Fostering - tasks and responsibilities

There are a range of tasks and responsibilities that are part of the fostering role.

Foster carer's task summary

To be responsible for the care in one's own home of a child or children placed by Lambeth Social Services, and to work with the agency and all those involved in ensuring a child's care plan is adhered to, and their full developmental potential is achieved.

Specific responsibilities

Caring for children

• To provide day-to-day care of the children being looked after, and have regard to the particular demands on children separated from their families
• To take part in implementing the child's care plan, which would include specific tasks and often contact with parents and others who are important to the child
• To promote the healthy growth and development of the child or children, with particular emphasis on health and on educational achievement
• To ensure the children being looked after are encouraged in a positive manner regarding understanding of their origins, religion and culture
• To assist and support parents and other people who are significant in a child's life to sustain and develop relations with them, including contact
• To enable children and young people who are moving on to do so in a positive manner
• To act as an advocate for each child.

Providing a safe and caring environment

• To ensure that children are kept safe from harm and abuse, and that they are taught how to get help and from whom, should anything occur which has made the child feel uncomfortable, unsafe, or worrying to them
• To ensure health and safety precautions are adhered to in the home, including fire safety, first aid, and general home safety and cleanliness, at all times. In addition, it is important to ensure any pets in the home do not present any risks or hazards to a looked after children
• To ensure children are kept safe outside of the home, including public and personal transport
• To engender personally and throughout the home a warm, friendly and welcoming environment, with clear elements of child focus

Working as part of a team

• To be part of the Lambeth Fostering Team and work with Lambeth staff and professionals within agency guidelines, policies and procedures
• To attend and actively participate in all reviews, family meetings, case conferences and court hearings as required, and to keep written records of placements and contribute to reports
• To work with your supervising social worker in receiving supervision
• To take up appropriate training opportunities and recognise the benefit of continued training
• To ensure all confidential information relating to the child and their family remains confidential

Needs of children who are fostered

Children who are fostered have a right to expect that they will receive the care, encouragement, safety and security that parents and carers should provide, if they are to achieve their full potential.

Children in foster care should have their educational, health and other developmental needs met.

They should also expect their carers and others involved in looking after them, to respect them as individuals, listen to their views and help to build their self-esteem and identity.

They should be helped to maintain links with their family and community, and their racial, religious and cultural background should be respected.

Contact us

To begin a discussion with us about fostering, please submit the register my interest form or phone our free phone number: 0800 952 2926.