Support and Supervision

As a foster carer you will be well supported to ensure that plans for children in your care remain in their best interests. You are an important part of the team around the child, who will also support you. You will be actively involved in planning for the children in your care, and your views are valued by the fostering service provider and will help to positively influence a child's progress.

You will face many challenges when you become a foster carer and you will also feel very rewarded when you see a placement progress in a positive way. Once approved you will be allocated a Supervising Social Worker. The primary task of the Supervising Social Worker is to supervise and support you to enable you to carry out your role as a foster carer. The support you receive from your Supervising Social Worker is also designed to help you to cope with the additional demands of fostering on your family life.

You will receive regular and effective supervision that is focused on children's experiences, needs, plans and feedback. Supervision is an important part of practice and as foster carers it is considered a key part of your training and development and an opportunity to reflect and learn from your fostering experiences. Supervision also allows you time to consider complex dilemmas and give you space to think through and share strategies and ways of helping a child in your care with your Supervising Social Worker.

The Supervising Social Worker will ensure you have the necessary guidance including an understanding about working within the National Minimum Standards for Fostering and all the fostering service's policies, procedures and guidance.

• To supervise Foster Carers practice;
• To ensure Foster Carers are adhering to all policies and procedures, and relevant legislation, fostering standards and regulations;
• To ensure Foster Carers are meeting the Child or Young Person’s needs, taking into account the Child or Young Person’s wishes or feelings;
• To offer support and a framework to assess and evaluate Foster Carers performance and develop their skills, ensuring that Foster Carers understand the competency and evidential framework;
• Within a culture of openness and transparency and from the evidence received, to give feedback to Foster Carers in order to contribute to the development of their knowledge and skills;
• To undertake formal supervision of Foster Carers and make regular visits – including at least one unannounced visit per year;
• To provide support and talk to the Children of Foster Carers and any other people living in the Foster Carers household who play an important role in supporting Children and Young People in placement;
• To provide support to members of the wider family and friend support network who may play an important role in the lives of Children and Young People, where this is agreed by the team around the Child or Young Person to be appropriate;
• To attend relevant meetings with the Foster Carer in relation to planning for the Child or Young Person and the placement and any other meetings deemed appropriate;
• To ensure all necessary safeguarding checks are up to date including DBS checks, health and safety assessments, individual safer caring policies and risk assessments and to review these at regular intervals;
• To offer additional support to Foster Carers during any periods of difficulties in a placement to ensure Foster Carers are appropriately supported and to actively promote placement stability;
• To ensure Post Placement Meetings take place within timescales;
• To liaise with the Child or Young Person’s Social Worker and other professionals involved, keeping them updated promptly regarding all significant information and to highlight any difficulties in the placement, to ensure support is in place;
• To ensure that Foster Carers are aware of the process of the investigation if an allegation is made against them, and that they know how to access independent support and advice. The Supervising Social Worker will continue to provide support to Foster Carers during this process via visits and telephone calls. The Supervising Social Worker cannot advise on the content of the allegation or investigation but can provide information about the process;
• To complete the annual Foster Carer Review and to make a recommendation regarding continued suitability to foster in relation to the Foster Carers and their household and to review terms of approval. This will also include attendance at the Fostering Panel;
• To evaluate how training and support has increased Foster Carers skills and knowledge and how this has improved better outcomes for Children and Young People, particularly through the supervision and review process;
• To support and assist Foster Carers to complete their Training, Support, and Development Standards Workbook within the first 12 months of approval for Mainstream Foster Carers and 18 months of approval for Connected Foster Carers;
• To identify and discuss with Foster Carers their ongoing training needs, evidenced within the training log/personal development plan, which are necessary to develop their skills and knowledge;
• To encourage and enable Foster Carers to participate in support groups, any Foster Carers consultation opportunities, and local activities.

It is the social worker for the child/young person in the foster placement who holds responsibility for specific advice or support for the child and their Care Plan and Placement Plan.

During the working day the Supervising Social Worker is able to offer telephone support to Foster Carers to talk through any difficult situations. If the Supervising Social Worker is not available urgent support can be provided through the duty worker, who can be contacted by telephoning 0300 303 1000.

The Emergency Duty Team (EDT) is available to provide advice and support out of hours, after 5pm and before 9am on weekdays and anytime at weekends and bank holidays. They can be contacted on 0300 303 8875.

Foster Carers must give at least 12 weeks’ notice in advance of a respite placement being required. The Supervising Social Worker will record requests made for a respite placement by the Foster Carers due to planned holidays. The Foster Carers own identified support network will be a key consideration in relation to respite requests and in continuing to provide familiar adults to Children and Young People with whom they share a positive relationship and in consideration of continuity of care. The main people in the support network identified as potential respite carers will already be known to the Supervising Social Worker.

In the event that this is not considered appropriate, attempts will be made to identify a respite Mainstream Foster Carer who is able to support the request. Unless in exceptional circumstances, all respite placements will be planned to take into account the needs of the Child or Young Person in line with their Care Plan.

The impact of being excluded from a family holiday on the child or young person’s emotional wellbeing must be considered. Children and young people should never be in a position of being placed with respite carers who are strangers to them.

The Fostering Agency does not deem respite suitable for babies and very young Children (aged 0-2 years) once they have been matched with prospective Adopters.

During the placement planning process where a potential placement is identified, the matching process will need to take into account any pending holidays Foster Carers have planned.

Training assists and supports Foster Carers in developing skills and knowledge within their role and in meeting the needs of Children and Young People. It also ensures that Foster Carers are up to date on all recent developments, current issues and information relevant to their practice.

Foster Carers are encouraged to use their support network to enable them to attend training opportunities.

Following approval all Foster Carers will automatically become members of the FCA. The FCA is a registered charity run by Foster Carers and is being re-established in 2025. They offer a range of services to support and encourage cohesion between the foster carer community and the service.

The Max card is the UK's leading discount card for foster families and can be used at venues across the UK to get free or discounted admission on activities and days out. The Max Card can be used by the whole fostering family.

The Blue Light Card

Rochdale foster carers are able to request an ID card that allows them to show proof of their status as an approved foster carer. This will then allow all approved foster carers to apply for a Blue Light card.

Foster Carers are expected to attend a minimum of three support groups a year. The Locality support groups run bi-monthly and are facilitated a supervising social worker alongside and experienced foster carer. Support groups offer the opportunity for Foster Carers to meet with other Foster Carers and share experiences and find out further information about other relevant services and current topic areas. Each support group contains a wellbeing support element and a training element base around Therapeutic Parenting.

Your Supervising Social Worker will provide details of your locality support group, including dates, times, and location.

We also run some more specialist support groups, such as:

• Connected Carers Group;
• Male Carer Support Group;
• New Recruited Carer group for the first 12 months if fostering.

These groups aim to provide an additional support and opportunity for Foster Carers own Children to meet up with the shared interest of being part of a fostering family and providing the opportunity to share experiences and engage in activities with other Children and Young People.

Another area of support for Foster Carers is from other more experienced Foster Carers. They can buddy up and support you through your first year of fostering and also if you are dealing with something new for the first times, such as moving a child on to adoption.

Following approval, all Foster Carers benefit from becoming members of Fostering Network and the entitlements and benefits that this membership brings. Fostering network is independent of Rochdale Fostering Service.

If foster carers are experiencing an allegation, the service will provide and fund independent professional support for them, which is provided through the Allegation Support Team at Foster Talk.

Foster carers and the children they care for can access support from our Cared 4 Childrens Clinical Psychologist and Senior Mental Health Practitioner, who are co-located with the fostering and cared for children’s service.

The service provides access to the Employee Assistance Scheme for all its foster carers and the commissioned service is separate from the council and can provide counselling etc. Your supervising social worker can advise you as to how you access this service.

This is a service compromising an Advanced Practitioner and two Support Workers, who lead on delivering training to foster carers and also providing emotional and practical support.

Foster Carers Forum Meetings - These meetings will take place quarterly in 2025 and provide the opportunity to Foster Carers to meet with Fostering Service representatives and Senior Leadership from Childrens Social Care and input into key areas.

Annual Award Ceremony - The Fostering Service recognises the valuable contribution Foster Carers make to Children and Young People’s lives on a daily basis. This special award ceremony which takes place on an annual basis further recognises and rewards Foster Carers in all their hard work, dedication and commitment to our Children and Young People.

Other Events - The Fostering Agency provides a number of family friendly social events throughout the year.

Frequency of supervision meetings will be agreed between you and your Supervising Social Worker and as appears necessary in the interest of the children placed with you. Your allocated Supervising Social Worker will agree times and dates with you in advance. Each session will be recorded and you should receive a copy of this.

Supervision should be seen as a two way process to between the Supervising Social Worker and Foster Carer.  This should include all approved foster carers in the household.

• To be a primary source of support for Foster Carers, recognising the demands and challenges of the job and ensuring that appropriate support is available;
• To ensure that Foster Carers understand and carry out their role and responsibilities in accordance with relevant legislation, standards and regulations and the Fostering Service policies and procedures including working within and contributing effectively to the Care Plan, Family Time Plan and Placement Plan;
• To advise Foster Carers of developments in policies and procedures and any other Service developments;
• To monitor, review and promote the Foster Carers training log/personal development plan and consider relevant training needs and development opportunities;
• To gather evidence of how outcomes for Children and Young People are being met and identify together any gaps in knowledge and skills that require an action plan along with a timescale;
• This includes evidencing Children and Young People’s fostering journey from their starting point at the beginning of the placement and throughout the placement duration. Evidence gathered should demonstrate Children and Young People’s experiences and measurable progress in relation to achieving outcomes through the care provided by Foster Carers in all aspects of development;
• To recognise Foster Carers achievements, continued development and good practice;
• To provide regular and constructive feedback to Foster Carers;
• To ensure that Foster Carers have the opportunity to raise any issues of concern of importance to themselves, their own Children and family and to have these addressed appropriately. This includes any personal issues that are currently being experienced and any changes in circumstances;
• It should be noted that any significant concerns a Foster Carer has should be shared at the time they occur and will not wait until a supervision visit;
• It should also be noted that in the event of any significant concerns being identified concerning a Foster Carers practice, these will be shared at the time they occur and will not wait until a supervision visit;
• To enable the Supervising Social Worker to monitor the Foster Carers recording ensuring this is factual, up-to-date, evidences outcomes for Children and Young People including their experiences and progress. The Supervising Social Worker will sign and date each record entry during supervision;
• To discuss life story work for each Child and Young Person in placement and how Foster Carers are contributing towards this from the point of placement and for the duration of placement. This will include keeping meaningful records and collecting memorabilia for Children and Young People in many various forms;
• To consider other relevant matters including health and safety and safer caring practices in placement and any other matters arising;
• To discuss and monitor financial matters in relation to Children and Young People including pocket money allowance, savings and where appropriate use of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for Children and Young People under 16 years or Personal Independence Payment (PIP) for Young People 16 years and over;
• To discuss and monitor any matters arising under schedule 6 and 7 of the Fostering Regulations 2011.

Your Supervising Social Worker should ensure the following tasks are done:

After Approval

1. Ensure you complete the induction programme and that your support, development and training needs are assessed and met so that you meet the standards and achieve the Training, Support and Development Standards certificate of completion by your first annual review, or soon after if extra support is required;
2. Give the Foster Care Agreement to you: 2 copies to be signed and one returned and placed on your file;
3. Provide you with dates of social events and Support Groups.

Before Placement

4. 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 child's social worker), mixing with other children in the home, etc.
5. Discuss and check equipment (especially in the child's bedroom) and ensure it is appropriate to the age of the child to be placed;
6. Take part in discussions about potential placements and planning meetings;
7. Ensure that the child's social worker gives you full information about children, including a history of abuse or suspected abuse and the reason for the placement;
8. Discuss contact with birth parents and family members;
9. Discuss how the child's health needs are promoted and how children should be encouraged to adopt a healthy lifestyle;
10. Help you in dealing with services such as health and education;
11. Help you with training needs for safer care practice, including skills to care for children who have experienced trauma;
12. Discuss any relevant financial issues with you relating to the placement;
13. Find out about existing holiday plans you have in place prior to placment and whether the child or young person can travel with you. If not the child’s social worker must be informed so alternative arrangements can be made;
14. Exchange contact numbers with all relevant members of the family;
15. Ensure that arrangements are made for the provision of equipment you will require for the placement to go ahead;
16. Set a date for a first visit after a child is placed with you.

During Placement

17. Check and follow up on all issues raised during the placement planning meeting. Discuss any concerns with you and ensure appropriate support is provided straight away rather than waiting for reviews;
18. Take part in any Strategy Meetings and Section 47 Enquiry relating to your foster family. Be involved in interviews/support as agreed if allegations are made against you;
19. Ensure you receive invitations to a child's Looked After Reviews and Child Protection Conferences, and attend when appropriate;
20. Prepare for and attend your Review meetings;
21. Ensure the training programme is updated and accessed by you and your family and children;
22. Visit regularly;
23. Make unannounced visits as required;
24. Update Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks on members of your family every three years, including those reaching 18, and other persons who come to live at the home, who are 18 or over;
25. Update medicals on you every 10 years or as necessary;
26. Record all contact with you;
27. Assess and review any health and safety issues within the fostering household including the addition of any new pets and the environment in which they are kept;
28. Provide reports for panel as required under the relevant procedures;
29. Where appropriate contribute to Court Reports as agreed with child's social worker;
30. Discuss how you can support young people into adulthood.

At the End of a Placement

32. Support your family as you support the child in your care through a planned transition to either their new placement; to adopters or to their birth family. This can be an emotional time for foster carers and they will ensure they are available to you for support;
33. Discuss with you and your family any issues that have led to any unplanned ending of a placement and identify any learning opportunities;
34. Attend Placement Disruption Meetings as required.

If your Supervising Social Worker has any concerns about your care or feels you need extra support, they will not wait until supervision meetings or reviews but deal with any issues as they arise.