What support is available during temporary infant foster care?

Support during temporary infant foster care is coordinated between you, your supervising social worker, the child’s social worker and the health professionals involved in the baby’s care. The aim is to help you follow the placement plan safely, understand the infant’s needs and respond appropriately as information about the placement develops.

Your supervising social worker should remain your main source of professional support. They can help you understand your responsibilities, reflect on how the placement is progressing and raise concerns with the relevant professionals. Support may cover:

• interpreting the placement plan and any delegated authority given to you;
• establishing safe routines for feeding, sleeping, bathing, nappy changing and soothing;
• understanding the baby’s known health, developmental and emotional needs;
• managing professional appointments, contact arrangements and information-sharing;
• completing records and preparing for placement reviews; and
• considering how the placement is affecting you and other members of your household.

Temporary care for an infant can involve information from several sources, including the local authority, midwives, health visitors, neonatal or paediatric services and birth family members. Your supervising social worker can help you identify which instructions should be followed, who has authority to make particular decisions and what must be reported. You should not be expected to make significant decisions about medical treatment, contact or changes to the care plan without appropriate professional involvement.

Support with day-to-day infant care is particularly important when a baby has an established feeding pattern, medication routine, health concern or additional need. You should receive information about the infant’s formula or breast milk arrangements, sleep routine, allergies, prescribed medication, appointments and any safe-care instructions. If the baby’s needs change, ask for the care plan to be reviewed rather than relying on assumptions or informal advice.

Training and advice should also help you recognise signs that an infant may be unwell or distressed. This can include changes in feeding, breathing, alertness, temperature, skin colour, nappies or behaviour. For a serious or immediate medical concern, contact emergency medical services by calling 999. For other health concerns, follow the instructions provided by the child’s social worker and health professionals and seek appropriate medical advice.

Supervision and reviews provide opportunities to discuss how the placement is working. Use these discussions to raise concerns about sleep deprivation, feeding difficulties, settling the baby, appointments, contact, equipment, your household’s wellbeing or uncertainty about what you are allowed to do. Reviews may also consider whether the placement plan remains accurate and whether any new support, training or professional input is needed.

You may also receive help with the practical and financial arrangements connected with the placement. Before or during the placement, ask how fostering allowances are calculated, when payments are made, which essential items can be agreed and how additional expenses should be recorded or approved. Keep receipts and notes where requested, particularly for travel, appointments, specialist equipment or other costs connected with the infant’s care. Rates and arrangements can vary, so rely on the information provided for your specific placement rather than general figures found online.

Working with the birth family can require careful support. Contact may take place according to arrangements made by the local authority, and you may need guidance about preparing the baby, sharing information and recording what happened. Your role is to follow the agreed plan, maintain appropriate boundaries and report factual observations. If a parent shares information about the baby’s health or family circumstances, pass it to the relevant social worker instead of agreeing to changes independently.

Keep accurate records of feeds, medication, sleep, nappies, appointments, injuries, notable behaviour and contact sessions when these are required by the placement plan. Records should be factual, dated and free from speculation. Your supervising social worker can explain what needs to be recorded, how information should be stored and who can see it. Good records help professionals understand the baby’s progress and support decisions about the next stage of care.

It is also appropriate to ask for help if the placement is affecting your ability to manage safely. Tell your supervising social worker about practical difficulties, concerns within the household or any uncertainty about the baby’s care. Seeking advice early allows the professionals involved to consider what adjustments or additional support may be needed while keeping the infant’s welfare at the centre of decisions.