Supervision and Support of Foster Carers

1. Introduction

Foster carers benefit from professional and supportive relationships with the Fostering Service, which help them to provide high-quality care.

Foster carers are part of the team around the child, which is mutually supportive. They are actively involved in planning for the child, and their views are valued by the Local Authority to positively influence children's progress. They work very effectively together with children’s social workers to ensure that placements are appropriate, planned and meet the needs of children. The support provided to foster carers by the Fostering Service is also designed to help them to cope with the additional demands of fostering on their family life.

All approved foster carers will have an allocated, suitably qualified supervising social worker. The allocated supervising social worker is responsible for supervising and supporting carers, ensuring that they have the necessary guidance, support and direction to maintain a quality service, including safe caring practices. This will include an understanding that they must work within the National Minimum Standards for Fostering and the agency's policies, procedures and guidance. The supervising social worker should provide effective support and challenge through the supervision and review processes to ensure that carers are providing high-quality care.

The supervising social worker must also ensure that the foster carers' training and development needs are identified, and that newly approved carers work towards completing the Training, Support and Development Standards for Foster Carers Workbook. They also have the responsibility to ensure foster carers are familiar and made aware of new policies and guidance.

The foster carer(s) should be fully aware of the Notification of Significant Events and the need to immediately report to their supervising social worker or Fostering Agency the following:

• The Death of a Child;
• A Serious illness or serious accident of a child placed with them;
• The outbreak at the foster home of any infectious disease (which in the opinion of a general practitioner attending the home is sufficiently serious to be notified);
• An allegation that a child placed with foster parents has committed a serious offence;
• A child placed with them they have concerns about of being sexually exploited;
• The Police calling to the foster carer's home as a result of a serious incident relating to a child placed there;
• A child placed with the foster carer(s) who has gone missing;
• Any serious concerns about the emotional or mental health of a child, such that a mental health assessment would be requested under the Mental Health Act 1983.

See also: Notifications of Significant Events Procedure.

The child's allocated social worker should be contacted for specific advice or support in relation to the child and their Care Plan and Placement Plan.

2. Planned Supervision Visits

Carers will receive regular and effective supervision that is focused on children’s experiences, needs, plans and feedback. Supervision will recorded by the supervising social worker and stored on the foster carers records.

Arrangements for supervision visits will be agreed with a schedule of dates at the time of the foster carer's formal approval, which will be endorsed by the supervising social worker's line manager. The following sets out the various objectives to be achieved at different stages of the foster carer's registration:

1. After approval:
   • All new carers will be supported to complete the fostering induction programme, with their support, development and training needs assessed and met to comply with the standards and achieve the Induction Standards for the Children's Workforce certificate of completion by their first annual review, or soon after if extra support is required;
   • Each carer will receive the Foster Carers' Handbook and Foster Carer Agreement - 2 copies of the agreement will be signed; one given to the carer and the other placed on the carer's file;
   • Assist carers with any specialist issues for disabled children for e.g. support in completing applications for Carers' Allowance, Disability Living Allowance etc.
2. Before placement:
   • - A risk assessment will be completed with the carer regarding bedroom sharing. (each child over 3 has their own bedroom or, where this is not possible, the sharing of the bedroom has been agreed by the placing authority), mixing with other children in home, etc. Discuss and check equipment (especially in the child's bedroom) and ensure it is appropriate to the age of the child;
   • - Discussions regarding potential children and planning meetings will form part of these meetings;
   • - Ensure essential information regarding a potential child being placed is shared by the child's social worker. This will include any abuse or neglect and the reason for the placement, the child's educational, medical, religious, racial, linguistic and cultural needs;
   • - Arrangements regarding the involvement of birth parents and other family members as well as proposed child contact with birth family members will be clarified;
   • - Confirm arrangements surrounding how individual children's health needs will be met, including supporting children to adopt a healthy lifestyle and diet;
   • - Provide direct support to carers regarding liaising with health and education services;
   • - Explore additional training needs to provide appropriate care when looking after children with particular health complexities or learning need. For foster carers who offer placements to children with a disability, this includes specific training;
   • - Support the carer with establishing training needs needs for appropriate safer care practice, including skills to care for children who have been abused;
   • - Explore financial issues with the carer: allowances, savings, pocket money, leisure activities, toiletries and travelling etc. Clarify the need to cooperate with the terms of the Council's insurance policy for carers;
   • - Establish holiday plans the carers may have made and explore arrangements whether the child can accompany them. Ensure the carer liaises with the child's social worker if alternative arrangements need to be made;
   • - Exchange contact numbers with all relevant members of the family, including out of hours support;
   • Where specialist equipment for children with disabilities is required;
   • - Set date of first visit after the placement;
   • - Let the social worker for a child already in placement know when another child is placed;
   • - Provide carers with training and written policy on behaviour management.
3. During placement:
   • Issues arising, including areas of concern will always be followed up when this is raised during the placement. Ensure appropriate support/advice is offered and in place at the time and not only at reviews;
   • Provide foster carers with breaks from caring as appropriate, which must meet the needs of placed children;
   • Provide information regarding any participation in Strategy Meetings and Section 47 Enquiries relating to the foster family. Always be involved in interviews/support as agreed;
   • Ensure the foster carer has received invitations to child's Looked After Reviews and Child Protection Conferences, and plan to attend with the carer when appropriate;
   • Prepare for and attend Foster Carer Review Meetings (See Review and Termination of Approval of Foster Carers Procedure);
   • Ensure training programme is updated and accessed by carers and carers' family and children;
   • Always ensure visits take place in line with the foster carer's needs, the child's Care Plan and as required;
   • Regularly review and reflect on the Safer Caring Plan noting any changes in household circumstances;
   • Assess and review any health and safety issues within the fostering household arising, including the arrival of any new pets and the environment in which they are kept;
   • Be prepared to offer support through unannounced visits as required;
   • Update Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks on members of the family every 3 years, including those reaching 18 years of age, and other persons who come to live at the home, who are over 18 years;
   • Whilst there is no statutory time interval, as good practice medical information will also be updated at least every 3 years. In the event of any serious concerns about the foster carers health, a review of the foster carers approval will be carried out immediately
   • Preparation of reports for Panel as required under the relevant procedures;
   • Where appropriate contribute to Court Reports as agreed with child's social worker;
   • Discuss how the foster carers can support young people into adulthood as well as helping foster carers to understand how they can contribute to a positive ending for children leaving the placement.
4. End of placement:
   • Discuss with the foster carer and family the arrangements for ending a placement at the earliest possible opportunity. Where this is abrupt or unplanned, support the family as much as possible in what can be a very difficult time;
   • Reflect with the carer and their family all the issues that have led to any unplanned end of a placement and identify any learning/training opportunities;
   • Provide information and sign posting for times when therapeutic support may assist.
   • Assist the foster carer to complete their end of placement report if required;
   • Attend and contribute to disruption Meetings as required.

Supervision is essentially a supportive and enabling two way process to:

• Ensure the foster carers understand how they contribute to the local authority's services for children;
• Enable foster carers to contribute effectively to the plans for the children for whom they are caring ensure that plans for children remain in children’s best interests;
• Provide appropriate monitoring and feedback on the foster carers' work to ensure the Training, Support and Development Standards for Foster Carers are fully met;
• Complete personal development plans for each carer, which are linked to their training and their annual review;
• Support foster carers by providing advice or making this available from elsewhere as appropriate;
• Give foster carers an opportunity to raise any problems and make sure they are addressed appropriately;
• Acknowledge the challenges and demands that the fostering tasks make on foster families and ensure appropriate support is available;
• Recognise and address any difficulties the foster carers' own children may be experiencing arising from fostering; and
• Assist foster carers to work in an anti discriminatory way that respects and promotes individual differences.

The agenda for each meeting should cover:

1. Matters arising from the last supervision;
2. Personal issues, e.g. effect of a placement on the foster carer's own family, changes in the carer's situation and circumstances etc.
3. Child/ren in placement:
   1. Their health, cultural, educational, leisure and contact needs - and any support needs;
   2. Progress and work with respect towards each child's Care Plan;
   3. Any accidents, injuries and illnesses experienced by each child;
   4. Any complaints in relation to children placed with them and their outcomes;
   5. Any concerns around behaviour management in relation to children they are caring for;
   6. Any other significant events (see Section 1, Introduction);
   7. Any medication, medical treatment or first aid administered.
4. Training/development issues for the foster carers and their family;
5. Safe caring and health and safety issues;
6. Foster carer's recording which is to be reviewed by the supervising social worker who should sign the foster carers' diary.

The supervision visits should be recorded on a pro forma Foster Carer Supervision Record, signed by the foster carer and the supervising social worker, and should include:

• Any concerns expressed;
• Any support needs expressed by the foster carers and how they will be met;
• Any financial issues.

A record of all meetings should be kept on the foster carers' file and one copy given to the foster carers.

The supervision records will inform the foster carer's review – see Review and Termination of Approval of Foster Carers Procedure.

3. Frequency of Supervision

Frequency of supervision visits will be proportionate to the amount of care provided in line with national guidance as set out below. A schedule of these visits will be discussed and agreed at the time of the foster carer's approval. This will be endorsed by the social worker's line manager, once agreed.

The frequency of supervision meetings will be:

• At least 4 weekly visits to foster carers who have children on a short term basis or who offer short breaks to children;
• 6 weekly visits to foster carers can occur for two reasons; either they have long term matched children and where they are meeting all other expectations, such as diary sheets and training or if they have not a child placed with them for 8 weeks or more;
• 8 weekly visits to foster carers who are on hold and are not considering caring for a child.

Additional visits and remote communication may be offered/agreed as required. This is to ensure appropriate and timely support is available to the foster carer or any member of their immediate family.

4. Unannounced Visits

There should also be unannounced visits at least once a year. The main purpose of the unannounced visit will be to look at the home environment that a child is living in.

The unannounced visits will be undertaken by the foster carer's supervising social worker who will need to check:

1. Who is in the home;
2. Who is looking after the child;
3. If the carer is not at home, what arrangements have been made for the care of the child.

If the foster carers are not at home, the supervising social worker should leave a note for the foster carers to say that they have visited.

If the foster carers are not at home but the child is present and being looked after by someone else, the social worker should check the identity of that person but should not continue with the visit.

Unannounced visits should be recorded.

There should not ordinarily be a regular programme of unannounced visits without particular reason – for example if a foster carer is being closely monitored. In such an event the reason for such will be explained to the foster carer.

5. Tasks of Social Worker if Allegations are made Against the Carer

For the detailed procedure, see Allegations Against Foster Carers Procedure

Where allegations regarding childcare or child protection are made, the supervising social worker should:

1. Support the family;
2. Discuss fully, with the carer and their family, all the issues that have led to the allegation, as agreed at the Strategy Meeting;
3. Make the carers aware of the process and of their rights during any investigation;
4. Make the carer's aware of their own possible conflict of interests and inform them of where they can seek alternative support and advice from the Fostering Network or other independent sources.

Further Information

Transfer of Foster Carers Protocol England