Purpose and Principles
This procedure outlines how Supervising Social Workers (SSWs) build and maintain safe, trusting, and consistent relationships with foster children and with foster carers’ own children. It reflects the Positive Aspirations Group’s commitment to trauma-informed practice, recognising that every interaction with a child has the potential to be supportive and healing.
SSWs play a key role in helping children feel seen, heard, and valued. The relationship should be grounded in respect, reliability, empowerment, and emotional safety.
Relationships with Fostered Children and Foster Carers’ Own Children
• SSWs should establish meaningful, safe, and professional relationships with both fostered children and foster carers’ own children.
• Reports show that fostered children often have more continuity with their SSW than with their Local Authority Social Worker (LASW). These ongoing relationships can provide stability, reassurance, and consistency — all of which are vital for children who may have experienced trauma, loss, or disruption.
• SSWs should create opportunities for birth children who foster to talk privately and safely about their experiences and any worries or concerns about fostering. These conversations should be approached with curiosity, empathy, and without judgement.
Regular Contact and Child-Focused Visits
Every other month, the home visit will focus specifically on the child/ren, and a supervisory template will be completed on Base.
• This visit is an important opportunity for the SSW to spend time with the child and to check how they are feeling about their home, relationships, and daily life.
• SSWs should use active listening and a calm, strengths-based approach to help children feel comfortable sharing their thoughts.
• Visits should be conducted in a way that minimises anxiety or feelings of being assessed — focusing instead on relationship-building and empowerment.
Progress Summaries and Communication with Children
Each Progress Summary (PS) completed for the child includes a section addressed to the child. SSWs should complete this thoughtfully and meaningfully, using positive and encouraging language that celebrates the child’s achievements and voice.
• After the full PS is completed, the section written to the child is automatically emailed by Base. SSWs should take time to go through this with the child, helping them understand what is written and inviting their views.
• This is also an opportunity to explore the child’s own goals, ambitions, and interests (“their spark”), so that their strengths and aspirations can guide future planning.
• SSWs must record the child’s comments on Base with the same date as the PS, so that their voice appears alongside the professional record. This reinforces that their views are valued and recorded with equal importance.
Time with Children Away from the Family Home
SSWs should, when appropriate and with consent, spend time with children away from the family home. This can help the child feel more at ease and able to express themselves freely.
• Reasonable costs associated with these activities will be reimbursed. If unsure about what is considered reasonable, the SSW should check with their Manager.
• These outings should be child-led, supportive, and purposeful — designed to strengthen trust and promote emotional wellbeing.
Celebrating Children and Relationship Recognition
SSWs should buy birthday and Christmas (or, where appropriate, other festival) presents to a value of approximately £10 per present for fostered children and the foster carers’ own children with whom they have an established relationship.
• Presents can be purchased using a PA Group credit card or the SSW will be reimbursed with a valid receipt.
• This gesture recognises the child’s individuality, promotes belonging, and helps maintain a nurturing, consistent relationship.
Supporting Children’s Rights to Speak and Be Heard
SSWs must ensure that all foster children understand their right to raise concerns or make a complaint without fear of blame, punishment, or negative consequences.
• SSWs should explicitly identify themselves as a safe and appropriate person for the child to talk to about worries or complaints.
• Conversations about rights should be framed in a reassuring, child-friendly, and empowering way, reinforcing that being heard is part of being cared for.
Children’s and Young People’s Guide
Each child should receive a copy of the relevant agency Children’s or Young People’s Guide, and SSWs should go through it with them in a supportive and interactive way.
• SSWs should ensure that children understand the information in the guide, taking time to explain rights, routines, and key contacts.
• Children who can sign the signature page should do so, and it should be uploaded to Base.
• A digital version is available on the agency website so that children, foster carers, and their families can access it at any time.
• If the guide is required in a different language, format, or accessible version, the SSW should contact Support Services, who can provide alternatives.
Health Passports and Promoting Wellbeing
Children aged 5 and above should be made aware of the PA Group Health Passport, which Support Services send to the foster carer when a new child is placed.
• For younger children, foster carers will manage and update the passport with details of appointments, medication, and illnesses.
• Older children should be encouraged and supported by the SSW to take an active role in maintaining their own Health Passport as part of developing independence and health awareness.
• The SSW will check the passport at each supervision visit and tick the box on the Base Supervision Record to confirm it has been seen.
• Health Passport discussions should be approached as a collaborative and empowering activity, helping the child build self-confidence and ownership of their wellbeing.
