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Contents

1. Frequency
2. Purpose
3. Agenda
4. Recording
5. Unannounced Visits

1. Frequency

Each approved foster carer is linked to an appropriately qualified and experienced, named fostering social worker who will meet with the foster carer on a fortnightly basis for the first 4 months after approval has been given. In relation to carers providing time limited placements, visits will usually then occur once every 6 to 8 weeks; in relation to carers providing long-term, permanent or respite care, visits will usually then be once every 3 months; and in relation to specialist carers, visits will usually then be monthly. In all cases, visits will be more frequent if circumstances require, for the purpose of supervising and supporting the foster carer.

2. Purpose

The fostering social worker will aim to ensure through supervision that the foster carer is aware of, understands, accepts and operates the standards, policies, procedures and guidance of the Children, Learning and Young People Directorate as contained in this manual and the combined Foster Carer's Induction Pack/Hand-Book. Each supervision meeting will have a clear purpose and agenda.

The allocated fostering 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.

The fostering 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. Agenda

Supervision is a positive, enabling and supportive opportunity for foster carers which 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 include:

1. An assessment of the understanding of the foster carer of the standards, policies, procedures and guidance of the Children, Learning and Young People Directorate in relation to looked after children;
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. This will include the completion of a personal development plan;
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 Child's Daily Achievement Record is 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.

4. Recording

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

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

5. 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' fostering 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 fostering 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 fostering social worker should check the identity of that person but should not continue with the visit.

Unannounced visits should be recorded.

There should not ordinarily be a regular programme of unannounced visits without particular reason – for example if a foster carer is being closely monitored.  In such an event the reason for such will be explained to the foster carer.

End