Caring for children and supporting our foster carers

We are committed to providing the best possible service to the Brighton and Hove children in our care and ensuring that our foster carers have access to high quality training, support and guidance.

This guide is designed to be a working handbook for foster carers both new and established as short term, long term, parent and baby, supported lodgings or family and friends carers. It aims to provide helpful guidelines and information on Children and Families' procedures and good practice and to be a useful reference book.

Introduction	Key documents	Finance
Support & training	Be healthy	Stay safe
Enjoy & achieve	Make a contribution	Economic well being
Children’s voice	Fostering panel	Legal & policy
UASC	Useful numbers

We have tried to cover a wide range of issues relating to the practice of fostering which focuses on the needs of the children in your care and the legal and statutory framework that you work within. Not every situation you will encounter will have been covered and this handbook is not a substitute for a good working partnership with your supervising social worker. Each child is an individual with a unique personality and needs, and you will need to respond accordingly.

This handbook will be regularly updated so if you have suggestions for improving it please inform your supervising social worker or the fostering agency advisor as we want it to meet your needs.