Support for foster carers

All carers are provided with sufficient support to enable them to provide safe and appropriate placements for children and young people in care.

How carers are supported by their agency

Foster care agencies and service providers work to support, inform and advocate for carers regarding their rights and entitlements.

They also have a management system and procedure for providing a 24-hour emergency support to the carers. This service is provided in collaboration with the Department for Child Protection.

Once registered with an agency or service provider, they will assign a placement support worker to support foster carers in their role.

Home visits

Placement support workers will visit the carer's home at least once every eight weeks for support and supervision.

Visits may occur more often if required.

During these visits the following topics are usually discussed:

• child's health, emotional and behavioural development
• family contact arrangements
• the child's educational progress
• cultural considerations and special needs
• care environment, personal circumstances and interpersonal issues
• adequacy of carer support
• critical incidents
• relationships with birth family and the impact of contact
• partnership with the department and other agencies.

All home visits are documented and a copy of the documentation is provided to the carer.

Telephone contact

Telephone contact between the placement support worker and the carer happens at least every four weeks and calls from the carer are returned as soon as possible.

Connecting with other foster carers

Many local Department for Child Protection offices have carer's groups that provide foster carers the opportunity to meet other carers and staff.

Workers from the Department for Child Protection, fostering agencies and carers plan a calendar of events that includes a range of activities such as:

• Kinship and Foster Care Week events
• speakers and morning teas
• Christmas parties.

Carer's group meetings can be conference style with presentations or discussions for learning, while others are more social.

Non-government agency reference and support groups

Some foster care agencies have:

• reference groups to gain feedback from foster carers as well as provide an opportunity to discuss matters relating to their role as a foster carer
• support groups that offer training opportunities, speakers, morning teas - and the chance to meet other foster carers.

To find out more, contact your support worker or agency.

Where to get support and advocacy

In addition to placement support workers and foster care agencies, there are other support groups that can provide further help.

Connecting Foster & Kinship Carers - SA

Connecting Foster & Kinship Carers - SA is the peak body for Foster and Kinship Carers in South Australia, and is committed to ensuring Carers are recognised as vital partners within the child protection system. They provide individual and systemic advocacy, information, education and support to the carer community across South Australia.

Free call: 1800 737 272
Email: support@cfc-sa.org.au

Australian Foster and Kinship Carer Partnership

The Australian Foster and Kinship Carer Partnership provides a national focus on issues and events that affect foster and kinship carers Australia wide.

Email: info@afkcp.org.au

Department for Child Protection customer service

The Department for Child Protection Customer Service Unit can be contacted for advice or assistance.

Phone: 1800 003 305 (cost of a local call)

Related information

Other websites

Foster carer's charter - Department for Child Protection