Support, Guidance and Advice
Foster carers are part of a team providing a service to children and their families. Carers work closely with social work staff and with other agencies. It is important that there is clarity about the roles and responsibilities of all those involved. Carers need to be clear about what they can expect from others and about expectations that will be placed on them. As a registered foster carer you will receive a copy of Angus Councils "Foster Care Handbook - Guidance for both Foster Carers and Social Workers". This contains a wealth of detailed information about the things you need to know about being a foster carer.
Once you have been accepted as a carer you will have a written agreement with Angus Council setting out the terms of your approval and the role and responsibilities of both you as a foster carer as well as those of the agency. This agreement will detail the number, age and sex of the children and young people that may be placed with you as well as the likely duration of any placements.
Angus Council keeps copies of the written agreement between you and themselves as a fostering agency, and these agreements will be subject to regular review.
The next section, "The Fostering Panel", looks in more detail at how the fostering panel works and how decisions are made about whether or not you are accepted as a foster carer.