• contents
• keywords & contacts
• quick guide
• forms library
• values
• contact us
• search

Contents

1. Support and Supervision of Approved Foster Carers
2. Support for Carers
3. Out of Hours Support
4. Foster Carer Training
5. Conflict or Complaints
6. Respite
7. Review of Foster Carer Approval
8. Notification Procedure Following Foster Carer Review by Panel
9. Termination of Approval

1. Support and Supervision of Approved Foster Carers

All approved foster carers will be allocated a supervising Social Worker.  The Social Worker should arrange an initial supervision visit within 7 days of the carers' approval.  During this visit the Social Worker will confirm that the carer understands the requirements and processes linked to their approval.  The carer will also receive a copy of the Carers' Handbook and other relevant information (e.g. appropriate phone numbers) and procedures.  Supervising Social Workers will also maintain contact with the carer through visits, telephone calls and electronic communication as required.

When a child is in placement, the supervising Social Worker will visit the carers on at least a monthly basis.  Newly approved carers and those who are caring for children with high levels of need must be visited more frequently.  These supervision visits will include at least one unannounced visit per year in accordance with Standard 22.6 of the Fostering Services National Minimum Standards and apply equally to all carers, including relatives and friends.

Supervising social workers should ensure the following tasks are done:

Post Approval

1. Ensure that all new carers complete the induction programme and that their support, development and training needs are assessed and met so that they meet the standards and achieve the CWDC certificate of completion by their first annual review, or soon after if extra support is required;
2. Give Foster Carers' Handbook to new carer;
3. Give Foster Carer Agreement to the carer: 2 copies to be signed and one returned and placed on the carer's file;
4. Support carers with any specialist issues for disabled children for e.g. support in completing applications for Carers' Allowance, Disabled Living Allowance etc.

Pre-Placement

5. Complete risk assessments surrounding 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 in placement;
6. Take part in discussions about potential placements;
7. Take part in planning meetings regarding placements;
8. Ensure that the child's social worker give the foster family full information about children about to be placed, including a history of abuse or suspected abuse and the reason for the placement, the child's educational, medical, religious, racial, linguistic and cultural needs;
9. Discuss issues relevant to contact with birth parents and other family members;
10. Discuss how child's health needs are promoted and how children should be encouraged to adopt a healthy lifestyle;
11. Assist carers in dealing with other relevant services such as health and education;
12. Discuss appropriate training to provide appropriate care when caring for children with complex health needs;
13. Assist carer with training needs for appropriate safer care practice, including skills to care for children who have been abused. For foster carers who offer placements to disabled children, this includes training specifically on issues affecting disabled children;
14. Discuss financial issues with the carer: allowances, pocket money, leisure activities, toiletries and travelling etc. and the importance of complying with the terms of the Council's insurance policy for carers;
15. Enquire about holiday plans the carers have made, and if the child is able to join them?  If not the carer must inform the child's social worker so alternative arrangements can be made;
16. Exchange contact numbers with all relevant members of the family, including out of hours support;
17. That arrangements are made for the provision of specialist equipment for disabled children;
18. Set date of first visit after the placement;
19. Let the social worker for a child already in placement know when another child is placed;
20. Provide carers with training and written policy on behaviour management.

During Placement

21. Where necessary, check and follow up on all issues raised during the placement. Discuss any areas of concern with foster carers and ensure appropriate support/advice is addressed and in place at the time rather than waiting for reviews;
22. Provide foster carers with breaks from caring as appropriate, which must meet the needs of placed children;
23. Take part in any Strategy Meetings and Section 47 Enquiry relating to the foster family. Be involved in interviews/support as agreed;
24. Ensure the supervising social worker and the foster carers receive invitations to child's Looked After Reviews and Child Protection Conferences, and attend when appropriate;
25. Prepare for and attend Foster Carer Review Meetings (See Support, Supervision and Review of Foster Carers Procedure);
26. Ensure training programme is updated and accessed by carers and carers' family and children;
27. Visit regularly;
28. Make unannounced visits as required;
29. Update Criminal Records Bureau checks on members of the family every three years, including those reaching sixteen years of age, and other persons who come to live at the home, who are sixteen plus;
30. Update medicals on the carers every 2 years or as necessary;
31. Record contact with carers;
32. Provide reports for Panel as required under the relevant procedures;
33. Where appropriate contribute to Court Reports as agreed with child's social worker;
34. Discuss how the carers can support young people into adulthood.

At End of Placement

35. Support the family as much as possible in what can be a very difficult time.
36. Discuss fully 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.
37. Assist the foster carer to complete their end of placement report if required.

Attend Disruption Meetings as required

The supervising Social Worker is responsible for maintaining liaison with the Social Workers for the children in placement in order that they are aware of the children's needs and can offer appropriate levels of support and consider training and development needs. They must ensure that feedback is obtained from children's Social Workers annually and following the ending of any placement.

Supervising Social Workers should attend all Looked After Children reviews for children in placement with their carers so that they can be fully aware and supportive of the Child's Care Plan.

Framework Actions: Social worker updates carer's case record following every placement and supervisory visit

2. Support for Carers

All Lambeth Foster carers are automatically members of the Lambeth Foster Carer Association and of the Fostering Network, the national association for foster carers (formerly NFCA).  Representatives from the association meet regularly with managers from the Fostering Service to discuss issues of relevance and to develop and improve joint working. Additionally, there is a foster carers' support group, facilitated by workers from the fostering team which enables carers to gain peer support as well as professional advice.  The group is also a vehicle for developing wider networks which enhances the service provided by the supervising Social Worker.  Foster carers are also encouraged to attend the meetings of the Lambeth Foster Carers Association.

3. Out of Hours Support

The Out of Hours service operates during the evenings, weekends and Bank Holiday periods. Carers will be provided with the telephone number of the service by their supervising Social Worker.

4. Foster Carer Training

The Care Standards Act 2000, the National Minimum Standards and the Children Workforce Development Council Standards make the training of foster carers an important priority.  Training for carers begins at the point of referral and will continue throughout the assessment process and their life as carers.  Foster Carers will be offered a range of training opportunities and will be expected to attend all mandatory training, as well as additional training identified by their supervising Social Worker in the light of their particular needs. 

Any training attended will be entered into the foster carer's training profile. The training profile is used to monitor a foster carer's progress through mandatory and core training and included in the annual review. All carers, including kinship carers, are expected to attend training.

Each carer will be provided with a Personal Development Plan.

Framework Actions Supervising Social Worker updates carers training record following all training and development activities.

5. Conflict or Complaints

Supervising Social Workers must ensure that their carers have access to independent support and advice in the event of any allegation or concern regarding the carer; or in any other situation where there is a potential conflict of interest with Lambeth.

6. Respite

Lambeth recognises that fostering, although rewarding, can be very demanding on carers and other members of their household.  It is important that carers have the opportunity to have a break if they wish to do so after placements have ended.

A paid respite break of 2 weeks is also provided for carers who have  a child placed with them for a minimum of 3 months.  

The need for respite care should be discussed and agreed on a case by case basis, taking account of the needs of the child as well as the need to sustain the placement. It is important to avoid the child feeling that a respite arrangement is in any sense a punishment for difficult behaviour and it is important that supervising Social Workers ensure that carers are aware of this

Any potential need for respite should be discussed and agreed at the beginning of the placement and recorded in the child's Care Plan and the Placement Agreement. Where this is not possible arrangements for respite should normally be agreed within a statutory childcare review or Placement Agreement review meeting.

7. Review of Foster Carer Approval

Every approved foster carer must have their approval reviewed at least once a year.  This must also take place whenever the carer has not been actively fostering for six months or more.

A review of approval will also take place in the event of:

1. A serious complaint or allegation made about the foster care;
2. A death in the foster home;
3. A major change in the circumstances of the carer or a member of their household;
4. A change in the marital status of the foster carer or partnership;
5. A serious change in the health of the foster carer;
6. A house move;
7. Where there is a need to alter the terms of the carer's registration or terminate their approval; and
8. At the request of the foster carer.

At the end of each foster placement the child's Social Worker should be reminded by the Supervising Social Worker to  provide a  feedback report of their view of the foster placement and the views of the child (subject to age and understanding) and parents where possible. (This document is available in the Framework documents menu) The report will be sent to the foster carer's supervising Social Worker and placed on the foster carer's case record. Where placements which have not ended and a review of approval is due then the child's Social Worker will be asked for the report prior to the review of approval.

The foster carer's supervising Social Worker will compile a review report on the standard review form, ensuring that all relevant information is obtained and collated from the relevant parties.  The foster carer should be given a typed draft of this report before it receives final approval to check for factual accuracy. Please note however that this should not refer to any information or issue that has not previously been discussed with the carer.  They will be invited to add comments and sign the final report before it receives final approval. A copy of the signed report should be given to the foster carer to keep.

A review meeting will be held which will include the foster carer and the Supervising Social Worker. The discussion and recommendation for further approval will be recorded and passed to the Head of Service of Adoption and Fostering for a final agency decision. The Supervising Social Worker. will ensure that the foster carer is sent written confirmation of the outcome of the review of approval and any tasks arising form the review.

Reviews of approval will be presented in the following circumstances to the Lambeth Fostering Panel or in the case of Permanent Fostering, the Adoption and Permanency Panel:

1. Where this is the first review after panel approval;
2. Where a variation in the terms of approval, type of fostering, age range, or numbers of children is sought;
3. Where there is significant concern regarding the carer's continued suitability to foster;
4. Where there has been a major change in the household circumstances;
5. Where in the view of the Independent Reviewing Officer there are any other issues that require the advice of the panel.

Framework Actions IRO uploads the carers annual review onto the case record and notifies the relevant Team Manager and Social Worker.

8. Notification Procedure Following Foster Carer Review by Panel

Where foster carers have not attended the panel they will be contacted by the presenting social worker as soon as possible following the meeting to inform them of the panel recommendation or decision.

The assessing Social Worker will ensure that:

1. The Foster Carer Register and Foster Carer's case record are updated with the decision;
2. A copy of all notification letters, a copy of the signed decision sheet and a copy of the panel minutes are placed on the foster carer's case record.

Panel minutes must not be sent to the foster carer.

9. Termination of Approval

Approvals of foster carers by Lambeth must be formally terminated when it Is decided that a foster carer is no longer suitable or no longer wishes to continue fostering. This follows consideration by the relevant panel. Cases will be presented to the panel after a process of review of approval or assessment. It is not sufficient to stop placing children; there must be a formal termination of approval. 

Termination of approval against the wishes of a carer is a serious step. Unless there has been an instance of gross misconduct or other serious breach of responsibilities as a foster carer termination of approval must only be considered after all reasonable steps have been taken to deal with areas of concern through   training, increased supervision, support from other carers or other appropriate measures.

Prior to a Panel considering termination of approval, foster carers must:

1. Be informed in writing of the date of the panel hearing;
2. Given a copy of the report which will be presented to panel along with the recommendation and the reasons for this;
3. Be informed that they may make written representations to panel if they are not in agreement with the recommendation to terminate approval.  Carers should be aware that written representation must be received two weeks before the panel date;
4. Be informed that they may attend panel with an advocate or supporter to make personal representations.

In cases where other authorities are using the foster carer any planned termination of approval must be discussed in advance of any formal action and the agencies' views taken into account.  Written feedback will be requested as to their views on the service provided by the carer as part of the decision making process.

9.1 Independent Review Mechanism

For more information about the Independent Review Mechanism, click the link to go to their website

Where the Panel recommends that a foster carer's approval be terminated, written notice will be given to the carer, who will be advised of their right to submit written representations within 28 days. In addition, as an alternative, they may exercise the right to apply to the Secretary of State to request a review of the decision by and Independent Review Mechanism Panel. Any such application must be made in writing within 28 days of the decision and supported by reasons.

The only circumstances where the foster carer will not have the right to request a review by an Independent Review Panel is if he or she is regarded as disqualified as a result of a conviction or caution for a specified offence.

If the applicant decides to refer the matter to an Independent Review, the relevant Panel reports, any new information obtained since the Panel meeting, a record of the decision made and reasons, a copy of the written notification of the decision and a copy of the Panel minute, if different, will be sent to the Independent Review within 10 working days of their written request.

The procedure for the Independent Review is carried out by BAAF; the applicant and two representatives of the fostering agency will be invited to attend the Independent Review.

After considering the representations, the Independent Review may make a recommendation, which the Agency Decision Maker will consider before a final decision is made.

Written notice of the final decision, together with reasons, must be sent to the applicant within 7 working days of the receipt of the Independent Review recommendation.

A foster carer may also give 28 days notice in writing that s/he no longer wishes to act as a foster carer.  Panel must be provided with a copy of the letter of resignation.  Termination of approval will follow 28 days from the receipt of the written notice. 

Exit interviews are to be completed by the Reviewing Officer when carers resign.  The reasons carers resign must be recorded on the carers' case record.

Letters of Termination will be sent by recorded delivery from the Head of Service to the Foster Carer and will include:

1. The notice that approval is being terminated;
2. The date this is effective from;
3. The date of the fostering panel decision;
4. The reasons for the termination of approval as given by the Panel;
5. The process of representation and appeal regarding the decision.

Notice of Termination must also be given if a foster carer decides to give up fostering, other than to take a short break.

Notice of Termination must also be given where although no formal notice of resignation has been received, it is clear that a foster carer does not intend to continue or resume fostering. These are important since otherwise he/she remains formally approved and her/his services remain available to other responsible authorities.

Copies of the Notice of Termination are to be sent to any other authority using the foster home.

The Head of Service will ensure that the Lambeth Foster Carer Register is updated with the termination of approval.

Framework Actions Review or termination report should be completed within Framework and sent to the Panel Administrator for scheduling and distribution. Panel Administrator enters Panel Recommendation and sends to Agency Decision Maker Agency decision maker  - outcome > LBL Recommend Current / Revised Registration or LBL Recommend De-registration

End