Foster carer agreement
A foster carer agreement is a written agreement between you, Child Safety and your foster and kinship care service, that:
- sets out the terms, conditions and responsibilities between you and the child safety service centre or the foster and kinship care service
- identifies the types of care you wish to provide and your capacity for providing care
- outlines your ongoing development and learning requirements, and
- articulates your support needs and how they will be met.
Your foster carer agreement will be reviewed at the time of your renewal of approval as a foster carer. You are encouraged to raise any issues affecting you during the review including:
- any changes to placements you are not willing to accept
- your readiness for other types of care
- any changes to the age range of children or placement types you are prepared to care for
- the effect of caring on you and your family
- positive learnings or difficulties you have experienced
- learning needs or gaps that you would like addressed
- the adequacy of the supports provided to you and any changes to these supports.
There are other times when your foster carer agreement should be reviewed, including:
- a change in your personal circumstances
- a change to your personal history (or that of another adult member of your home)
- if you intend on caring for other children (for example, family day care)
- if there are ongoing standard of care concerns about the quality of care being provided.
A foster carer agreement is not developed for a kinship carer, as their support needs are specific to the child placed in their care and are recorded in the placement agreement.
You will be provided with a copy of the signed foster carer agreement.