Roles and commitment
Fostering Devon’s role
Fostering Devon aims to provide stable and first-rate foster care for children who are valued, supported and encouraged to grow and develop as individuals.
To achieve this aim we recruit, train and approve foster carers. We deliver ongoing support to them, to give them the skills and confidence they need to develop meaningful relationships with the children and young people they care for, ensuring they provide stable and loving homes while they are part of the foster family.
The foster carer’s role
Foster carers are at the heart of Fostering Devon. We are assessed, trained and supported to look after children and young people by developing meaningful relationships in a family environment, providing them with stability, care, love and an opportunity to grow and develop and to reach their potential.
Our relationships with other members of the team around the child are based on mutual trust and respect. This charter explains what we expect from each other.
Fostering Devon’s commitment
You can expect from us:
- Working in equal partnership.
- To be seen as a valued member of the team around the child.
- Information.
- Clarity about decisions.
- Support to increase foster carer confidence and resilience.
- Ongoing learning and development.
- Fair treatment.
- Communication and consultation.
Foster carers’ commitment
We can expect from you:
- Working in equal partnership.
- Respect for the child and the members of the team around the child.
- Information.
- Learning, development and support.
- Communication and consultation.
What foster carers can expect from Fostering Devon
Working in partnership
We recognise that foster carers have skills and expertise and make the biggest difference to the everyday lives of children in care.
We will:
- value your skills and expertise equally to those of other professionals
- recognise that you are the people who live with children every day and know them best
- include you in all meetings that affect you and the children you care for
- ensure that our fostering service will meet the standards set out in fostering regulations and guidance
- treat you without discrimination and respect you as a colleague
- respect confidentiality
Information
We know that information is vital in order for foster carers to provide care that meets the child’s need.
We will:
- give you all the information you need in order to care safely for the child
- provide this information in writing prior to placement, or as soon as possible in the case of emergency placements
- ensure that there is a placement plan drawn up in discussion with you and agreed with you in advance of placements, or as soon as possible in the case of emergency placements
- provide you with information on all financial matters including tax, allowances and additional entitlements
- provide you with full details of all relevant departmental policies and procedures
Clarity about decisions
We recognise that in order for children to live a full family life foster carers must be able to make decisions regarding the children they foster.
We will:
- ensure that, wherever possible, you are able to make everyday decisions that mean that your fostered child is not treated differently to their peers and can feel part of your family
- provide clarity about any decision you cannot take at the outset so that everyone understands who is responsible for what
Support
We recognise that fostering can be an isolating and challenging task, and that appropriate and timely support can make all the difference to the fostering family and to the child in your care.
We will:
- respond positively to requests for additional support
- provide you with monthly supervision and weekly phone contact
- give you honest and open feedback
- provide you with access to out-of-hours support from people with fostering expertise
- pay you allowances, expenses and fees in a timely manner
- pay fees that reflect the needs of the child
- ensure that there is a local group, recognised by the fostering service, where you and your family can find support and share experiences with other fostering families
Learning and development
We believe that foster carers must be enabled to access learning and development opportunities throughout their fostering career. This will ensure they have the skills and knowledge they need, and allow them to develop their practice in order that they can help transform the lives of the children they foster.
We will:
- provide you with appropriate and relevant training by trainers who understand the fostering task
- enable you to develop meaningful relationships with the children in your care and the fellow members of the team around the child
- provide you with other development opportunities which make the best use of your skills and expertise, such as mentoring or providing training or support
Fair treatment
We recognise that foster carers have a right to be treated fairly, no matter what the circumstances.
We will:
- consult with you before changing terms and conditions
- ensure openness in all of our discussions and communications with you
- ensure that you are treated with respect, kept informed and provided with emotional support should you be subject to an allegation
- provide a framework for dealing with allegations and adhere to our agreed timescales
- ensure that you know the arrangements for the payment of fees and allowances in the event that you are not able to foster while the subject of an allegation
Communication and consultation
We believe that open and honest dialogue is the key to a good relationship.
We will:
- facilitate regular communication between you and the wider organisation
- ensure that we consult with you in a meaningful way on matters that affect you
- give you timely feedback from consultations
What Fostering Devon can expect from foster carers
Working in partnership
We will demonstrate a high standard of care and conduct.
We will:
- demonstrate our expertise and make use of our skills to the best of our ability
- provide children with a positive experience of family life
- attend meetings about the children and young people we care for
- work with the agencies involved with the child such as school, health and religious establishments
- show a willingness to work with birth parents, wider family and people significant in a child’s life
- meet the standards set out in fostering regulations and guidance and follow departmental policies and procedures
- respect confidentiality
Respect for the child
Every child and young person should be respected as an individual and be supported in meeting their needs and achieving their aspirations and potential.
We will:
- develop a meaningful relationship with the child: understand their needs, support their growth, and become an advocate and champion for them
- respect and promote a child’s religious, linguistic and cultural heritage
- afford the same level of protection and care to a child as we would our own child in accordance with the national minimum standards
- ensure the child has the right to make decisions regarding their own lives, as appropriate to their age and understanding
Information
We believe that open and honest dialogue is the key to a good relationship and we will aim to build a meaningful and collaborative relationship with our supervising social worker.
We will:
- inform our supervising social worker about changes in our household
- inform our supervising social worker about any difficulties that arise for us
Learning, development and support
We must be enabled to access a minimum of six learning and development opportunities per year. This will ensure we have the skills and knowledge we need, and allow us to develop our practice in order that we can help transform the lives of the children we foster.
We will:
- be willing and able to develop our skills throughout our fostering career
- attend relevant training
- take up opportunities offered to us
- let you know if we are unable to attend
- attend and contribute to a minimum of six support groups per year
Communication and consultation
We believe that open and honest dialogue is the key to a good relationship.
We will:
- respond to local consultations and discussions in order to inform the development of the service
- meet with councillors, service managers and others in order to promote dialogue and a good working relationship
- support the children in our care to do the same