Children's guides to being in foster care
These guides provide information for children and young people about being in foster care. They also provide contact details for other people who can help.
A new house for little mouse
Aimed for younger children, read the online book.
An audio version is available on YouTube too.
Children and young people's guide to being in foster care - PDF, 11MB
Statement of purpose
The Statement of purpose outlines our aims and objectives; the way we recruit, approve, train and support foster carers; the diversity of our fostering service; staffing and management structure of the fostering service.
Essex Fostering Statement of Purpose 2023
Foster Carers Handbook
This foster carer handbook is designed to be a reference guide for both new and existing foster carers. The purpose of the handbook is to provide information and guidance to all our foster carers.
Medication workbook
The Medication workbook sets out the medicines policy and practice guidelines on administering and recording medication to children in your care.
Medication policy and workbook
Leaving and after care finance handbook
This document outlines the financial protocols of Essex County Council’s Leaving and After Care Service.
Leaving and after care finance handbook (PDF, 369KB).
Submit your expenses
You can submit your expenses online. You can view the foster carers expenses guidance before submitting.
You can use the online form to:
- submit your expenses claim(s) at any time
- save time and money on postage and paper copies
- access your previous expenses claims raised through the system
- upload any supporting information for your claim.
Foster carer profile cards
These profile cards are for foster carers to complete and return to their SSW to be uploaded onto the foster carer record. These can then be used to help prepare children and young people who may be moving to a new placement. There are four profile cards, two for younger children and two for older children. Within each of those categories there is also one which may be more appropriate for single carers and one when there is more than one carer in the household. Use whichever one feels the most appropriate to your household.
- Profile (foster carers) – older children
- Profile (single carer) – older children
- Profile (foster carers) – younger children
- Profile (single carer) – younger children
Fostering and Supported Lodgings Carers policies, procedures and guidance
- Bedroom sharing policy - PDF, 182KB
- Changes to fostering household policy - PDF, 269KB
- Children missing from home guidance - PDF, 659KB
- Complaints and representations procedural guidance - PDF, 226KB
- Conflict of interest guidance - PDF, 201KB
- Equality and diversity policy - PDF, 190KB
- Exemption to foster beyond usual foster limit policy - DOC, 100KB
- Firearms guidance - PDF, 117KB
- Foster Carers Equipment List 2023
- Handover and matching document to support foster carers in their first year of registration - PDF, 230KB
- Health and safety in the home guidance for foster carers and social workers - PDF, 362KB,
- Health and safety policy - PDF, 186KB
- Household review guidance - DOC, 120KB
- Induction Policy and Guidance - DOC, 172KB
- Long-term fostering practice guidance - PDF, 233KB
- Overnight stays and holidays - DOC, 183KB
- Parent and child fostering arrangements - DOC, 117KB
- Pets in fostering households policy - PDF, 355KB
- Planning for missing form - DOC, 97KB
- Policy for managing allegations, standards of care, concerns and complaints - PDF, 688KB
- Promoting independence and moves to adulthood - PDF, 384KB
- Promoting positive behaviour - DOC, 141KB
- Records and record keeping policy - PDF, 283KB
- Recruitment and Assessment Policy - PDF, 656KB
- Respite foster care guidance and procedures - PDF, 639KB
- Safer use of a computer and internet - PDF, 161KB
- Savings Policy for Children in Care - PDF, 273KB
- Smoking policy - PDF, 254KB
- Staying put policy - DOC, 2.48MB
- Supported Lodgings policy - PDF, 327KB
- Supporting foster carers - PDF, 189KB
- Termination of a foster carer approval policy - 105KB
- TSD standards - guidance and procedures - PDF, 105KB
- Unannounced visits to foster carers - DOC, 98KB
- Virtual school guide for foster carers - DOC, 867KB
- Delegated Authority Procedure - DOC, 121KB
Complaints information
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