Supervision and Support of Foster Carers

The following pattern and expectation of supervision visits is seen as a basic tool for recording and monitoring placement standards, support and both personal and service development.

There is an expectation that all visits will be planned, however, within a 12 month period all carers will receive at least one unannounced visit.

The supervising Social Worker holds a key role in the service for supervising and supporting the foster carers to carry out their fostering task.

This role can be divided into four main areas:

1. To ensure that quality standards set by the service for its foster carer resource and the provision of care to children and young people are met;
2. To complete personal development plans for each carer, which are linked to their training and their annual review;
3. To ensure the carer understands their role and works within the agencies policies and procedures;
4. To support the carer and other family members, by representing their views, liaising with other professions, advising on placement issues, i.e. behaviour management and arrangements for placements, i.e. finance, equipment etc.

Through working with carers, the supervising social worker will be able to have an overview of the carers, development and understanding of the fostering task, the service and standard of care received by children and young people and a recognition of areas of need to develop the fostering service.

Arrangements for joint visits with the social worker of the child/young person in placement will be negotiated at a minimum of 2 per year.

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

1. Their strengths and weaknesses recognised and developed;
2. Their skills and potential enhanced;
3. Their relationship with the local authority enhanced;
4. Their performance positively challenged and managed.

The supervision meeting should include:

1. An assessment of the understanding of the foster carer of the standards, policies, procedures and guidance of the Children's Services Department in relation to looked after children, including health and safety issues;
2. An assessment of the training needs of the foster carer and the identification of suitable ways of meeting those needs including the foster carer's responsibility for their own development;
3. A discussion about the foster carer's attendance at support meetings;
4. The need for any additional support or training;
5. 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;
6. The monitoring of how the records kept by the foster carer are stored;
7. A discussion about how a child or young person's education, development and health care are being promoted.

Records of the supervisory meetings will be kept by the supervising social worker and retained on the foster carer's Mosaic record. A copy will also be sent to the foster carer.

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.

The supervising social worker will also monitor and evaluate the performance of the foster carer by carrying out unannounced visits at least annually. After such a visit, the supervising social worker will complete the Mosaic form, a copy of which will be sent to the foster carer. The supervising social workers must notify the Fostering Team manager of any areas of concern; these must be addressed at the earliest available opportunity.

Unsuccessful unannounced visits should be recorded and a repeat visit undertaken. Concerns about lack of access etc. should be discussed with the supervising social worker's supervisor.