	Torbay Foster Care Service
	Torbay Council
	1st Floor Commerce House 97 - 101 Abbey Road Torquay TQ2 5PJ
	fostercareservic e@torbay.gov.uk
	01803 207857

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Foster Care

'Foster Care is about caring for a child in your own home. For a whole variety of reasons there are around 39,000 children (in England) who are placed with foster carers by Children's Services. Many of these children will eventually return to their families. In some cases this may take a matter of days or weeks, in others it may take much longer'.

What is Foster Care?

Foster Care provides the opportunity for children to live in a family home environment. Foster Carers are members of the public who have been trained and assessed to care for other peoples children. They will work with children and parents to try and maintain children's routine and care. They are not employed by Children's Services. Parents will still retain responsibilities for their children.

Are they Qualified People?

There is not a qualification as such, but they do go through a comprehensive process of assessment, training and checks before we approve them as carers. All our Foster Carers have had police checks, medicals and further checks with the NSPCC and the Probation Service. They are all approved under the Family Placement Regulations.

Some of the things that Foster Carers are expected to do

The foster carer is expected to help any fostered child to keep in planned contact with their friends and family.
To make day-to-day decisions about the child's routine care.
To share information with Children's Services and cannot keep secrets or agree to keep relevant information shared with them
To involve parents as much as possible in the child's life. Decisions about how involved parents are/will be agreed with the social worker.
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Standards of Care

Every child in Foster Care will have a social worker who will visit and see children on their own. They will also need to satisfy themselves that the care and accommodation is suitable. In most situations, parents should also be able to see where their child is living and would be encouraged to give their views about the care they are receiving.

Each foster carer has a worker allocated to them; part of their job is to support the foster carer and to monitor the standards of care children receive. Each foster carer is reviewed every year. Parents maintain responsibility for children and it is expected - as far as possible - that they remain involved with their child(ren) in foster care.

Each situation will be different, but in general we want parents to attend medicals, dentist appointments, parents evenings, help with homework etc. Some of this will be alongside foster carers, so it is important for foster carers, children, parents and social workers to talk together and agree who is doing what!

What if parents / children are not happy about the care provided?

It is best to try and talk to the foster carer and social worker about concerns so they can be resolved. It is often the small things that can annoy people and sometimes be a cause of conflict such as differences over bedtimes, diet, dress etc. If matters can be resolved in this way speak directly to the Manager in the Foster Care Service.

There is a formal complaint procedure; a copy of the complaints leaflet is available from Children's Services. Children can also make a complaint themselves by completing a reporting card available from Children's Services.

The children and their families

Children of all ages need temporary foster care. Usually foster carers concentrate on a specific age group according to their preference or family circumstances. Children often come into care with brothers and sisters. Its important to keep siblings together so it helps to have foster carers who can take two or possibly three children.

Wherever possible, children are prepared for separation and foster carers play a major role in maintaining their contact with parents. However, some children may be removed under traumatic circumstances and present significant emotional and behavioural problems. All will need sensitive and patient care.

What is long term foster care?

The term 'long-term fostering' is used by social workers to describe the needs of children for whom Children's Services must find permanent alternative families for the duration of childhood.

Why do children need long term care?

Children's Services has a duty to protect children from significant harm. We work hard to assist parents to care tor their children. However, in some cases, relationships between parents and children are so damaged that a child will have no opportunity to receive the protection, love and care that they will need to grow up happy and safe. Such children need adoptive parents or a long-term foster placement, lasting the duration of childhood.

What is expected of a long-term Foster Carer?

In simplest terms – to care for a child as a full member of your family. Children who need long term care will have lacked the close attachment to an adult which is vital to their healthy growth and development. They need an adult who will give them commitment and to whom they can safely attach without fear of further loss.

What role will the child's birth parents play?

This will depend upon each child's situation. Children who need permanent care will generally have plans agreed and protected by a court order. The decision will already have been made that a child cannot be cared for by their birth parent.

However, depending upon the situation there may still be benefit for a child continuing to have some contact with a parent or relative either indirectly (by letter, exchange of photographs etc.) or by direct contact.

What support will I receive if I am a Foster Carer?

You will receive preparation and training from Children's Services before any placement is made, and you will be asked to consider the implications upon yourself and your family of making a long-term commitment to a child.

Intensive support will be provided during the initial stages of a placement. This will reduce to monthly or six-weekly visits by a Supervisor / Support Worker from the Permanency Team.

Who are we looking for?

We need foster carers from the whole community. For black and Asian children we need black and Asian carers from the appropriate ethnic communities. Foster Carers come from many different backgrounds.

You may be:

Single, married or living with a partner
In work or unemployed
Own your home or rent
Have your own children or none at all

What's most important is that you

care about children and can work with their families
are willing to learn
can work with Children's Services
have the physical space and time in your life
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What do Foster Carers get in return?

Foster Carers make a big difference to children's lives. You will see children arrive upset and angry. You will meet parents who appear overwhelmed by the demands of parenting and watch them learn from you and grow in confidence. You will develop a wide range of skills. Not only will you build on your abilities as a carer, you will also learn to speak on behalf of the children to you look after and help them lead a happier life.

All foster carers receive initial training and regular, annual training. You will be part of a regular support group of foster carers and will have an individual support worker / supervisor and will have the opportunity to complete NVQ training. You will get maintenance allowances and additional payments related to the particular needs of children placed with you.

How do you apply?

Contact the Torbay Foster Care Service direct or apply online using our 'Foster Care Information Request Form'. We will take some very basic details to start with and will send you an information pack containing an application form for you to fill in. You can then read the information and consider whether you wish to pursue your interest by returning our application form.

A member of our Foster Care Service will visit you and arrange for you to attend a short training programme. You will then undergo an assessment of your suitability to care for a vulnerable child. This will include enquiries into your background, character, health and your overall family circumstances plus your experiences and strengths as a carer.

Foster Care can be a demanding task. You will certainly need good health, an understanding of the difficulties faced by parents and a commitment to the welfare of children which is shared and supported by all family members.