Welcome to the Foster Carers Handbook

The handbook reflects policies, procedure and guidance for the Brighter Futures for Children Independent Fostering Agency which cover many common situations faced by foster carers on a day to day basis. It has been written in an accessible way to help you understand the sort of things that your fostering service requires of you. It has been designed for new and existing foster carers and deals with the day to day practicalities you may face.

There is also an area called Local Resources which contains additional information from the Fostering Agency to support you in your role. It’s important that you use the Local Resources area too.

If you need to contact us, click here.

To access the full version of fostering agencies’ policies, procedure and guidance, click here.

Where the Handbook refers to the Safeguarding Partnership Procedures you should access the Safeguarding Partnership Procedures in the area where you live for example the Pan Berkshire Safeguarding Children Partnership Procedures.

It has links to the Minimum Standards for Fostering Services and references to the relevant Training, Support and Development Standards. You should also use the handbook to support your learning and development, particularly in relation to meeting the induction standards.

Foster carers play an important role in the lives of Children Looked After and their families so it is important that you have the necessary tools to support you with this task. The handbook is one of these tools alongside the many professionals you will work with including your Supervising Social Worker and other foster carers.

We value the children and young people that you care for. In particular, the children and young people we care for are known as Children Looked After. However in the context of this handbook as the legislation and national guidance refers to Looked After Children you may on occasions see this terminology is used within the handbook.