Relative, kinship and foster carers have responsibilities to the child in their care and to agency staff.
Provide care
- Provide a caring home for the child, assuring safety, giving affection, fostering the child's self-esteem and providing as near as possible to a normal life. this means giving structure to the child's life and a consistent standard of care allowing for the child's individuality and growing maturity and helping to heal the impact of loss and trauma that the child has experienced.
- Treat the child in your care as you would treat your own child.
- Assist the child to cope with being a member of two families.
- Promote a positive view of the child's biological family and help maintain connections to the family of origin, the child's community and significant others in the child's life.
- Show respect for, and strengthen, the links to the child's culture, religion, language and spiritual beliefs.
- Support the child in their transitions into, between, and out of care.
- Where the child is placed long term with you, make a life long commitment to the child.
- Assist in the development of a Life Story collection and help the child to understand why the child is in care.
- Treat information about the child and the child's family as confidential.
- Encourage the child to have an active life and to develop his or her potential.
- Encourage the child's learning and educational achievement.
- Promote and encourage participation in cultural activities so that the child's cultural identity is not lost.
- Safeguard the child's personal records and property.
Work together
- Work respectfully and cooperatively with families and agency staff as part of the care team.
- Be open and honest with the child, the caseworker and other agency staff as part of the care team.
- Allow workers to visit and support you on a regular basis to see the child or young person on their own.
- Inform staff of changes to the child's needs or your family circumstances.
- Comply with legal obligations.
- Not act without approval on significant decisions.
Keep learning
- Attend foster care meetings and training sessions.
- Contribute your perspective so that the alternative care system can continue to improve.
Seek help
- Make the child's needs known and tell you others on the care team of any difficulties
- Ask for advice and help when you are not sure what to do.
- Accept help when it is needed.