What responsibilities does a respite foster carer have?

A respite foster carer’s responsibilities are to provide consistent, safe and appropriate care for a child during an agreed period, while working within the child’s placement plan and the fostering service’s procedures. The role includes safeguarding, practical care, communication, record keeping and helping the child move into and out of the placement in a planned way.

Before the placement

• Read the information provided about the child, including their needs, preferences, relationships, health requirements, education and any known risks.
• Clarify what is expected of you, including the dates and times of the stay, transport arrangements, contact arrangements, delegated decisions and who to contact if a concern arises.
• Make sure your household understands the agreed boundaries and that the home is suitable for the child’s visit.
• Ask for clarification where information is incomplete or unclear. You should not accept responsibility for arrangements you do not understand or feel able to manage safely.

During the placement

• Provide supervision appropriate to the child’s age, development and assessed needs.
• Follow agreed arrangements for meals, bedtime, personal care, school or activities, medication, communication and contact with important people.
• Use agreed approaches to encourage positive behaviour. Physical punishment, humiliating treatment and responses that are inconsistent with the child’s plan are not appropriate.
• Respect the child’s privacy, belongings, culture, religion, identity and personal history. Information about the child should only be shared with people who need it for their care or safeguarding.
• Help the child understand what is happening and what to expect, particularly when they are staying somewhere unfamiliar or returning to their main foster placement.
• Maintain appropriate boundaries. A respite carer should be warm and dependable without making promises about future arrangements, encouraging secrecy or presenting themselves as a replacement for the child’s usual carers.

Safeguarding and health

Safeguarding is a central responsibility. You must remain alert to signs that a child may be distressed, unsafe, unwell or being harmed. Any concern, allegation, disclosure, unexplained injury or significant change in behaviour should be reported promptly through the agreed safeguarding route. Do not investigate the matter yourself or ask leading questions; listen calmly, record the child’s words as accurately as possible and follow the relevant procedure.

You are also responsible for following the instructions given about medication, allergies, dietary requirements, appointments and other health needs. Medication should be stored, administered and recorded in line with the child’s instructions and the fostering service’s policy. If a child becomes seriously unwell or there is an immediate danger, seek emergency help and notify the appropriate fostering professionals as soon as possible afterwards.

Communication and records

Good communication helps the child experience continuity between homes. Keep the child’s main foster carer and supervising professionals informed about significant events, changes in presentation, accidents, missed medication, contact issues or anything that may affect the child’s welfare. Routine updates should be factual and respectful rather than judgemental.

Keep any required records accurately and securely. These may include daily notes, medication records, accident forms or records of significant incidents. Write what happened, when it happened, who was involved and what action was taken. Records should not contain speculation, unnecessary personal opinions or information about other children and adults.

Working with the child’s network

Respite care forms part of a wider plan, so the respite carer must work cooperatively with the child’s main carers, social worker, school and fostering service where appropriate. This means following agreed instructions, attending relevant discussions or reviews when asked, raising practical concerns and passing on information that could help the child’s care remain consistent.

The respite carer should support agreed family time and other relationships without making independent changes to contact arrangements. You should not share personal contact details, post information or photographs about the child online, or discuss the child’s circumstances with others unless this is authorised and appropriate.

At the end of the stay

• Prepare the child for the transition back to their main placement, avoiding sudden changes where a handover can be planned.
• Give the main carer or professional a clear account of relevant events, achievements, worries and unfinished tasks.
• Return belongings, medication and important documents as agreed.
• Complete outstanding records and report any incident or safeguarding concern through the correct process.
• Reflect on how the arrangement went and raise any support or training needs with your supervising professional.

A respite foster carer is not expected to manage every situation alone. The role includes seeking advice when a child’s needs change, an incident occurs or the agreed arrangements no longer appear suitable. Staying within the placement plan, maintaining professional boundaries and asking for guidance early are important responsibilities in their own right.