The Fostering Service is part of Devon County Council. While carers are not paid employees, they share responsibility with the County Council for safeguarding the health and welfare of vulnerable children and young people. Devon promotes a philosophy of trust and confidence in the integrity of its staff and carers in carrying out their day to day responsibilities. To fulfil the complex tasks relating to the care of such vulnerable children and young people, everyone involved needs a clear understanding of each other’s roles and responsibilities.

Devon is committed to providing:

for fostering staff:

• an induction programme on joining the Directorate
• an individual development plan and annual appraisal
• regular supervision and team meetings
• appropriate training and development opportunities
• access to social work publications and research

for foster carers:

• pre-approval training and preparation
• regular supervision and support networks
• opportunities to develop a competencies portfolio, including a development plan and carers career progression scheme
• training and development opportunities
• access to publications, policies and procedures on fostering issues
• regular newsletters raising the profile of county and national fostering agenda.

The line management structure for Devon Fostering Service is:

Senior management

• Strategic Director, People
• Head of Child and Adult Protection

Direct management

• Operations Manager Fostering – responsible for the strategic lead and management of practical delivery of fostering services
• Six Practice Managers – reporting to the Operations Manager and responsible for management of the three mainstream fostering teams; the specialist Family Care Workers Scheme; the Remand Fostering Scheme and Kinship Care;  and the Recruitment and Assessment Team
• Fostering Social Workers, Placement Co-ordinators and Support Workers who provide direct services and support to carers
• All of the above are supported by clerical and finance colleagues

Fostering Panels

• Two fostering panels, constituted to reflect the requirements of the National Standards, consider all approvals of new carers, first reviews, issues of concern regarding carers (if required), and de-registrations. The panels make recommendations to the identified agency decision maker

Consultation with carers

• The Foster Care Strategy Group meets regularly to enable carers to have a voice in shaping policy and practice within the fostering service. This group also includes a representative from the Children’s Services Management Board and an elected member