3.3.8 Safe Caring Guidance

AMENDMENTS

This chapter was amended in March 2010 see Section 10, Reporting Missing Children and Section 11, Notes of Guidance.

What is Safe Caring?
Safe Caring Guidelines for Individual Foster Homes
Reviewing Safe Caring Guidelines
Safeguarding Children - The Foster Carer's Role
Talking to Children
Child Protection Procedures
Child Protection Investigations
Child Protection Conferences
Children and Young People Missing or in Trouble
Reporting Missing Children
Notes of Guidance
Bullying
Overnight Stays
Permanent Placements

1. What is Safe Caring?

Safe caring means that social workers and foster carers will be alert to the possibilities of abusive situations arising within foster homes and in the various aspects of the work carried out by the fostering service.

Safe caring in the foster home means:

all efforts will be made to ensure that children and young people are kept safe from abuse and inappropriate care or experiences, not only by those directly responsible for their care but also others whom they may come into contact with as a result of placement in that household
all members of the foster family, anyone residing or staying within their household or visiting, are alerted and as far as is reasonably practicable protected from abuse arising from fostering, including the risk of false allegations.

Foster carers should exercise caution in their everyday lives and may need to protect themselves in practical ways, such as not being alone in the bathroom with a child or young person bathing or showering, finding ways to demonstrate affection which cannot be misconstrued, having another person present when exercising discipline or if this is not possible, making it clear that the approach has been shared with social workers.

Foster carers can take particular steps according to the known experiences, difficulties or needs of the child or young person placed, but must also heed the possibility that not all of their experiences will be known. For example, a child may engage in inappropriate sexualised behaviour so that to leave them alone with other children or an unaware adult holds high risks for everyone.

Where a child is known to have either experienced or perpetrated physical or sexual abuse, or has a history of other dangerous behaviour such as fire starting or cruelty to animals a written risk assessment should be provided by the child's social worker. If this is not provided you should inform your supervising social worker.

In deciding how to work with any child and their family, the child's and supervising social worker, together with the foster carers should aim to identify what levels of risk are involved and record how joint responsibility is to be taken and managed by social work staff and the carer.

You should speak immediately with your supervising social worker if you are in any doubt about a situation which could affect your ability to provide safe care or put yourself at risk of allegations. You should recognise that both the demands of foster caring and personal stress levels may affect your capacity to maintain your safeguards.

We recognise that some information relating to foster carers' personal details may need to be exposed for the purposes of discussion on safe caring. There is the utmost respect for confidentiality and information will only be shared on a 'need to know' basis and with your consent.

2. Safe Caring Guidelines for Individual Foster Homes

Standard 9.3 of the National Minimum Standards for Fostering Services requires safe caring guidelines to be provided, based on a written policy, for each foster home, in consultation with the carer and everyone else in the household.

Assessing social workers will ensure that guidelines are produced for all new carers, based on the Safeguarding and Safe Caring Policy, during the assessment process. For carers approved before the implementation of this policy, your supervising social worker will work with you and the other members of your household to draw up your safe caring guidelines.

A copy of your guidelines will be retained by the supervising social worker on your record and these must be discussed with the child's social worker before any child is placed with you.

Consideration will need to be given at this stage to the needs of the child and implication of the guidelines. In some cases it may be apparent that the proposed match is not suitable and an alternative placement should be identified.

The safe caring guidelines should be shared with the child in an age appropriate way as early as possible in the placement. Ideally this will be prior to or at the point of placement, but in all cases must be done no later than the Placement Agreement meeting. In some cases the guidelines may need to be adjusted because of the child's specific needs or background and the Placement Agreement meeting should be used as the opportunity to agree any required changes.

3. Reviewing Safe Caring Guidelines

Foster carers are responsible for maintaining the foster home in at least as good a physical state to that which it was in at the point of approval. Safe caring guidelines will need to be revised as the circumstances of your household change. This should be done immediately if there are significant changes such as someone joining your household or if you move house. In such cases the revised guidelines will need to be cleared with the social worker of any child in placement.

The guidelines should also be considered at the point of every child's review or Placement Agreement review to ensure they remain up to date and appropriate.

Your supervising social worker will regularly speak with you about the demands and risks involved in your current placements and you should both keep up-to-date written records.

4. Safeguarding Children - The Foster Carer's Role

Everyone who cares for children has a role in protecting them. In practical terms for foster carers, this means getting to know a child well enough to notice anything which is out of the ordinary. It is your responsibility to report any concerns you have about a child.

Many of the children that you will foster will have been abused physically, sexually or emotionally, or neglected to some degree. It can be difficult to be objective about such issues and it is just as easy to assume that it never happens as it is to believe that all children are abused.

As ever, the truth is somewhere in between and it is important that you understand and identify your own feelings towards abused children and their abusers before they become involved. It is also necessary to be able to recognise the symptoms and types of behaviour that are a likely result of abuse in order to respond appropriately.

Categories of Abuse

There are different categories of child abuse and carers should be alert to signs of them. These include:

Physical injury: is the explanation consistent with the injury?
Red eye - a sub-conjunctival or retinal haemorrhage.
Bruises - suspicious head or facial bruising in a young non-mobile child, different ages of bruising, inconsistent history of how bruising occurred.
Burns or scolds - suspicious if on the mouth, back of hands, or lower body from immersion.
Bite marks - could be adult human.
Fractures - a spiral fracture can be particularly suspicious in a non-walking child.
Poisoning - could be deliberate.
Apnoea attack (stoppage of breath) - could be from suffocation.
Sexual abuse.
Sexualised behaviour in a child inappropriate for their age.
Any disclosures from a child.
Vaginal discharge in a pre-pubertal child.
Genital injury.
Sexually transmitted diseases, genital warts or underage pregnancy.
Neglect.
Failure to thrive including low weight for the child's size and age, or loss of weight not caused by illness.
Eating disorders.
Untreated ailments such as nappy rash, poor hygiene and unkempt appearance or inappropriate clothing.
Emotional abuse - difficult to recognise because happiness and unhappiness in children separated from their families may have different causes.
Being scapegoated.
Loner.
Lack of self-esteem.
Under achievement.
Fearful and withdrawn.

Groups of children who are more likely to be abused are:

Young children.
Children with disabilities or special needs.
Looked after children.
Children with communication difficulties.
Children who have been abused previously.

Children are also more likely to be abused if they come from family backgrounds including:

Domestic violence.
Mental health problems.
Drug and alcohol abuse.
Single isolated parent.
Previous history of abuse.
History of poor parenting and being in care.

5. Talking to Children

When a child speaks about what appears to be an abusive situation, you should try to remember the following:

The child should be listened to but not interrogated nor asked to repeat their account.
Show that you accept what they are saying, and that you take it seriously.
Take care not to make assumptions or interpretations about what the child is saying.
Encourage the child to talk and try not to interrupt.

You should make careful notes of what was said, trying to use the child's actual words, and note other significant information including who else was present, the time and place.

You should contact the child's worker, or their manager or duty team if they are not available. Make a record of who you speak to and the actions you take. Tell the child that you must do this - you should not make promises to the child that you will not tell anyone else. You must always inform your supervising social worker of any issue relating to a child in your care.

6. Child Protection Procedures

Each local authority is responsible for establishing a Local Safeguarding Children's Board (LSCB). This put the former Area Child Protection Committee (ACPC) on a statutory footing. LSCB's objectives are to co-ordinate and ensure its member agencies' effectiveness in safeguarding and promoting children's welfare. The LSCB also run inter-agency child protection training for professionals within Lambeth, which all foster carers must attend within their first year of approval. Details are published in the Lambeth Foster care training programme.

7. Child Protection Investigations

Lambeth Children's Social Care have to investigate any referral of concern that is made to us about a child. A strategy meeting will be held to decide whether further investigation is required. If it is decided to proceed then the investigation may include the police and the health department.

The tasks of the investigation are:

To establish the facts about the circumstances giving rise to the concern.
To decide if there are grounds for concern.
To identify sources and levels of risk.
To decide protective or other action in relation to the child and any others.

The length and extent of the investigation will vary according to the circumstances. Following the investigation, a senior manager will decide:

Whether there are child protection concerns which require a Child Protection Conference, or
There are no child protection concerns but there are child in need issues which need resolving, or
No further involvement is necessary.

You will be informed about the outcome of the initial assessment. If you do not agree with the decisions made you can challenge them using our complaints and representation procedures.

8. Child Protection Conferences

A Child Protection Conference is held to decide whether a child requires a formal Child Protection Plan. It does not decide the guilt or innocence of parents or others, nor the child's future, although it may make recommendations to the professional concerned as to what needs to happen.

Parents or carers and the child (if they are old enough) will be invited. These people will only be excluded in exceptional circumstances and if this happens then full reasons will be given, for example that their presence may prejudice legal proceedings or police investigations, or disruption proceedings. The child may object to a person's presence and this will be taken seriously.

Where it is established that there is a risk of significant harm to a child, their name may be placed on the Child Protection Register and a Child Protection Plan formed. The plan and the need for the child's name to be on the register will be reviewed at least every six months.

Notification of serious occurrences

Under the terms of the Foster Care Agreement you are required to notify us of any significant events affecting any child in your care. This includes but is not limited to:

Any illness or accident suffered by the child.
Outbreak in your home of any infectious disease.
Allegation that the child has committed an offence.
Any use of physical restraint against the child.
Involvement or suspected involvement of the child in prostitution.
Any incident relating to the child necessitating calling the police to your home.
Any absence of the child from the placement without permission.
Failure of the child to attend school.
Any incidents of bullying suffered by the child.

9. Children and Young People Missing or in Trouble

Young people missing or absconding

When a child or young person goes missing or absconds, it raises a number of issues and anxieties for carers. A child or young person may go missing for a wide variety of reasons. The reasons, circumstances, age and level of competence are all factors in assessing the level of risk for the child or young person, their family and members of the public. These must be taken into account when all the adults involved are determining an appropriate response.

10. Reporting Missing Children

In all instances, when a child goes missing, the corporate missing from care procedure should be followed and the relevant appendices completed. You should speak with your supervising social worker if you do not have a copy of this procedure and associated appendices.

If a foster child runs away during working hours you should contact your supervising social worker immediately. They will tell the child's social worker.

You should notify the police and the Out of Hours service if this occurs outside of normal office hours. Out of Hours will inform your supervising social worker and the child's social worker in the morning. You should also speak with your supervising social worker the next morning.

The child or young person's parents should also be notified. You should speak with the child's social worker about whether you or they will do this.

11. Notes of Guidance

If the social worker is aware that a child or young person is likely to abscond then agreements can be made about how you should respond. This can include what you should do both prior to the absence and when the young person is returned. If this is a regular form of behaviour then how it should be handled should be recorded in the Child's Care Plan and the child's individual risk assessment. The plan and risk assessment should offer clear instructions on the required practical steps and how to manage the child's behaviour or reactions.

Attempts should always be made to dissuade the child or young person from absconding, but physical restraint should not be used unless there is a risk of serious harm to themselves or others, and when all other attempts have failed.

When reporting a child or young person missing the police will ask you for basic details such as their physical appearance and identifying features, legal status, the name and address of whoever has parental responsibility, medical details and state of mind. The corporate missing from care procedures also includes a missing from care information sharing grab pack appendix where this and other information about the child or young person is documented by you and kept securely for such times.

It is frequently the case that children or young people who go missing find it difficult to return. The longer they are away, the harder it is for them to come back. Regardless of the manner by which they return, it is important that they should not feel rejected by your response or reaction.

This does not mean that sanctions are not appropriate. However, the child's physical and emotional well being must be your primary concern. Attention must be given to the need for food, drink and hygiene and also to any injuries which they may have sustained.

If sanctions are appropriate then they must be in line with our general guidelines on behaviour management policy and the child's individual behaviour management plan or Care Plan.

You should record details of all absences and returns, and your ideas about the circumstances which led to the child or young person going missing.

If a child or young person is arrested, the police will inform you and it is important that you contact the child's social worker or the Out of Hours team immediately.

A person under age 17 cannot be interviewed by the police unless an appropriate adult such as you, the social worker or their parents is present (except for very rare occasions). If you have been asked to attend as an 'appropriate adult' then it is your task to make sure the child is treated fairly whilst you are there.

Usually when you arrive at the police station you will be taken to the custody suite where you will meet the custody sergeant. The custody sergeant is independent of the case and is not involved in the interview process. They are there to ensure that the child is treated properly. It is the officer dealing with the case who will conduct the interview.

You should consider asking for a solicitor to be present. This may be important in situations where the offence is serious or, complicated or disputed. A solicitor's attendance and advice at the police station is free of charge for everyone.

Whilst a child is in the police station they have certain legal rights:

To have someone told they have been arrested.
To request an interpreter free of charge if required.
To request a medical examination by a doctor.
To consult the Codes of Practice covering police powers and procedures.
To speak with an independent solicitor.

These requests can be made at any time during the young person's time at the police station.

You have the right to see the young person to check that they are alright, for example that they are not too tired or ill to be interviewed.

The police will caution the young person at the beginning of the interview. The interview can be stopped at any time by the young person, yourself or the solicitor for the purpose of taking further advice or if you are unhappy about the way it is being conducted. Police officers may not use threats or bribes to gain information from a young person. In general, interviews are tape-recorded. At the end of the interview you will be asked to sign the seal for the tape.

After the interview the police will make a decision on what action to take:

It might be decided that no further action will be taken
The young person may be considered for an immediate caution or informal warning
The young person may be bailed to return to the police station at another time
The young person may be charged and bailed to appear in court. This bail may be with or without conditions and these will be explained by the custody sergeant. A notice will be given to you with the date of this appearance
If the young person is cautioned or charged then they will be photographed and finger-printed.
If you feel the young person has been treated badly and you want to make a complaint about the service you have received, you should make the complaint to the custody sergeant unless it concerns them, in which case it should be made to the duty inspector.

12. Bullying

Many children suffer badly because they are bullied. Bullying takes several forms including name calling; physical violence such as pushing, punching or pulling hair; gestures; extortion for money, food or homework; and exclusion from friendship. If you are aware that a child in your care is being bullied the most important thing is to listen to their worries.

Responding to suspicions or incidents of bullying

All suspected or actual incidents of bullying will be taken seriously by Lambeth City Council. The incident will be fully investigated and support will be provided to the victim as well as their carers.

Foster carers should ensure that you record all suspected or actual incidents and report these to the child's social worker as soon as possible.

The carer and social worker should formulate a plan to address the concerns and this should include:

Who should talk to the child.
Who else needs to be notified (e.g. schools, birth parents.)
Whether any immediate action is needed to safeguard the child.

The plan should involve any relevant others, including:

The foster child.
Other children in the household.
The foster child's birth parent(s).
The bully.
The social workers and parents of other children in the foster home.
Other relevant professionals such as teachers and therapists.

After the concerns have been discussed with the child, if bullying is confirmed or continues to be suspected then a protection plan should be drawn up to attempt to ensure the bullying ceases and does not re-occur.

If the bullying is being done by someone outside of the foster home then attempts should be made to engage the bully's parents in helping to put an end to the bullying. The social worker rather than the carer should normally undertake any contact with parents in such circumstances.

13. Overnight Stays

Research has shown that looked after children find the issue of obtaining permission to stay overnight with friends one of the most cumbersome and discriminatory ones affecting their lives. In each case there is a balance to be struck between the need to ensure that the child is protected from harm and that they are not unnecessarily singled out for different treatment from other children, nor denied ordinary childhood experiences as a result of being looked after.

Lambeth Children's Social Care needs to take all steps that a reasonable parent would to ensure that proposed arrangements are in the child's best interests. This will include making use of sources of information readily available to us that would not be available to parents. In essence, the decision is based on an assessment of risk, as in the case by any reasonable parent. Criminal Records Bureau checks would not normally be sought.

Ideally the possibility of overnight stays should be discussed at Placement Agreement meetings and any variation from the following procedure included in the Placement Agreement.

No child should be given permission for an overnight stay unless this has been agreed with the child's social worker, foster carer and, where relevant, the child's parents in advance.

Where there is a request for a child to stay overnight with friends the child's social worker or foster carer must consider the following:

Are there any relevant restrictions contained for exceptional reasons in the child's Care Plan, Placement Agreement or any court orders, which restrict the child from making particular overnight stays?
Are there factors in the child's past experiences or behaviour which would preclude overnight stays?
Are there grounds for concern that the child may be at significant risk in the household concerned or from the activities proposed?
Is the child staying in the household with another child or children, rather than staying solely with an adult or adults?
The child's age and level of understanding.
What is known about the purpose of the overnight stay.
The address and composition of the household must be known and recorded.
The child staying overnight must have the foster carer's contact details.

14. Permanent Placements

Where a child has been matched with permanent foster carers and this match has been approved by the decision-maker, the authority to allow one-off overnight stays is delegated to the permanent foster carer.

Where it is proposed that a child stays overnight with a non-approved carer on a regular basis, the child's social worker must obtain a Criminal Records Bureau disclosure for every member of the household aged over 16 years. They must also prepare a brief assessment report covering the areas outlined above and present this to their Team Leader.

End