How Foster Care Works
1. | DCPU invites application from potential foster carers (PFCs) and provides Application form on request |
2. | PFC completes Application form and returns to DCPU |
3. | DCPU acknowledges receipt and calls the PFC to give information about fostering and take some basic information – Complete Initial Enquiry Form (Annexure UGFC 1) |
4. | DCPU in consultation with PFC, and managers if appropriate, decides whether to proceed to next step – Initial Home Visit |
5. | DCPU visits family, meets both PFCs and gathers information on Home visit Form (Annexure UGFC 2) |
6. | DCPU in consultation with family and managers if appropriate makes decision whether to end process or continue to next stage- Home Study (Form 30) and Psychosocial Assessment. |
7. | PFCs are given Self Assessment(Part 1 of Home Study) to complete and asked to sign Consent to checks and references (Annexure UGFC 3) (giving consent for police records checks and references) and to undertake a medical examination for themselves and all children of the family. |
8. | Other adult family members also sign Consent to Checks and References (Annexure UGFC 4) giving consent to Police record checks, and agreement to undertake a medical examination |
9. | Case allocated to social worker to assess the family |
10. | DCPU undertakes references and refers to CWC to order Police Records Checks and medical examinations |
11. | PFC returns Self Assessment (Part 1 of Home Study) to DCPU |
12. | Social worker arranges visits to family to complete Part 2 of Home Study (Form 30) and Psychosocial Assessment (Annexure UGFC 5) Also Health and Safety Assessment of the home (Annexure UGFC 6) |
13. | When completed and all police checks, medicals and references returned, DCPU make a decision to recommend family for approval (or not) |
14. | Home study, parts 1 and 2 and Psychosocial assessment (Annexure UGFC 5) sent to CWC to consider |
15. | CWC after reading reports, meets with PFC and recommends approval (or not) |
16. | If approved, DCPU lists as family available for placement and children will be considered |