8.1.6 Supervision of Foster Carers (Under Review) |
Contents
1. Frequency and Purpose
The Supervising Social Worker must maintain regular contact with foster carers from the time of approval, during, between and when placements cease.
Supervising Social Workers must make a formal visit to foster carers at least once every 6 weeks while children are placed with them. Supervision sessions should normally be announced/planned, but can be unannounced.
If deemed appropriate, the supervising social worker will maintain telephone contact between visits; this should be negotiated between the supervising social worker and the foster carer.
The supervising social worker will aim to ensure, through supervision, that foster carers are aware of, understand, accept and operate the standards, policies, procedures and guidance required of them.
The supervising social work should draw up a supervision contract with the foster carer to confirm/ clarify role and expectation from supervision/ (6 weekly visits)
The supervising social worker should make at least one unannounced visit to the carers home each year.
The supervising Social Worker will ensure that enough time is given to meeting the children of foster carers and listening to and recording their views. Also to see partners and members of the support network regularly (support network who regularly provide baby-sitting support etc.)
2. Agenda
Supervision is 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
The supervision agenda will be agreed at each meeting and will likely include:
- An assessment of the understanding of the foster carer of the standards, policies, procedures and guidance of Children and Families Services in relation to looked after children, including health and safety issues
- 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
- A discussion about the foster carer’s attendance at support meetings
- The need for any additional support or training
- 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. These records to be signed by the supervising social worker to confirm that they have been audited
- The monitoring of how the records kept by the foster carer are stored
- A discussion about how a child or young person’s education, development and health care are being promoted.
3. Recording
Notes of these visits will be recorded by the Supervising Social Worker on the “6 Weekly Visit” report, and signed by the carer, the supervising Social Worker and the Team Manager, and placed on Frameworki. A copy will be given/sent to the carer(s).
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