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3.8.7 Supervision of Foster Carers

AMENDMENTS

This chapter was slightly amended in August 2011 to reflect the changes in the Fostering Services (England) Regulations 2011, Associated Guidance and National Minimum Standards, see Section 3, Agenda.


Contents

  1. Frequency
  2. Purpose
  3. Agenda
  4. Recording
  5. Unannounced Visits
  6. Safer Homes Agreement and Guidelines


1. Frequency

Each approved foster carer is linked to a named family placement supervising social worker, usually from the Fostering Team who will normally meet with the foster carer on at least a six weekly basis for the purpose of supervising and supporting the foster carer. Newly approved foster carers may require more frequent visiting as may foster carers with particularly challenging placements. It may also be important to maintain telephone contact between each visit and this should be negotiated between the supervising social worker and the foster carer. Telephone contact must be at least 4 weekly if there has been no supervisory visit within a 4 weeks period. For some well-established carers it may be negotiated with the supervising social workers supervisor that visits are reduced to 8 weekly with at least 4 weekly telephone contact. This can only be after a period of continuous placement for all children placed of more than a year.


2. Purpose

The supervising social worker will aim to ensure through supervision that the foster carer is aware of, understands, accepts and operates the standards, policies, procedures and guidance of Family Services as contained in this manual, the Foster Carers Induction Pack and the Foster Carers Hand-Book. Each supervision meeting will have a clear purpose and agenda structured by and recorded on the Record of Supervisory Meeting With Foster Carer(s). Each section of the Form should be covered and if there are no matters arising or changes then this should also be recorded.


3. Agenda

Supervision should be a positive, enabling and supportive opportunity for foster carers and should help them to have:

  • Their strengths and weaknesses recognised and developed;
  • Their skills and potential enhanced;
  • Their relationship with the local authority enhanced;
  • Their performance positively challenged and managed;
  • Their understanding and therefore practice relating to the child/young persons' well-being confirmed.

The supervision agenda will be agreed at each meeting and must include a clear and documented review of how the foster carer is managing the requirements of the Care Plan and Placement Plan and any subsequent Statutory Reviews. Confirmation of receipt of the documents in Section 2 of the Record of Supervisory Meeting with Foster Carer(s) Planned Visit should be made and recorded on every Record. The foster carer must make clear that they understand the various needs of the child/ren placed and the outcomes that are expected to be achieved. The actions and expectations of the foster carer should be confirmed with any timescales.

Other areas that may need to be considered are:

  1. Assessment of the foster carer's understanding and ability to put into practice the standards and legislation regulating foster care and the policies, procedures and guidance of Family Services in relation to Looked After children;
  2. Discuss how child's health needs are promoted and how children should be encouraged to adopt a healthy lifestyle;
  3. An assessment of the training needs of the foster carer (and other relevant adults e.g. the Support Carer) and the identification of suitable ways of meeting those needs including the foster carer’s responsibility for their own development;
  4. A discussion about the foster carer’s attendance at support meetings;
  5. The need for any additional support or training;
  6. Discuss appropriate training to provide appropriate care when caring for children with complex health needs;
  7. Assist carer with training needs for appropriate safe 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;
  8. A review of the foster carer’s record keeping to ensure that the Daily Records are being completed appropriately and in sufficient detail and that records of the child’s health, any incidents, absences and restraints are being kept in accordance with procedures;
  9. The monitoring of how the records kept by the foster carer are stored;
  10. Any requirements for Health and Safety Assessments, CRB or medical checks must be followed up in the supervision sessions and confirmation of the validity of the last assessment or checks must be made;
  11. Provide carers with training and written policy on behaviour management;
  12. Discuss how the carers can support young people into adulthood;
  13. Promotion of the five outcomes for children should be the basis of the supervision of foster carers:
    • Be healthy;
    • Be safe;
    • Enjoy and Achieve;
    • Make a positive contribution;
    • Achieve Economic Wellbeing.


4. Recording

Records of the supervisory meetings will be kept by the supervision social worker using the agreed format and retained on the foster carer’s case record. A copy will also be sent to the foster carer by the supervising social worker. Accuracy and agreement of records should be confirmed at the next supervisory session by both parties.

The supervising social worker will also sign the records kept by the foster carer and indicate on the records the date when they were reviewed.


5. Unannounced Visits

The supervising social worker will also monitor and evaluate the performance of the foster carer by carrying out unannounced visits at least annually using the Foster Carer Unannounced Visit Report Form. After such a visit, the supervising social worker will provide a written report to the foster carer, a copy of which will be placed on the foster carer’s case record. Supervising social workers must notify the Fostering Team manager of the unannounced visit and any areas of concern. These must be addressed at the earliest available opportunity.

The unannounced visit can also be used as a supervisory meeting but both the Foster Carer Unannounced Visit Report Form and the Record of Supervisory Meeting With Foster Carer(s) must be completed.

Foster carers who live some distance (e.g. outside London or as agreed with the supervising social worker's supervisors due to the complexity of travel/transport arrangements) from the borough can be telephoned prior to the visit to ensure the carer will be in so that the journey is not wasted.

Unsuccessful unannounced visits should be recorded on file and a repeat visit undertaken. Concerns about lack of access or finding the carer home should be discussed with the supervising social workers supervisor.

The date of the successful visit should be notified to the central record holding system by the supervising social worker.


6. Safer Homes Agreements and Guidelines

Each foster home should have a Safer Homes Agreement and the foster carers provided with Safer Homes Guidance, a Skills to Foster Workbook and a copy of the Fostering Networks booklet, “Caring for a child who has been sexually abused”. This should be negotiated and completed by the social worker undertaking the foster carer’s assessment prior to approval.

Following approval the supervising social worker is responsible for ensuring any changes of circumstances are taken into account and a new agreement drawn up if necessary. In any event, as part of the Foster Carers Annual Review the agreement should be confirmed as suitable and any changes made. The agreement should be placed at the front of the current foster carer’s file and be transferred to any new volume. It is the responsibility of the supervising social worker to make sure this happens.

End