Quick recap

The team discussed the challenges of dealing with foster carers who exhibit disguised compliance, emphasising the need for clear communication, specific action plans, and robust strategies to address these issues. They also explored strategies for maintaining professional relationships with foster carers and local authority social workers, including unannounced visits, live supervision, and involving both carers in discussions. The importance of consistent communication and management within the agency, involving male caregivers, and ensuring they are consulted and included in plans and discussions was also highlighted.

Next steps

  • Continue implementing unannounced visits by different supervising social workers.
  • Continue conducting live supervision sessions with foster families.
  • Annual team meetings with all carers, including finance, education, and supervising social workers.
  • All agencies to review their processes for engaging and assessing male carers.
  • All supervising social workers to ensure their supervisions include discussions about all household members.
  • Continue conducting workshops on collaborative working and transparency for foster carers and supervising social workers.

Summary

Addressing Disguised Compliance in Foster Care

Catherine led a discussion on the topic of "Disguised Compliance" in foster care, focusing on behaviours that may lead to non-compliance or manipulation. The team discussed the importance of clear communication and specific action plans to address these issues. They also explored the potential for control in professional relationships and the need for robust strategies to challenge non-compliance. Members shared their experiences with a foster parent who exhibited disguised compliance. This behaviour involved presenting differently to different professionals, being overly friendly with some and difficult with others. The foster parent was found to be non-compliant and manipulative, often using personal issues as excuses. Discussion also about the challenges of recording and addressing such behaviour, emphasising the need for evidence and clear documentation. A member also shared a case where a foster parent appeared to be manipulated a panel, leading to her resignation and transfer to another agency. The meeting highlighted the importance of recording and addressing patterns of behaviour that may affect the care of children.

Fostering Open Communication in Care

In the meeting, we discussed the challenges of maintaining professional relationships with foster carers and local authority social workers. They highlighted the issue of "disguise compliance," where carers may not fully adhere to standards while still appearing to do so. This can lead to a lack of transparency in reviews and potentially harm children. The team also discussed the importance of documenting all interactions, even if they are uncomfortable, to ensure accountability and support for both carers and children. They agreed that fostering open and honest communication is crucial for maintaining healthy relationships and ensuring the well-being of children in care.

Fostering Strategies for Compliance and Well-Being

In the meeting, we discussed the challenges of dealing with carers who have been fostering for a long time and the need for more support. Suggestions that unannounced visits and discussions about behaviours could help. Introduce a system of unannounced visits by different social workers to each other's cases. A member shared her strategy of live supervision and swapping social workers and families, also discussion re the importance of involving both carers in discussions, especially during significant events. An idea of a strategy of have a team meeting with carers to address issues early on. Suggestion of using the concept of "fresh eyes" to look at situations objectively. The discussion focused on strategies to maintain compliance and ensure the well-being of children in foster care.

Consistent Communication and Male Caregiver Inclusion

Catherine discussed the importance of consistent communication and management within the agency, emphasising that the agency should be viewed as a whole rather than individual workers. She also highlighted the need for involving male caregivers in the agency's processes and ensuring they are included in discussions and assessments. Members shared her approach to collaborative working, emphasising the importance of understanding the different roles within the agency and working together as a team. The conversation ended with a focus on the need for meaningful conversations with male carers and ensuring they are consulted and included in plans and discussions.