Safer Caring Policy

The aim of the policy is to protect children, carers and family members from harm, misunderstandings and allegations, therefore all carers will have a Safe Care Plan when a Looked After Child is placed in their care. The Safe Care Plan will take account of the needs of the child placed and that of you and your family. It is important that everybody in the house is aware of the policy and is signed up to it.
 
The purpose of this policy is to:    

• Keep foster children safe from harmful behaviour by adults;
• Keep children safe from harmful behaviour by other children in the household;
• Keep members of the foster family safe from false allegations;
• Ensure that the foster home is a safe environment for children.

Safer caring should be approached in a risk sensible manner rather than being risk averse. It should be proportionate to the needs of the child, carers, other children placed and other adult members of the household and visitors. 

Children who are unable to live within their birth families and are placed in alternative care such as foster care and with family and friends will have had adverse experiences, which will have had a detrimental impact on their development. They will probably and understandably feel unsafe, therefore a family Safe Care plan is essential. 

Occasionally Carers experience allegations from children who have been placed in their care and Carers should be reassured that a thorough investigation will take place to establish the outcome. While some allegations are not upheld, or prove to be unfounded, it must be acknowledged that the impact of an allegation can be stressful for Carers and their families and the Family Placement Service will support Carers during the process.

When an allegation is made a Strategy Discussion normally occurs. (Please refer to SCB 3.4 Strategy Discussion/Meetings). This meeting is chaired by a Children and Families Team Manager who will determine whether there are grounds for a Section 46 investigation which is an assessment led by  a children’s social worker  and/or a police investigation may be initiated to ascertain the details of the allegation and any evidence available. 

Following an allegation a Managing Allegations Strategy Meeting (MASM) may also be held after the Designated Officer (SIRO) has considered the information (please refer to the MASM procedure) The MASM will consider the information available and focus on the impact and implications for the subject of the allegation.

The outcome will be determined to be one of the following;

• Substantiated – established by evidence or proof;
• Unsubstantiated – neither proven or disproven;
• Unfounded – misinterpreted or mistaken by the person making the allegation.  Sufficient evidence to disprove the allegation;
• Malicious or deliberately invented (deliberate intent to deceive).  There is sufficient evidence to prove this intention.

Looked-after children in the home at the time of an allegation may have to reside elsewhere while the investigation takes place, to ensure they are safeguarded.  

Carers will be supported by the Family Placement Service through their Supervising Social Worker and independent support will be provided to the carer through an external provider. Once the investigation is concluded a fostering review will be held and the report submitted to the Fostering Panel.

To meet the Isle of Man Fostering Minimum Standards June 2007 (amended October 2013), Standard 6 (6.1) and Standard 9 (9.3)

This policy applies to Foster Carers and Family and Friends Foster Carers who have been assessed and recommended for approval through the IOM fostering panel and are caring for looked-after children.

The Supervising Social Worker and the child’s Social Worker will work in partnership with carers to formulate the Safe Care plan within 72 hours of the child being placed in your care; this will normally be completed at the Placement Planning Meeting. The child views are paramount and will be incorporated into the plan, supported by the child’s Social Worker.

The Family Placement Service has a duty to support carers, which means  an allocated Supervising Social Worker will offer regular supervision to carers (please refer to the Supervision and Support of Foster Carers Policy). Safer Caring will be a focus of supervision sessions to ensure safeguards continue to be proportionate and realistic in line with the needs of the child, carers, family and friends. 

The Safer Caring plan should be a ‘living’ document that takes account of the changing needs for children and fostering families. 

The Family Placement Service has a duty to offer training to Foster Carers and Family and Friends (please refer to the training policy). The Education Sessions will have covered some aspects of Safer Caring, however, all carers will be required to complete Safer Caring training within the first year of approval with a refresher every three years.
All Foster Carers registered with Family Placement Service receive membership to The Fostering Network upon approval. The Fostering Network provides its members with access to member helplines along with legal protection insurance. The Fostering Network also produces publications which may be of use to foster carers. The Family Placement Service will provide access to independent support through an external provider when carers are subject to an allegation.

Independent support for foster carers is required to help them manage and understand the process that takes place when an investigation is underway. This service is offered by an independent support service (ISS). The independent support worker will offer support through face to face and telephone communication, explaining the issues that are being considered by the investigation, informing the carer of their rights, ensuring that correct process is observed and followed, and making representations on behalf of the carer to the department if required.

The following are the areas that will be included in your Safer Caring Plan, but they are not exclusive.

The following are the areas that will be included in your Safer Caring Plan, but they are not exclusive.

Affection, Love and Attention 

Foster carers should feel able to express appropriate physical affection towards young people in their care and provide comfort for a child in distress. For under-fives especially there is a need for plenty of physical contact - cuddles, hugs etc., especially at stressful times such as when separating from their parents. Where children seek and need an excessive amount of comforting or affection, carers should discuss with their social worker how this is given and agreed strategies implemented.  

Carers should always check out if a child in their care wants a kiss or cuddle and teach children that they can say 'no' to anyone in this respect including themselves. Kissing a non-related child on the lips is not acceptable (social convention across the UK would generally consider that an adult kissing any child on the lips would be inappropriately intimate and beyond normally accepted affectionate behaviour).

The Carer must always bear in mind that the child in their care may have been sexually abused or exposed to inappropriate sexualised behaviour. They may well misinterpret innocent touches, cuddles and kisses as being sexual advances and the carer could be at risk of allegations, if the child believes the gesture is associated with other motives e.g. a hug with the child by your side and an arm round their shoulder is far less open to misinterpretation, than a full frontal embrace.  

Carers should endeavour to give affection when other people are present and avoid using bedrooms as a place to show affection e.g. goodnight story and kiss should take place downstairs. Time necessarily spent in the bedroom with a child should be with the door open. Significant incidents should be recorded e.g. 'Child awoke at night, very distressed and needed cuddling’. It would also be useful to record if the need for reassurance diminishes.

Boisterous play and play fighting

We recommend that you do not engage in boisterous play or play fighting.  Some children and young people are unable to regulate their own emotions and behaviour and there is a risk that this would happen during play fights or overly boisterous play.

Privacy and personal care

Bedrooms should only be entered by others by invitation or in the case of carers where permission is withheld – on a health and safety basis – in full knowledge of child/young person.  Bedrooms should not be routinely used for play with other children/young persons. If bedrooms have to be used for activities with others then doors should be left open at all times. Bedroom doors should not have locks on them.

Bed sharing of any kind is not advisable and should not happen.

A lock should be placed out of the reach of small children on the bathroom door - such that it affords privacy but can be broken open from the outside if necessary.

All children should be taught and encouraged to wash themselves as young as possible and those who are old enough to bath themselves should have privacy in the bathroom.
Where a child/young person needs supervision, discussion needs to take place with the supervising social worker and child's social worker when the safer caring plan is written up at the beginning of placement.

Nightwear and/or dressing gowns should be worn by all members of the household at bedtime and bath-time and the body should not be visible through them.

Holidays/Activities

Case by case decisions about holidays and activities will be made in discussion with the child’s social worker.  Holidays are an important, normal and exciting opportunity for children and young people. Those with parental responsibility must be consulted if a holiday or activity is to take place and agreement sought.  In seeking consent, the child’s social worker will need to know the dates of the proposed holiday/activity, the location and contact details for carers while the activity/holiday is taking place. A holiday risk assessment should be completed by the child’s social worker. Please see policy for holidays on and off the Isle of Man.

Travelling in cars

Carers should ascertain, age appropriately, how a child/young person feels about travelling alone in a car with a carer or designated driver. Carers should routinely ensure that they comply with legislation that was introduced in 2007 requiring children in cars to travel in the appropriate child restraint until they reach either 135cm (4ft 5in) in height or 12 years of age. Carers can access further guidance from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) or visit www.gov.im/media/142672/child_car_seat_safety_leaflet.pdf

Cars should be roadworthy (please see Chapter 7.18, Health and Safety policy), insured, taxed and fitted with appropriate safety restraints. Children should use restraints, car seats or booster seats appropriate to their size. Carers should be aware of the situation regarding air bags in their car and place children/young people accordingly. Children should always travel in the rear seat of the car for safety reasons and to enable the child to feel secure. The front seats of a car should be viewed as an adult area which may be available to older young people when it is clear that this will not make them feel vulnerable, either physically or emotionally.

Behaviour, Discipline and Sanctions

Carers should be aware that corporal punishment is not acceptable and this includes smacking, slapping, shaking and all other humiliating forms of treatment or punishment.
Carers are not to use threats of physical punishment, nor seek to control a child's behaviour by physical intimidation.

Carers should not take part in intimate physical searching beyond a child’s/young person’s clothing. Any search should be with a child’s/young person’s permission. Sometimes it may be necessary to search a child’s/young person’s room or possessions, if their personal safety or that of others is at risk e.g. if you have good reason to believe that they may be hiding drugs/weapons/anything that could pose a risk. In these circumstances the child/young person still needs to be informed that this will take place and if possible accompany you.

Carers should not deprive a child/young person of food and drink, withhold medication or dental treatment, intentionally deprive a child/young person of sleep, use disrespectful or abusive language towards a child or young person, require a child or young person to wear distinctive or inappropriate clothing, restrict or refuse contact with people significant to the child, unless it is part of a plan to promote the welfare of the young person, use accommodation to physically restrict the liberty of a child or young person or impose fines.

Children and young people need to understand clear family rules and expectations if they are to feel secure. The child’s social worker and the supervising social worker will work with carers where circumstances require a more specific behaviour management plan, therapeutic services may also be involved in this plan to formulate an agreed strategy.

Bullying

Foster carers should be aware of the particular vulnerability of looked after children and their susceptibility to bullying and they should address any instance of bullying in consultation with the child's social worker. The views of a child who has been bullied should be sought and a plan made prior to any action being taken e.g. contact with school if bullying is school associated. However children should be made aware that, if it is school associated bullying, the school will be contacted with the minimum of delay. Communication in the home should raise the issue and literature is available from supervising social workers. All incidents of bullying must be recorded.

Digital and internet technologies

Carers should ensure that young people in their care are able to contact home or a named person in an emergency by use of a telephone card or mobile phone.
Where possible, all devices should be located in communal areas so that adult supervision can be provided. Devices should be discouraged from use in the bedrooms. The use of mobile phones and televisions in the bedroom after ‘bedtime’ should be monitored. Carers should ensure that children/young people only have access to age appropriate material including video games, magazines, DVDs and websites etc.

Before approval carers should be confident all appropriate parental locks are on all devices such as computers, laptops, iPads, phones, game consoles and television. This includes turning off location settings. Guidance on this should be sought from providers. These locks should be regularly checked to ensure they have not been altered.
Before approval carers should be confident all appropriate parental locks are on all devices such as computers, laptops, iPads, phones, game consoles and television. This includes turning off location settings. Guidance on this should be sought from providers. These locks should be regularly checked to ensure they have not been altered.

Carers have a responsibility to ensure they themselves have privacy settings on all forms of their social media accounts for their own protection. Information about looked after children should not be shared on social media.

Carers should ensure young people should not be able to access social media under the age of the sites guidelines. Meeting the age criteria is only one aspect to be considered, children’s abilities and vulnerabilities should be taken into consideration. Discussions should take place prior to this with the team around the child and decisions made through delegated authority.

If young people have social media accounts carers have a responsibility to educate the children on the benefits and the risks associated with this, and regularly check the history on the devices. Carers should keep up to date with the current most popular apps children/young people are using and their functions this can be accessed through www.nspcc.org.uk/share aware.

Sexual Health

All young people need to develop and understand a holistic and healthy approach to their sexual health, that  includes the emotional elements of sexual relationships as well as the risks of unplanned pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections.

The safer caring plan should set out any specific responsibilities you have in relation to sexual health of young people in your care. Consideration should be given to young person’s maturity and capacity to make their own decisions.