via email to the appropriate social workers, professionals and managers to ensure that information is shared as quickly as possible. The information will also be put on to the Foster Carers file as per standard recording policy for all telephone calls and communication.