Promoting Positive behaviour

Fostering Services Regulations 2011 state that:

The fostering service provider must prepare and implement a written policy on acceptable measures of control, restraint and discipline of children placed with foster parents. The fostering service provider must take all reasonable steps to ensure that: 

  • no form of corporal punishment is used on any child placed with a foster parent
  • no child placed with a foster parent is subject to any measure of control, restraint or discipline which is excessive or unreasonable, and
  • restraint is used on a child only where it is necessary to prevent injury to the child or other persons, or serious damage to property.

 

National Minimum Standards for Fostering 2011 state that: 

  • Foster carers receive support on how to manage their responses and feelings arising from caring for children, particularly where children display very challenging behaviour, and understand how children’s previous experiences can manifest in challenging behaviour.
  • All foster carers receive training in positive care and control of children, including training in de-escalating problems and disputes. The fostering service has a clear written policy on managing behaviour, which includes supporting positive behaviour, de-escalation of conflicts and discipline.
  • Each foster carer is aware of all the necessary information available to the fostering service about a child’s circumstances, including any significant recent events, to help the foster carer understand and predict the child’s needs and behaviours and support the child within their household. The fostering service follows up with the responsible authority where all such necessary information has not been provided by the authority.
  • The fostering service’s approach to care minimises the need for police involvement to deal with challenging behaviour and avoids criminalising children unnecessarily.

This guidance is aimed at helping you to achieve these standards by setting clear expectations and offering some practical advice.

Children who are placed in foster care may have experienced abuse, neglect, rejection and loss and others may have experienced inconsistent boundaries which often impacts upon their behaviour. It is an important aspect of fostering that you manage behaviour appropriately and that any measures of control take into account a child or young person’s history. However, this cannot include corporal punishment which is forbidden and within your Foster Carer Agreement you have signed to abide by the County Council’s policy.

Many of you are experienced parents with your own views on discipline. However, the bonds and attachments you have developed with your own children since birth will not exist between you and foster children. Tried and tested methods of discipline which have been effective with your own children may not be appropriate or effective with foster children and you may need to develop alternatives.

The use of sanctions by a Foster Carer is a matter of choice but should take into account the age, understanding and maturity of the child. All sanctions must be appropriate, related to the situation, strictly time limited and flexible enough to be reviewed and changed at any time. The sanction needs to be clear so that a child knows both what is expected of them and when it will end.

What can I do?

  • Discuss appropriate behaviour management with the Child’s Social Worker so that you can identify what sanctions to take. This can be set out in the Placement Plan and in more detail in a Risk Assessment depending upon the nature of the behaviour and action to be taken. 
  • Set limits and boundaries; with some children this may need to be reinforced many times!
  • Reward positive behaviour through praise or treat.
  • Where appropriate used planned ignoring, all the time ensuring a child’s safety.
  • Distract through humour and activities.
  • Show affection through holding a hand or giving a cuddle.
  • Use time out for short periods in a designated area (usually not the bedroom), to give the child a chance to reflect on their behaviour (this does not include locking doors etc).
  • Increase supervision by insisting that the child doesn’t go out without you.
  • Use ‘grounding’ to reinforce house rules but remember to limit the period of grounding for maximum effect as well as your own sanity!
  • Restrict visits to and from friends but time with family cannot be restricted.
  • Foster Carers are required to give children pocket money and minimum amounts are set out in the financial section of the Handbook. Pocket money may be delayed, or an amount deducted for restitution for damage. There are several ways of doing this:
    • If you provide a higher level of pocket money you can then deduct the difference as a consequence
    • You may hold back pocket money for a period of time (no longer than 4 weeks) which will then be returned to the child either as actual money or in kind
    • Pocket money can be deducted to pay for deliberate damage or loss; this needs to be at a reasonable level taking into account the level of pocket money the child receives and how long it would take to recompense.It is advisable to discuss this with the child’s social worker.
  • Appropriate removal of possessions such as TV, toy, computer time/game, music system, bicycle for a period of time, particularly if they have been misusing these or acting dangerously with them. This must be done in a planned way and following discussion with the Child’s Social Worker.

 

This list is not exhaustive, and you may have other ideas which can be discussed with the Social Workers and other professionals involved with the child and agreed in the Individual Safe Care Plan/Risk Assessment.

All sanctions must be recorded on the contact sheets in your foster carer file. This will enable you to monitor behaviour, what has been tried and whether it was successful, which can then be shared with both the Child’s Social Worker and your Fostering Social Worker.

There are training courses to help you develop new skills and strategies in managing behaviour. Your fostering social worker will discuss this with you to inform your Personal Development Plan. 

 

Physical intervention 

The use of physical intervention is a matter of skill and judgement and there is a thin line between restraining a child and assault or false imprisonment which is legally unacceptable.

Before a situation develops to a level at which physical intervention may become necessary you may find there are indicators or triggers which you become aware of. Techniques such as making eye contact, adopting a calm tone and voice level, gentle touch, diversion or moving away from the area may diffuse the situation which is always preferable. Remember as you get to know a child you will get to know what may be successful.

If these approaches have not worked and a child is at risk of hurting themselves or others or of causing serious damage to property you may have to physically intervene.

Remember to keep calm and stay in control of your actions. Use the minimum force necessary and try to ensure help is at hand. Under no circumstances must children be asked to assist in physically intervening with another child.

Once the child has calmed down it is important to check that no-one is hurt and to give an opportunity for things to settle before any attempt is made to understand what triggered it.

Where Foster Carers have acted in the best interests of the child to prevent harm they will be fully supported by the local authority.

 

Action following an incident of Physical intervention

All episodes must be recorded in your file and the Incident Notification Form should be completed and sent to your Fostering Social Worker within 24 hours.

You must also immediately report the incident to the Child’s Social Worker so that a risk assessment meeting can be convened to draw up either a new one or to amend an existing one. The risk assessment may identify the need for further training and where this is felt to be appropriate you will be offered a place on a suitable course.

Strategies can also be set out in the child’s Individual Safe Care Plan, completed with your Fostering Social Worker and agreed with the Child’s Social Worker.

In some instances, an episode of physical intervention may need to be investigated further and a strategy meeting called if it is deemed to have been used inappropriately. This would be convened under the Allegations, Complaints and Cause for Concern about Foster Carers and Prospective Adopters policy. 

 

What your Fostering Social Worker will do

The aim is to support you in the task of fostering through regular meetings to listen to your concerns and issues and to help you work out what to do.

Supervision visits will also be used to share your recording, review and monitor both your Safer Caring Plan and the individual safe care plans for children in placement and to reflect upon things that have happened (what worked and what didn’t).

It may be necessary to call a risk assessment meeting with the Child’s Social Worker and other professionals to set out clearly how specific issues should be handled. In some instances, this may be chaired by a Team Manager, depending upon the complexity. You will receive a copy of the written document.