Fostering

Racism

Each individual will have different understanding, awareness, experience and attitude about racism. However, as foster carers it is important to be able to recognise racism and also to be able to distinguish between different forms of racism. This is vital if foster carers are to effectively challenge racism for the benefit and protection of all the children who they might care for.
Personal Racism
A belief, attitude or feeling that people of another race are less equal or inferior.
A feeling of superiority based on race.
Organisational Racism
A system that is structured and functions to the detriment of ethnic minorities.
A system that excludes people through their employment of people from ethnic minority groups.
An organisation that fails to actively ensure that all people are fully and equally represented, including promotion and development.
Prejudice
A belief or preconceived idea about issues such as individuals, cultures and agencies.
An idea that is usually based on non-factual evidence and influenced by negative images.
Direct Racism
Direct Racism is usually extremely obvious; insulting or abusive name calling or labels, clear exclusions from services or events, humiliation, fear and threats.
Indirect Racism
This is usually very subtle and sometimes difficult to detect. It is often incorporated into systems and organisations although individuals are indirectly racist in their actions, ideas and thoughts, sometimes people do not realise just how indirectly racist they are.

Records 
Fostering Agencies record information about foster carers, which will include a copy of their approval report and all relevant checks and references and foster care reviews.
There will also be a record of all the children placed with the foster carers. If the foster carers wish to see their records they should discuss this with their fostering social worker.
All children looked after by Social Services will have a complete set of records, which will be kept up to, date by the child’s social worker. When a child is placed with a foster carer, the carer should receive a copy of the ‘planning document’ from the child’s social worker.
As the placement progresses the foster carer will receive copies of reviews they have attended regarding the child. Copies of all these documents should be kept as part of the child’s records.
Record Keeping
All foster carers should keep a daily record on the child or children placed with them. This does not have to be comprehensive; a diary of short notes is most often sufficient.
It is important to keep a record of any significant events and behaviour for a number of reasons:
• Recording the behaviour of a child (including the dates of any particular
incidents) of both positive and negative behaviour, could help to identify a behaviour pattern.
• A diary can help to monitor a child’s progress during a placement. A diary of events and incidents can help a foster carer to remember at a later date, things that otherwise might be disputed, for example, an accident to the child, failure to attend a contact visit, medication given and why and so on.
• An accurate diary can assist decision making at Child Care Reviews, Planning Meetings, Case conferences and court proceedings.
• A diary of incidents can support a foster carer’s application for additional help. A diary can reduce the risk to the foster carer and their family of a compliant or allegation made against them, particularly if the complaint is made a long time after the event.
The general rule for foster carers is to write it down and then it cannot be forgotten.

Recruitment
Foster carers play an important role in the recruitment of other foster carers.
Foster carers take part in recruitment campaigns and are involved in preparation groups for the Agencies they provide care for.

Religion 
It is important for a child’s identity and possible reunification with his or her birth family that a child’s religious practices and beliefs are represented during a period of separation from their birth family. Foster carers cannot change a child’s religion.
Foster carers must encourage and support the child placed with them to practice his or her religion.

Reviews 
There are different formal reviews in which foster carers may be involved such as; the foster carer’s annual reviews, the child’s review and a disruption review/placement assessment.
Annual Foster Care Review (AFCR)
All approved foster carers should have their approval reviewed annually. The main purpose of the review is to assess whether the carers and their household remain suitable to foster. Reviews should also be completed every time there is a major change in the foster carer’s circumstances.
The review should take into account the views of the foster carers, which can be submitted in writing before the review takes place. The contents of the review will be recorded and the foster carers will be notified in writing of the outcome and any decisions taken.
The child’s review
The Children Act 1989 places a duty on local authorities to draw up plans, in writing, for each child they accommodate or look after. The child’s review is part of a continuing planning process, it is an opportunity to examine plans and decisions and assess the progress made and sets goals for future action.
The review should seek a wide range of views, and careful consideration is given to all aspects of the child’s welfare, health and education needs, and so on.
The first review should take place within four weeks of the commencement of the placement. It should be followed by a second review within three months. Thereafter reviews should take place at six monthly intervals. This is a minimal requirement however a review may be held whenever it is considered necessary.
The review is most often held in the foster carer’s home, which is most likely to provide a relaxed atmosphere, particularly the child.
Disruption review
The principal aim of a disruption review/meeting is to collect information about the particular placement when it is at crisis point and the placement is likely to be disrupted. The primary aim is to secure the immediate and long term welfare of the child.
It is essential that all the individuals involved with the placement and the decision making process are present at the review. All the participants are expected to share information and express their feelings about the placement in order to learn from the experience.
If a placement breaks down before a disruption review/meeting is completed, the review should be held within three weeks of the child leaving the foster home.