SSW Safer Caring Procedure

Household Safer Caring Policy

A Household Safer Caring Policy will have been written during the assessment for every Foster Carer Household. The aim of the policy is to minimise risk and to promote Safer Caring within each Foster Carer Household.

• Following the approval of foster carers, the word version of the Household Safer Caring Policy will be copied onto our base system and a signed PDF copy uploaded by support services.
• The SSW must review and update the Household Safer Caring Policy when there are any changes to the household.
• The SSW must review -and update if necessary- the Household Safer Caring Policy at each Foster Carer household Review as a minimum.  
• This document must be signed by the Foster Carers and the SSW before being uploaded to the Foster Carer’s files.

Child Safer Caring Policy

When a child or a young person is initially placed, an Interim Child Safer Caring Policy will be created by the Referral and Response Team based on the information shared in the referral form. The Interim Child Safer Caring Policy will then be replaced with a Child Safer Caring Policy completed by the relevant SSW, following the Placement Planning meeting. Where there are siblings placed together, each individual child must have their own Child Safer Caring Policy, addressing any specific individual vulnerabilities, needs and risks.

Supervising social workers must write a Child Safer Caring Policy for every child that is placed:

• This Child Safer Caring Policy should identify the individual needs of that child and detail any known risks with strategies to minimise risk and to promote Safer Caring.
• The Child Safer Caring Policy must also highlight any high-risk categories where a separate risk matrix must be completed to inform the level of risk.
• This Child Safer Caring Policy must be signed by the Foster Carers and their SSW and saved on the Foster Carer’s files as soon as the Foster Carer has signed it.
• The Child Safer Caring Policy must also be signed by the LASW and Fostering Team Manager however, to avoid delay, the SSW does not need to wait for the LASW to have signed it before the signed policy is saved on the carers files.
• *When the policy is re-uploaded, the SSW must ensure that it is saved with the same date that the Foster carer first signed the form.
• This Child Safer Caring Policy must be completed within 2 weeks of the start of the young person’s placement.

When the below risks are identified, the relevant risk assessment matrix must be used to inform the completion of theChild Safer Caring Policy and how Foster Carers can manage this risk.

1. Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE)
2. Child Criminal Exploitation (CCE)
3. Radicalisation/Extremism
4. Gang Affiliation
5. Parent and Child Placement
6. Self-Harm
7. Missing from Care
8. Child Trafficking

The Risk Matrix must be uploaded to Base.

Use of CCTV and other Recording Devices

Foster Carers understand that where they have CCTV or recording devices in communal areas of the home, the Supervising Social Worker must assess the appropriateness of this arrangement and ensure it is clearly addressed in the Child’s Safe Caring Policy.

The Child Safer Caring Policy should outline:

•          That all recordings must be routinely deleted within 7 days, unless required for a specific safeguarding reason.

•          Any additional safeguards required based on the needs and vulnerabilities of the child, for example, if the child is a teenage girl who may be more likely to dress informally in shared areas, the use of cameras must be reviewed with heightened sensitivity and a clear rationale provided.

•          Confirmation that the child or young person has been informed about the presence and purpose of CCTV, and that this has been done in an age-appropriate and respectful manner.

Regular visitors

The SSW must obtain details of all regular visitors and ensure these are recorded on the Foster Carer’s file.

The SSW, in discussion with their manager, must decide on whether a DBS check is required based on the nature, frequency, and purpose of the visits.

Factors to be considered include:

• The visitor’s level of contact with fostered children.
• The duration and setting of the visits.
• Any potential safeguarding concerns.

Foster Carers must notify their SSW in advance of any situation where a regular visitor is expected to stay overnight. This must be reflected in the Safer Caring Policies.

The SSW must ensure that an appropriate and proportionate risk assessment is completed prior to the overnight stay taking place.

Particular attention must be given to situations involving ex-partners of Foster Carers who have ongoing contact with the Foster Carer’s birth children living in the household.

The SSW must assess and record any potential impact or risk to fostered children, ensuring that appropriate safeguarding measures are in place.

The list of regular visitors and any associated risk assessments must be reviewed at each supervisory visit or sooner if circumstances change.

Any new regular visitors must be reported to the SSW without delay.

The Child Safer Caring Policy is a working document and must be updated by the supervising social worker every 6 months or sooner following any significant incidents.

• Each month at the relevant Managers Learning Group meeting, the RM will review the risk level and amend on the Base where necessary.
• If this is amended, Base will send an email to the relevant SSW to update the Child Safer Caring Policy where necessary. This must be actioned by the SSW and shared with all relevant parties as soon as possible
• *All updated Safer Caring Policies must be signed by Foster Carers, SSW’s, LASW’s and Team Managers – see above.

Both the Household Safer Caring Policy and Child Safer Caring Policy will be added to the Foster Carer Annual Review.