Caring for a Foster Child: A Guide for Foster Parents

CARING FOR YOUR FOSTER
CHILD
A Guide for Carers
Copyright © 2017 TCI Pathway
www.tcipathway.co.uk

Feel comfortable in caring for your foster
child on a day-to-day basis, with the help of
this simple guide.

VALUING DIVERSITY in Foster Care
Families
Anyone applying to be considered as a foster carer (for any agency) should be
assessed purely on the basis of their ability to care for the child.
Each child in foster care should receive equal access to the fostering agency’s services.
Whilst agencies recognise that a child’s needs are more likely to be met by carers who
share their ethnic and cultural background, this will not always take priority over the
other requirements of the child.
Both girls and boys placed with an agency foster carer should receive equal
opportunities and encouragement to pursue their talents, interests, and hobbies.
They should also have the right to exercise their religious beliefs, and maintain their
sexual identity. Copyright © 2017 TCI Pathway

Respecting a Foster Child’s
CONFIDENTIALITY
Information given in confidence with regards to a foster child and their
placement should be kept confidential and not be disclosed to any person
without the agreement of the placing agency.
Children and young people should be made aware that foster carers have the
right to share certain information about them, where confidentiality cannot
be maintained- For instance, in the interest of the child’s safety.
Such information should always be treated sensitively.

RECEIPT OF GIFTS
In accordance with UK law, monetary gifts to staff or foster carers are
strictly forbidden.
If a carer is to be presented with a gift by the child, it needs to be refused,
and then reported and recorded.
Staff members and foster carers may only receive gifts on special
occasions such as a birthday (if they feel comfortable in accepting them).
Apart from cards and confectionary, all gifts must be recorded at all times.

PHYSICAL BEHAIVOUR around Foster
Care Children
The affection carers show towards a foster child, will differ from what they
share with their biological children. This is in the interest of both parties.
For their own safety, carers should ask about showing physical affection and
avoid tickling and ‘play-fighting’ games.
Smacking, or any other form of physical punishment, cannot be used by foster
carers under any circumstances.

VERBAL COMMUNICATION around Foster
Care Children
To ensure the safety and happiness of both parties, foster carers should take
heed of a few simple points:
o Avoid shouting inappropriately
o Avoid using language which may harm a child’s self-esteem
o Avoid using swear words

A Foster Child’s PRIVACY within their
Care Home
A foster child’s bedroom should be separate from their carer’s. If they are
required to share a bedroom with other children of the household, their
approval must be obtained first. The child should not be made to feel
uncomfortable. We recommend that you leave bedroom doors open and
strongly urge that you do not lie in the foster child’s bed, with them (even
when telling them bedtime stories).
Good practice in the bathroom should be discussed with social workers- older
children must be given privacy.
Everyone in the household must be appropriately dressed at all times. The
foster child should be encouraged to dress in a way that does not make them
seem ‘vulnerable’ in public.

TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS & VIDEOS of
the Foster Child
Whilst photographs may be important in contact arrangements, taking them
must be considered carefully in each case.
Permission must be obtained by foster children before every time a
photograph or a video is going to be taken.
Children should be given a copy of their photographs and videos, as agencies
may wish to record them into their ‘life book’ later.

SEXUAL EDUCATION for Children in
Foster Care
Although a sensitive issue, sexual education is essential for everyone in the
fostering household.
 Ensure sexual education is age appropriate.
 Seek help and advice if the foster child is from a complex cultural or
religious background.
 Be aware that advertising, television, and the media exploit sexual aspects
of people’s lives- This will need to be monitored.
 Keep communication open and identify when a foster child may be
vulnerable to sexual abuse, or any kind of pressure.

FAMILY PETS
Although a pet can provide reassurance for a foster child, carers need to
understand that there safety aspects to be considered- both for the child, and
the pet.
Foster carers will be expected to explain to the child in placement how the
pets are cared for, and how to behave around them.
The foster child will also need to be supervised, until carers have assessed the
risk, when with family pets.

CONCERNS About a Foster Child
It is imperative for foster carers to keep a diary and record anything at all,
that concerns them about their foster child. For example, inappropriate
behaviour or language, a distressing phone call, or a sudden weight loss/gain.
It is the foster carer’s responsibility to then report these concerns to the
agency’s social worker. Failure to do so, may result in the carer being
penalised, or pose a threat towards the child’s safety.

Everything starts with a conversation, so let’s talk:
Safaraz Ali
Linkedin: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/safaraz
Twitter Handle: @SafarazAli
Tel: 0121 707 0550

Caring for a Foster Child: A Guide for Foster Parents

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Caring for a Foster Child: A Guide for Foster Parents