7.11 Initial Interview/Home Visit for Prospective Foster Carers

AMENDMENT

This chapter was amended in October 2011 to reflect the Fostering Services Regulations 2011, Associated Guidance and National Minimum Standards. The changes are minor and add the requirement to check the applicant's right to work in the UK and additional requirement sin relation to the accommodation.

Obtaining Information
Supplementary Guidance Notes for Family Placement Staff Undertaking Initial Interview / Home Visit
Factors to Consider at Initial Assessment

1. Obtaining Information

Obtain the following information:

Name, address, telephone number and e-mail;
Family composition – dates of birth, race, religion, culture;
Marital status, extended family, support networks;
Health – Note only past or present serious medical problems or investigations. Do they smoke?
Accommodation, with reference to Health and Safety Standards, and bedroom sharing;
Employment - hours of work, right to work in the UK, time available for children;
Social and recreational activities. Any experience of working with children in a voluntary or professional capacity;
Understanding of proposed task and relevant experience. Previous knowledge of foster caring. Expressed motivation;
Attitude to working together with:
1. Birth family;
2. Social and Health Care Directorate;
3. Schools;
4. Other Agencies.
Current offer – adoption, long-term fostering, short-term fostering, relief fostering. Numbers of children, gender, etc.;
Conclusion and recommendation.

2. Supplementary Guidance Notes for Family Placement Staff Undertaking Initial Interview / Home Visit

The initial interview (s) will be critical to the selection of applicants to go forward to Home Study. It will, of necessity, be rigorous and conducted in line with the pro forma and preferably by two staff.

The initial interview is the forum for:

Confirming that enquirers meet the criteria for fostering applications;
Describing the process of an application;
Ascertaining whether there are major tangible hazards; health or personal, to an application;
Gathering factual information;
Informing enquirers about the fostering tasks and the needs of children in care;
Gaining an impression as to their suitability as foster carers.

It, therefore, has two elements:

Educative;
Investigative.

This dual purpose should be emphasised to enquirers, as should the fact that neither they nor the Family Placement Service are committed to proceeding with an application at this stage.

1.	Educative
	It is essential for the worker to elaborate on:
	i.	The Fostering Task:
		Describe: The range of fostering tasks and distinguish between them, emphasising what resources are most needed locally; The reasons for admission to care, the needs of children in care and their possible responses to living in foster homes; The part played by natural families; The kinds of practical and social work support made available to the foster carers and the importance of the notion of partnership.
	ii.	The Approval Process:
		Describe: The purpose; Enquiries undertaken: health; police; personal references; statutory checks; The role of preparation groups; Individual interviews; The decision making process; Probable time scales.
2.	Investigative
	The worker should:
	i.	Establish eligibility, i.e.:
		Age 21+ (unless kinship); Single, unmarried or divorced; Couples - married or unmarried but in a stable relationship; With or without children; In full time or part time work or not working; All racial or ethnic backgrounds; All faiths or none.
	ii.	Obtain factual information, i.e.
		Age; Race; Religion; Marital Status; Family Composition; Accommodation. This includes checking the foster home to ensure it provides appropriate and safe for the child, as well as safe transport. Each child over three years old must have their own bedroom or, where this is not possible, the sharing of the bedroom has to be agreed by the placing authority. A risk assessment must be conducted in regard to pets; Employment.
	iii.	Ascertain whether there are any major hazards to an application, i.e.:
		Health; Personal.
	iv.	Make a preliminary assessment of the enquirer’s aptitude for fostering and the type of task that will suit them best.
		Research suggests that the most effective foster carers are: Inclusive of natural families; Willing to work with the Children Young People and Families Directorate; Open to preparing, training and support; Inclined to have a stable lifestyle in terms of housing and employment; Likely to make decisions jointly; Involved in a wide range of social activities and have significant numbers of people passing through their home; Likely to have significant levels of contact with their extended family; Not likely to be reliant on community approval for being foster carers.
		With these characteristics in mind explore and be alert to: Expressed motivation: is there evidence of equal commitment, desperation, companionship for own children etc.? Response to Natural Parents: are they sensitive and compassionate or antagonistic and condemning? Extent of involvement in Community Activities: what, where and with whom? Support Systems: nature and accessibility? Ability/Willingness to understand the fostering tasks and approval process: are they impatient or cautious? Openness to learning; Flexibility: practical and psychological: are they receptive to other points of view or are they rigid? Relevant experience and skills: does it enhance readiness for task?

The decision as to whether an application should be pursued and by which process, will be undertaken by the initial interviewer in consultation with the Team Manager and team.

3. Factors to Consider at Initial Assessment

Voluntary Organisations and Leisure Activities

List all of the known voluntary organisations of which they have been a member.

Have more than one brought them into regular contact with children/young people?

Do any of them have substandard/no vetting procedures?

Have they participated in such organisations without their partner?
Have they had regular responsibility for children/young people on foreign or domestic trips?

With whom did they share responsibility?
List all of the leisure activities that this person engages in.

Do they consist of activities that primarily bring them into contact with children/young people?

Do they include activities that they undertake alone and could bring them into contact with children/young people?
List the voluntary organisations and organised leisure activities they were involved in as a young person.

Is there a discrepancy between their formative years and current stated interests? I.e. is it only in later life that they have developed an interest in the Scouting movement and being a swimming coach? What is their explanation for this?

Employment

Is there evidence of a pattern of previous employment where employment confers implicit power and authority?

Could this have been abused to create situations to sexually offend? e.g. security guard, school bus driver;
Is there a pattern of employment indicating significant contact with children / young people, where this does not involve statutory contact with them? I.e. leisure centres, games workshops / outlets;
Is there a pattern of employment of statutory contact with children?

Have any concerns ever been expressed about this person’s suitability to undertake such employment?
Have they ever attempted to join the Police, Prison Service or military but been rejected? If so, what is their explanation?

Previous Relationships

Is there a discrepancy between this person’s account of previous significant relationships and their partner’s understanding of this part of their history?
Do they have children from a previous relationship?

If so, do they maintain contact with them? If not, why not?
Are we able to contact previous significant partners, especially in relation to their children? If not, why not?

Current Relationship

Is there any indication that either partner has been the victim of emotional, physical or sexual abuse?

If so, what assistance have they received to overcome the impact of this?

Do they view themselves as a survivor or still a victim?
Do they feel that both partners are emotionally and psychologically robust enough to withstand or identify manipulative behaviour by the other?
Who dominates the relationship?

Which aspects of it?
Do they always go on holiday together?

If they have separate holidays, are they to countries with a child sexual abuse problem?
What is their understanding of the nature of abusive behaviour towards children and young people?
Which partner instigated enquiries about fostering and adoption?
Does this person demonstrate more congruence, and relationship skills, with children and young people than adults?

Power And Control

Is there a pattern of employment that suggests this person is, in part, motivated by power and control seeking behaviour?
Is there evidence that suggests that one partner is significantly more dominant than the other?
Is there a pattern of engaging in leisure and voluntary activities that confer power and control?
Regarding 1 and 3, what safeguards are they subject to that could curb an abuse of power or authority?
What is their experience of authority during their formative years?

End