Using this Handbook

Foster carers play a very important role in the lives of Children in Care 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 will continue to develop this handbook with you and keep it updated.

This is the start of a great journey for you and the children and young people you may work with.

The handbook reflects policies, procedure and guidance for the fostering service 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.

The content is Handbook sections are accessible via the links on the right-hand side of the page or to view the full contents list for the handbook, please click here.

There is a Resources area which contains additional guidance from Slough Children First which will be relevant to your role.

The Safeguarding Children Procedures can be found in the Pan Berkshire Safeguarding Children Procedures Manual.

You can also find safeguarding guidance on the Slough Safeguarding Partnership website.

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

If you are unable to find the information you require, please contact your Supervising Social Worker.

This handbook will be updated on a regular basis, usually annually unless there are significant changes that require more timely updates.

If you would like to suggest a change to the handbook discuss your suggestion with your line manager in the first instance.

This Handbook contains a local resource section which can be accessed via the navigation bar. If there is a resource that you think should be added talk in the first instance to your manager.

The nominated administrator for this area will be able to access online training in the use of the area from tri.x.

This library is populated and maintained locally and not by tri.x. tri.x will not be responsible for content which is added into this area, and any concerns should be directed to the contact person with responsibility for the procedures.

The handbook is accessed by readers who may find terms that they are not familiar with. Therefore, a glossary of definitions is available under the resource tab.

There is also a National Contacts resource populated with details of key national agencies and organisations likely to be relevant to procedures user.

We have used the following terms and post titles:

These procedures use the word ‘must’ where the provision is a legal requirement. The word ‘should’ is used where the provision should be complied with but is not a legal requirement, such as where it is taken from non-statutory government guidance or accepted good practice.

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