What support is available after approval for foster carers in Droitwich Spa?

After approval, foster carers receive structured support to help them care for children safely, meet the expectations of their role and maintain their approval. This support is tailored to the child in placement, the carer’s household and the issues that arise during fostering, rather than ending once the assessment has been completed.

Support around individual placements begins with careful preparation. Before a placement is agreed, carers should receive information about the child’s needs, history, routines, relationships and known risks. They can discuss whether the proposed placement is suitable for their household and clarify practical arrangements such as school, health appointments, contact with birth family and the decisions they are authorised to make. This helps carers understand what will be expected before the child arrives.

Once a child is living with the family, support can include help with establishing routines, responding to behaviour linked to trauma or loss, managing contact arrangements and working with education, health and social care professionals. Carers are also expected to keep clear records about significant events, incidents, appointments and the child’s progress. Advice on recording information accurately and sharing it appropriately is an important part of professional fostering practice.

Formal reviews help keep the placement and the approval on track. The child’s care plan is reviewed through the statutory looked-after-child review process, while the fostering service reviews the carer’s approval and development. These reviews consider what is going well, what has been difficult, whether the terms of approval remain appropriate and what further development may be useful. Carers should use these meetings to raise concerns, request additional help and discuss how fostering is affecting other members of the household.

Support also applies when circumstances change. Carers should tell their fostering service about relevant changes in their health, household, work, accommodation or availability to foster. The service can then consider whether the change affects the current placement, the carer’s approval or the type of placement that may be suitable in future. This is not about expecting a household to remain unchanged; it is about making sure decisions continue to protect children and support the family.

There are specific procedures for serious concerns. If there is an allegation, complaint, safeguarding concern or significant incident, carers should report it promptly through the process explained by their fostering service. They should avoid investigating the matter themselves, keep factual records and follow instructions about communication with the child, family members and professionals. The fostering team should explain the steps being taken, the carer’s responsibilities and what support is available while the matter is considered. This can include guidance on maintaining appropriate boundaries and continuing to care for the child during a difficult period.

Support may also be relevant when a placement is approaching an end. Carers can need help to prepare a child for a move, manage feelings about separation, contribute information for the next stage of the child’s plan and complete records responsibly. Where a placement ends unexpectedly, the service should review what happened with the carer, identify any lessons and consider what support or changes may be appropriate before another placement is discussed.

In practical terms, foster carers should know:

• who their main fostering contact is and how to raise a concern;
• which decisions they can make on a child’s behalf and which require agreement from the child’s social worker or another professional;
• how to report incidents, allegations, complaints and safeguarding concerns;
• what records they need to keep and how information must be handled;
• when their reviews and development discussions will take place; and
• how to ask for advice when a child’s needs or the household’s circumstances change.

Good post-approval support is a two-way process. Foster carers should share concerns early, attend required meetings, complete agreed development activity and ask questions when instructions are unclear. The fostering service can then give more appropriate advice and ensure that decisions remain focused on the child’s welfare and the carer’s ability to provide safe, consistent care.