Fostering allegations and complaints
Allegations and complaints are distressing and they should be dealt with fairly, confidentially and impartially.
One in six foster carers have a complaint or allegation made against them during their fostering career. Carers who have allegations made against them tend to have been fostering for over five years
The same abuse that can occur within birth families can occur in foster families. A foster child might make a false allegation of abuse because they misinterpret an innocent action, or as a way of exercising some control over life, or to try and end a foster placement without losing face.
Risk reduction
• Recognise the people in the foster home who are potential risks or may be vulnerable to allegations.
• Know the fostering agency’s policy and procedure for investigating allegations.
• Always record daily events.
• Be clear and consistent about the home rules and boundaries for ways of behaving.
• All foster carers must have a family safe care policy for keeping everyone safe.
• Foster carers need a good support network.
• Training is very important.
• Foster carers need to have adequate insurance cover.
• Keeping everyone safe means working closely with the fostering agency.
Allegations
If an allegation is made about another person’s behaviour towards a child, a foster carer must inform their fostering social worker and the child’s local authority social worker.
If allegations are made against a foster carer to a social worker, the social worker has a responsibility to make the foster carer aware. However, the details of the allegations might not be disclosed
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