Foster care has many rewards but there can be challenges too. And one of the most challenging aspects of fostering is the possibility that at some time a carer – or someone in their fostering household – may face an allegation against them. Every child or young person coming into your home will have their own unique story and set of experiences. And for some, things that have happened in their lives before entering care might make them more predisposed to make an allegation. This should always be remembered by Foster carers so they can keep the risk of being made the subject of an allegation in perspective. Obviously, any allegation when unfounded is likely to cause distress and upset. In part 1, there was a focus on understanding what an allegation is and crucially what the process involves. When a foster carer has an allegation made against them which is, hopefully, unfounded, and although disagreeable, it will have added to their experience and knowledge of the fostering process. Understanding both risk and a certain degree of inevitability should facilitate understanding that over a long fostering career, an allegation is a possibility. A study from 2019 conducted by the GMB Union found that 1 in 4 foster carers had been the subject of false allegations.

Knowledge and preparation are important.

Whenever a child is placed with a foster carer they should have been provided with all the relevant information by their social worker to provide an understanding of the child’s needs and experiences. This must include information concerning any abuse and/or neglect they might have been subjected to and, importantly, details of any previous allegations the child has made. A carer’s fostering service provider has a responsibility to make sure a foster carer has the information needed to decide to accept a placement or not. 

Risk management is key to minimizing allegations.

All foster carers will have received guidance on what is a safe home environment for a child. Part of the process of becoming a foster carer entails health and safety checks. Carers should make sure their home is a safe place each and every day – not just when an inspection is looming. The importance of regularly and accurately recording any incidents or concerns a foster carer has cannot be over-emphasized. Once careful consideration has been given to a child’s referral – along with any additional information from the social worker – a carer should always seek additional clarification if they feel they need it. It may be that more time is needed for an in-depth assessment or for more information to be provided about a foster child. This is often the case where emergency placements are concerned. In these circumstances, a foster carer must be prepared to ask for more information and voice any queries they might have at the Placement Planning Meeting. This should always be held during the first five working days of the initial placement. Again, once the child is in placement keep a daily record of any concerns or incidents – these could prove invaluable in the event of an allegation being made. Carers should think about developing their own safer caring plan so everyone is kept safe. This should also take into account anyone in the household who might be vulnerable to an allegation. It’s also important for a carer to observe the training and be willing to access support from their Supervising Social Worker. This is especially important if a foster carer begins to feel concerned or unsure. This way they can request guidance and advice in a timely way. 

Foster carers who are well organized and always clear about ‘house rules’ and shared responsibilities are also minimizing risk. If a looked after child feels they are part of a well-managed and disciplined household where their voice is heard and records are kept this can be a brake on behaviour that could lead to an allegation being made. 

Foster care opportunities with Rainbow

Call 0330 311 2845 and you will discover most people are eligible to foster. Firstly, you must be over 21 years of age and have a spare room. Rainbow has been rated ‘Outstanding in all areas’ by Ofsted who recognized our ethos as being one that valued the difference in culture, backgrounds,  and life experiences of all our foster parents. 

We accept those with a commitment to fostering – irrespective of their gender, sexual orientation, marital status, age, disability, gender identity, race, or religion. Fostering can be highly rewarding but can also be challenging. Visiting our website will give you a lot of information about what fostering involves. You will also learn there who is eligible to foster. Please call one of our highly experienced recruitment consultants who will take the time to chat with you in a friendly and informal way about the job of a foster carer. 

Typically Rainbow foster carers can earn between £1.5k and £3k a month. This will depend on their level of experience and the nature of the fostering work being done. We currently need applicants from #London #Birmingham #Manchester #Hampshire  And as well as looking for people perhaps interested in general fostering, we are especially keen to recruit to provide care in the following areas:

• foster care and allegations 2
• foster care for sibling groups.
• foster carers to support Parent and Child placements.
• foster carers to care for disabled children.

Covid restrictions are always under review. Please check for the latest government advice and guidance in order to keep you and all members of your fostering household safe – And for an interesting blog on another foster care subject visit –http://rainbowfostering.co.uk/foster-care-for-babies-and-the-key-considerations-for-carers/

And read about reaction to the shortage of foster carers at https://www.thefosteringnetwork.org.uk/news/recognition-support-key-tackling-foster-carer-shortage

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