Become a mentor

Everyone who applies to be a foster carer is assigned a mentor to support them during their assessment and their first year of fostering. If you're an experienced foster carer and you'd like to become a mentor, speak to your fostering social worker.

The role of a mentor

Before assessment

  • Create or update your mentor profile
  • Within a week of allocation, contact the applicant and arrange a time to meet up

During assessment

  • Meet (face-to-face or virtually) at least 3 times during the assessment
  • Support the applicant to complete their Safe Care Plan
  • Support the applicant to complete their Family Profile.
  • Promote the benefits of training.
  • Promote the benefits of support groups.
  • Support understanding of the Total Placement Service and referral process.
  • Provide support and reassurance before and after panel.

After approval

  • Support new carer to complete their training, support and development standards workbook, offer relevant information, advise how to put evidence together, help to cross reference and share own workbook.
  • Ensure the new carer is aware of the importance and value of support groups. All new carers should attend the new carers support group then move into their local support group. If you can, offer to attend first support group with the new carer.
  • Introduce the new carer to Diary Records (guide with record keeping and support with ‘The Children’s Portal’).
  • Offer advice and support when the new carer is contacted about first children or young people coming to live with them (how life might be different, thoughts and feelings, impact on children WHO Care).
  • Offer support and a listening ear when the first children or young people come to live with the new foster carer (with behaviours, challenges, achievements).
  • Offer support around family time and expectations, Christmas, birthdays, special occasions for child or young person.
  • Support the new carer with planning for their first placement meetings (placement arrangements, Child in Care Review etc).
  • Provide feedback for their first annual review.