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• working together 2010

Contents

1. Introduction
2. Planned Supervision Visits
3. Frequency of Supervision
4. Unannounced Visits
5. Recording
6. Support Provided by the Supervising Social Worker
7. Tasks of the Social Worker if Allegations are made Against the Carer

1. Introduction

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.

However, it is the social worker of the child or children in the foster placement who holds responsibility for specific advice or support in relation to the child and his or her Care Plan and Placement Plan.

The supervising social worker must also ensure that the foster carers' training and development needs are identified, and that newly approved carers work towards meeting the Children's Workforce Development Standards and gaining the CWDC Certificate of successful completion. They also have the responsibility to ensure foster carers are familiar and made aware of new policies and guidance.

2. Planned Supervision Visits

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.

However, it is the social worker of the child or children in the foster placement who holds responsibility for specific advice or support in relation to the child and his or her Care Plan and Placement Plan.

The supervising social worker must also ensure that the foster carers' training and development needs are identified, and that newly approved carers work towards meeting the Children's Workforce Development Standards and gaining the CWDC Certificate of successful completion. They also have the responsibility to ensure foster carers are familiar and made aware of new policies and guidance.

3. Frequency of Supervision

Supervision meetings will take place at least once every six months.

Additional visits may be made for the purposes of support (to the foster carer or any member of the foster family) with telephone contact at least every four weeks.

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 carers' 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 s/he has 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.

5. Recording

Records of the supervisory meetings will be kept by the family placement worker using the agreed format and retained on the foster carer's case record.  A copy will also be sent to the foster carer.

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

6. Support Provided by the Supervising Social Worker

Supervising social workers should ensure the following tasks are done:

Post Approval

• 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;
• Give Foster Carers' Handbook to new carer;
• Give Foster Carer Agreement to the carer: 2 copies to be signed and one returned and placed on the carer's file;
• 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

• 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;
• Take part in discussions about potential placements;
• Take part in planning meetings regarding placements;
• 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;
• Discuss issues relevant to contact with birth parents and other family members;
• Discuss how child's health needs are promoted and how children should be encouraged to adopt a healthy lifestyle;
• Assist carers in dealing with other relevant services such as health and education;
• Discuss appropriate training to provide appropriate care when caring for children with complex health needs;
• 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;
• Discuss financial issues with the carer: allowances, pocket money, leisure activities, toiletries and traveling etc. and the importance of complying with the terms of the Council's insurance policy for carers;
• 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;
• Exchange contact numbers with all relevant members of the family, including out of hours support;
• That arrangements are made for the provision of specialist equipment for disabled children;
• 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;

During Placement

• 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;
• Provide foster carers with breaks from caring as appropriate, which must meet the needs of placed children;
• Take part in any Strategy Meetings and Section 47 Enquiry relating to the foster family. Be involved in interviews/support as agreed;
• 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;
• Prepare for and attend Foster Carer Review Meetings (See Review of Foster Carers Procedure);
• Ensure training programme is updated and accessed by carers and carers' family and children;
• Visit regularly;
• Make unannounced visits as required;
• 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;
• Update medicals on the carers every 2 years or as necessary;
• Record contact with carers;
• Provide 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 carers can support young people into adulthood;

At End of Placement

• Support the family as much as possible in what can be a very difficult time;
• 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;
• Assist the foster carer to complete their end of placement report if required;
• Attend Disruption Meetings as required.

7. 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:

• Support the family;
• Discuss fully, with the carer and their family, all the issues that have led to the allegation, as agreed at the Strategy Meeting;
• Make the carers aware of the process and of their rights during any investigation;
• 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.

End