1. DELEGATED AUTHORITY: Putting it into Practice at Compass Fostering NCCTC Children Event, 2 nd July, 2013 Linda O'Raw (Compass Foster Carer) & Naomi Owen (Social Worker) with Andrea Warman (NAFP)

2. Delegated Authority: The Regulations Care Planning Regulations, 2010 Fostering Services Regulations, 2011 National Minimum Standards (NMS) for Fostering Services Requirement for all children & young people to have a Care Plan including a Placement Plan with clear arrangements for Delegated Authority to the foster carer (Care Planning & Case Review (England) Regs, 2010) New Fostering National Minimum Standards consistently clarify & increase foster carers’ responsibility for everyday decisions Foster carers expected to make decisions like any ‘reasonable’ or ‘responsible‘ parent. And wherever possible foster carers to have the responsibility for day-to-day decision-making (especially in long- term placements).

3. Delegated Authority: The Legislation Children Act 1989 – (updated April 2011 and June 2013) Amended April 2011 All fostered children & young people must have a Placement Plan The Placement Plan must make clear arrangements for delegating authority to the foster carer The authority to make decisions which shape the child’s everyday life should lie, wherever possible, with the foster carer especially when the placement is long-term Amended June 2013 Delegated Authority in day to day decisions should lie with the foster carer unless there is a good reason not to A Placement Plan should record who has delegated authority and reasons not to delegate authority Each Local Authority should have a published policy setting out their approach to the delegation of authority to foster carers and residential workers caring for children the local authority is responsible for.

4. Delegated Authority: The Practice

5. Who Meets the Needs of a Child? The needs of a child The Local Authority Education Health (e.g. GPs, Opticians) Mental Health (e.g. CAMHS) Foster Carer(s) IFAs Contact Issues Initial Placement Meeting LA Review Effective & Clear Communication Clear Strategic Planning

6. Understanding Roles & Responsibilities The Foster Carer The Local Authority The IFA

7. Lack of Collaboration Your job My job

8. Feel caught between the children and the social workers. Frustration with delays or lack of communication Working in fear of professional criticism Frequently allocated tasks but not involved as partners in the care plan Conflicts within departments Lack trust that the service will support them even if they exercise their judgment in an appropriate way. Feel caught between the children and the social workers. Frustration with delays or lack of communication Working in fear of professional criticism Frequently allocated tasks but not involved as partners in the care plan Conflicts within departments Lack trust that the service will support them even if they exercise their judgment in an appropriate way. Feel caught between the children and the social workers. Frustration with delays or lack of communication Working in fear of professional criticism Frequently allocated tasks but not involved as partners in the care plan Conflicts within departments Lack trust that the service will support them even if they exercise their judgment in an appropriate way.

9. Lack of Collaboration (2) My JobYour Job

10. Inconsistencies between the working practice of social workers – and problems when workers frequently change. Sometimes foster carers are encouraged to get on with it – lack of monitoring and guidance. The spectrum of consent is often muddy waters With partial professional trust, Foster Carers can be (as can Social Workers) cautious.

11. Collaboration My JobYour Job

12. Roles and responsibilities are defined & transparency is apparent Walls are lowered for clear effective and collaborative communication

13. Delegated Authority: The Benefits of Working in Partnership Clear strategic planning Clear and consistent guidelines supported by all professionals Transparency and clear communication Efficient and effective support Collaborative target setting based on the needs of the child Giving LA children the same opportunities as everyone else (cf. the Fostering Network ‘Like Everyone Else’)

14. Delegated Authority: Treating Children & Young People Like Everyone Else Looked After Children have the right to family life and want to be treated like their peers This involves recognition of the relationship that exists between a foster carer and a child, and the ability of the foster carer to make those ‘normal’ everyday decisions This can only happen with professional collaboration and effective Delegated Authority

15. Delegated Authority: Examples from Practice Immigration rules & legal representation Sleeping disorder & feeling alone HH - Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Child Issues around s.20 placements (compared with s.47) Working with birth families SH – Working together & AJ – Just being ‘normal’ Believing her – non-collaboration Vs collaboration Passport issues KB – Self harm and Holidays

16. Delegated Authority: Essential Training & Knowledge Collaboration = more experiences & more minds Current Government Guidance, Rules & Legislation Regular & Current Training Practice & Recordings Issues Specific to the Child

17. Delegated Authority: Making it Work Children’s and young people’s views will be sought and taken into account (dependent on age and capacity). Clarity and transparency in the Placement Plan about who does what and when. Realistic and achievable targets with timely decision making. Delegation (and its extent) should be influenced by the care plan. The Welfare of the Child SHOULD come first (cf. comparisons between s. 20 and s. 47).

18. Delegated Authority: Making it Work (2) Parents need therefore to be clear about what has been agreed in relation to delegated authority. The legal requirements in terms of good partnership working with the family apply whatever the child’s legal status. Professional collaboration (between SW, SSW and FC) and its role in problem solving and conflict resolution. Foster carers will be trained and supported to develop in respect of the tasks and responsibilities they undertake.

19. Making Delegated Authority work at Compass Fostering Experience different practice from different Local Authorities As an IFA we need to take responsibilities for raising the issue of delegated authority to ensure the care experiences we desire for our children are promoted Often an initial placement meeting is not the best place to do this We expect the 72 hour meeting to cover all aspects of Delegated Authority Compass are currently developing paperwork based on an established decision support tool

20. Making Delegated Authority work at Compass Fostering (2) In line with current legislation and policy, Compass Fostering have a live and evolving document, our Well Being Policy that forms part of a Well Being Plan. This enables day -to -day decision-making to be clearly set out for all.

21. Putting Delegated Authority into Practice at Compass Fostering

22. Thank you very much for listening Linda O’Raw Naomi Owen Andrea Warman