Foster Carers' Charter

We recognise that foster carers have skills and expertise that makes the biggest difference to the everyday lives of children in their care.

We must:

• Value foster carers’ skills and expertise equally to those of other professionals;
• Recognise that foster carers are the people who live with children every day and usually know them best;
• Include foster carers in all meetings that affect you and the children you care for;
• Ensure that the fostering service will comply with  fostering regulations and guidance;
• Treat foster carers without discrimination and respect you as colleagues;
• Respect confidentiality.

We know that information is vital in order for foster carers to provide care that meets the child’s needs.

We must:

• Share all information we have about the child/young person in order for you to care safely for them;
• Provide this information in writing prior to the child being cared for by you, or as soon as possible in the case of an emergency;
• Provide you with information on all financial matters including tax, allowances and additional entitlements;
• Provide you with full details of all relevant policies and procedures.

We recognise that fostering can be an isolating and challenging task and that appropriate and timely support makes all the difference to the fostering family and to the child/young person in your care. Fostering is still a most rewarding role to be in.

We must:

• Ensure there is a robust post-approval induction process;
• Respond positively to requests for additional support, including respite/short break support and out of hours support;
• Provide you with regular supervision and phone contact;
• Give you honest and open feedback to support you to reflect and grow  as a carer;
• Provide you with access to 24-hour support from people with fostering expertise;
• Pay your allowances, expenses and fees in a timely manner;
• 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;
• Support you when facilitating family time with birth families to build meaningful relationships;
• Recognise and champion the contribution you and your family make to fostering.

We believe that you must have learning and development opportunities throughout your fostering career.

This will ensure you have the skills and knowledge you need and allow you to develop your practice in order that you can help transform the lives of the children in your care.

We must:

• Ensure you have an individual annual training plan;
• Provide you and your family with appropriate, accessible and relevant training by trainers who understand fostering;
• Support you to develop meaningful relationships with the children you are caring for and the other members of the team around the child;
• Continue to provide you with other development opportunities which make the best use of your skills and expertise, such as mentoring or providing training or support.

We recognise that you have a right to be treated fairly, no matter what the circumstances.

We must:

• Consult with you before changing terms and conditions;
• Ensure honesty and openness in all of our discussions and communications with you;
• Ensure that you are treated with respect, kept informed and provided with emotional and practical support should you be subject to an allegation;
• Provide a framework for dealing with allegations, including access to independent support, and adhere to agreed timescales;
• Ensure that you know the arrangements for the payment of fees and allowances in the event that you are not able to care for a child while the subject of an allegation.

We believe that open and honest dialogue is the key to a good relationship.

We must:

• Ensure that we consult with you in a meaningful way on matters that affect you;
• Give you timely feedback from consultations;
• Provide clear information on how you can give us feedback and report concerns.

Foster carers must demonstrate a high standard of care and conduct.

Foster carers must:

• Demonstrate expertise and make use of skills to the best of your ability;
• Provide children with a positive experience of family life;
• Attend and contribute in meetings about the children and young people that you care for;
• Work with the individuals and agencies involved with the child such as the child’s social worker, fostering service, school and health and religious bodies;
• Work with birth parents, wider family and other significant people in a child’s life;
• Meet the standards set out in fostering regulations and guidance and follow policies and procedures;
• Inform your  fostering social worker about factors that impact on fostering including changes in household;
• Inform your fostering social worker about any difficulties that arise for you;
• Inform the child’s social worker about any concerns you have related to the child;
• Respect confidentiality;
• Maintain an open dialogue with the fostering service;
• Be open-minded to new approaches and evidenced based learning.

Every child and young person should be respected as an individual and be supported in meeting their needs and achieving their aspirations and potential.

Foster carers must:

Foster carers must:

• Develop a meaningful relationship with the child/young person - understand their needs, support their growth, become an advocate and champion for them, and endeavour to remain in touch with them when they move on;
• Care for the child/young person in a manner that recognises and respects their identity - including their ethnic, religious, linguistic and cultural heritage;
• Afford the same level of protection and care to a child/young person  you care for as you would your own child;
• Support the child/young person  to make decisions regarding their own lives, as appropriate to their age, understanding and ability;
• Support the child to inform the development of the services which affect their care, as appropriate to their age, understanding and ability.

You must access learning and development opportunities throughout their fostering career in accordance with the needs of the children you are caring for. This will ensure you have the skills and knowledge you need and allow you to develop your practice in order that you can help transform the lives of the children in your care.

Foster carers must:

• Be willing and able to develop your skills throughout your fostering career;
• Attend relevant training and put into practice changes and learning;
• Be willing to attend and contribute to support groups.