The Fostering Service works in partnership with children and young people, their families and carers to provide safe caring homes that value the difference in children and young people and help them to achieve their full potential.
The Fostering service undertakes pre-approval training and preparation of carers, regular supervision and support networks for carers, creates opportunities for carers to develop a competencies portfolio, including a development plan and carer’s career progression scheme, and produces regular newsletters raising the profile of the county and national fostering agenda.
Two fostering panels, constituted to reflect the requirements of the National Standards, consider all approvals of new carers, first reviews, issues of concern regarding carers (if required), and de-registrations. The panels make recommendations to the identified agency decision maker.
Fostering services also manage Devon Young Peoples Accommodation Service which provides supported lodgings for 16+ young people.
Working closely with exceptional carers and social workers, Devon County Council has opened the doors to almost 250 safe, caring homes – offering children and young people who are unable to live with their birth families a place to belong. However, there’s always a demand for foster carers.
Taking responsibility for those prospective carers, the Recruitment & Assessment Team oversees everything from information evenings to final approval. Once the foster carers have been approved, the Fostering Support Team steps in. Working closely with Fostering Support Workers to guide each carer through the placement process. While our fostering teams are based in Barnstaple, Exeter and Totnes, their work takes them right across the county.
Private Fostering
Private Fostering is a specific service of Children’s Social Work. Private Fostering is when a child or young person under the age of 16, or 18 if they have a disability, is looked after for 28 days or more by someone who is not a close relative, guardian, or person with parental responsibility. Close relatives include parents, step-parents, aunts, uncles and grandparents.
It is not Private Fostering if the arrangement was made by Children’s Social Work – or if the person looking after the child is an approved foster carer.
Examples of Private Fostering:
- Children, adolescents, and teenagers living apart from their families.
- Minority ethnic children with parents working or studying in the UK.
- Children with parents overseas.
- Children living with host families for a variety of reasons.
- Children on holiday exchange.
The private fostering worker assessess the suitability of any arrangement and provides advice and support to the private foster carer, parents and child, in order to promote the child’s welfare. The service also works closely with the Devon Safeguarding Children Board in raising awareness of Private Fostering to professionals and the public.