Assessment and Approvals of Foster Carers

Fostering Services should recruit a range of foster carers who can meet the diverse needs of children who are looked after or who are receiving a short break service from the service. Recruitment is in line with the Service's Statement of Purpose, and Managers review, and act on, trends and patterns in the recruitment of foster carers. Careful recruitment and regular monitoring of carers by the Service is designed to prevent unsuitable carers from being recruited and having the opportunity to harm children or to place them at risk. The relevant authorities are informed of any concerns about inappropriate adults. The recruitment, assessment, preparation, training and support of foster carers by the Service have a strong focus on child protection and keeping children safe, including help to ensure that children living in foster homes are safe and feel safe.

Prospective foster carers are made to feel valued and welcomed. The process for assessment is timely and sensitive to the needs of the carers. Assessments that identify foster carers as suitable for a child are informed by a clear understanding of that child's needs and of the skills necessary to help and support them. Where the Service offers placements to children with complex needs and challenging behaviour, it provides the necessary specialist support and help for as long as they are required.

All members of the public who make an initial enquiry by telephone, email or letter in relation to becoming a foster carer will be referred to the Adoption and Fostering service, specifically the Recruitment and Assessment Team. All enquirers will be treated as a potential resource and given a prompt response. They will be contacted by the duty worker to provide and gather further information and for a general discussion about fostering.

The Duty worker will complete the Expression of Interest form on ICS. Preliminary basic information should be obtained e.g. numbers in the household, the availability of a separate bedroom, contact details. In addition, an Initial check will be carried out in relation to enquirers and all members of the household on Children's Services ICS records. If the enquirer does not meet the departments initial criteria to foster then the duty worker should inform them of the reason/s why. This will be discussed with the Manager and shall then be followed up with a letter stating the reasoning behind this decision. If the enquirer is not satisfied with the reason/s stated then they can request to speak with the relevant Team Manager.

If the enquirer does meet the department's initial criteria to foster then they shall be offered an Initial visit, normally within a seven day timescale at a time that is convenient to the applicant.

Where the enquirer or a member of the household is known, the enquiry will be passed to the manager for a decision on how to proceed. At this early stage, it may be appropriate to advise these enquirers against pursuing fostering if they clearly do not meet the basic criteria (see Section 11, Criteria for Foster Carers). The manager's decision will be communicated to the person concerned, with reasons given, and the decision will be recorded. Where the decision is not to proceed the enquiry will be closed.

Where the decision is to proceed, the enquirer will be advised that they will be allocated a Social Worker from the area fostering team who will contact them to explore their enquiry further. This will be recorded in the fostering involvements tab on LCS. The allocated Social Worker task is to assess the appropriateness of the fostering enquiry to progress to the Assessment - Stage One process. As part of this process the allocated Social Worker will complete at least one home visit to discuss with the applicants their interest in fostering. An initial visit report will be completed with a clear recommendation. This is considered by the manager and a decision taken as to whether the enquirer can progress to training. This is the information gathering stage.

If the decision is that the enquirer should be invited to the training then the allocated Social Worker will advise the applicants and ensure they are invited to the next available training. The fostering support worker will be allocated to the applicant at this stage to coordinate training (see Section 6, Training Course).

If the decision is that the applicants are not suitable to progress any further the allocated Social Worker will verbally advise the applicant of this decision, which will be followed up in writing and the enquiry will be closed. 

Following attendance at training the decision regarding offering the applicants an application with the Agency will be decided (see Section 6, Training Course).

Stage One of the assessment process commences with the acceptance of the applicants application form. Stage One is intended to provide the decision maker with basic information about the applicant to enable clearly unsuitable applicants to be sifted out without unnecessary bureaucracy or expenditure of time and resource by the fostering service or the applicant. More detailed information is collected in Section 7, Assessment - Stage Two.

Where a person applies to become a foster carer and it is decided to assess their suitability to become a foster carer, the following information must be obtained as soon as reasonably practicable relating to the applicant and other members of their household and family:

• Full name, address and date of birth;
• Details of health (supported by a medical report);
• Particulars of any other adult members of the household;
• Particulars of the children in the family, whether or not members of the household, and any other children in the household;
• Particulars of their accommodation;
• The outcome of any request or application made by them or any other member of their household to foster or adopt children, or for registration as an early years provider or later years provider under Part 3 of the Childcare Act 2006), including particulars of any previous approval or refusal of approval relating to them or to any other member of the household;
• If the applicant has, in the preceding 12 months, been a foster carer approved by another fostering service provider, the name and address of that fostering service provider;
• Names and addresses of two persons who will provide personal references;
• DBS applications;
• In relation to the applicant and any other member of the applicant 's household who is aged 18 or over, an enhanced criminal record certificate;
• Details of current, and any previous, marriage, civil partnership or similar relationship;
• The views of, the local authority in whose area the applicant lives, if different;
• Where the applicant has previously been, or is currently, approved as a foster carer by another fostering service provider, or as a prospective adopter by an adoption agency, and consents, access may be requested to the relevant records compiled by that other fostering service provider/ adoption agency in relation to the applicant. That service/agency must provide access within 15 working days of a request being received. (Fostering network : Principles governing the transfer of foster carers, October 2014 England).

Records compiled by another fostering service, or an adoption agency, can be used to inform the new assessment of the applicant's suitability to foster. For instance, if previous partners have been interviewed in the past to verify facts, and the current assessing Social Worker is satisfied with the records in respect of these interviews, it should not be necessary to repeat the interviews if no further information is required. The assessing Social Worker should, however, satisfy themselves as to the quality and continuing relevance of the information before using it to inform the current assessment.

Where, having regard to any information obtained, it is decided (by the Agency Decision Maker) that the applicant is not suitable to become a foster carer, the applicant must be notified in writing with reasons. This notification may be given whether or not all of this information has been obtained. Such a notification may not be given more than 10 working days after all the information has been obtained. The applicant has no right to make representations about the decision or to have their case reviewed under the Independent Review Mechanism. However, the applicant must be informed that they can complain via the Adoption and Fostering Service's complaints process if they are unhappy with the way in which their case has been handled. The complaints process should address whether or not the applicant's case has been handled in a reasonable way, rather than the question of the applicant's suitability to foster.

Where all the specified information has been obtained and notification has not been given within 10 working days that the applicant is not suitable, then the application must proceed to Section 7, Assessment - Stage Two.

Please note that within Westmorland & Furness Council that Stages One and Two of the assessment process are carried out concurrently, but the Stage One information must be sought as soon as possible, and the decision about whether an applicant has successfully completed Stage One must be made within 10 working days of all the information required in that Stage being received.

On receipt of the completed application form, consent to medical checks and authorisations for the statutory checks/references, the Business Support staff will input the date of the application and details of the household members on the ICS record, being mindful to copy the team manager to the receipt of an application.

The Fostering Panel must make its recommendation on the application within eight months of the applicant first applying to be assessed. Within Westmorland & Furness Council the aim is to present the case to the Fostering Panel within 4 months of the application being accepted.

Where the applicant has been a foster carer within the preceding 12 months and was approved as such by another fostering service provider, a reference must be requested from that other fostering service provider.

There is no requirement to also interview personal referees (see below). However, additional verbal and/or written references may be sought from personal referees. If the previous fostering service, for whatever reason, does not provide a reference, interviews with two personal referees must be conducted.

Otherwise, each applicant will be asked to provide the names of two personal referees, who are adults, have known the applicant for at least five years and are not related to the applicant, and two other referees who may be family members or personal friends. All referees should be people who know the applicants well in a personal capacity.

Where there is a joint application, referees should know both applicants, or additional referees will be required.

A written reference must be obtained from each applicant's current employer regardless of the applicant's occupation. In addition, where the applicant has frequently changed jobs, written references should also be obtained from past employers. Self-employed applicants can provide co-workers / co-owners or a regular client.

Where the prospective applicant has made a previous application to foster or adopt, the relevant agency must be asked to confirm in writing the outcome of the application and provide a written reference.

If the applicants were previously in assessment with another Agency the Manager may direct the fostering Social Worker to visit the relevant agency to read the archived files.

Interviews with adult children who are no longer household members will be undertaken.

As part of the assessment process, the fostering service will routinely undertake checks with former partners These will be undertaken where:-

1. The applicant has lived with a partner in a significant couple relationship, whether or not that has involved jointly caring for children, and whatever the time period of the relationship;
2. The applicant has been married to, or parented a child with, a former partner, even if they were not living together at the same address.

The requirement for completing the check can be waived at the discretion of the Team Manager in the following contexts:

1. When the applicant has been an approved foster carer since the end of the relationship, and the fostering service can confirm they completed a satisfactory check with that former partner;
2. When making contact with the former partner could put someone at risk, for example, when there was domestic abuse in the relationship;
3. Exceptionally, when an applicant raises objections to contact being made with a former partner, and can offer strong person-centred arguments to justify not doing this check;
4. When the former partner cannot be located despite reasonable efforts having been made to do this.

Where a decision is made to waive a former partner check for reasons relating to risk such as domestic abuse, efforts will be made to seek independent corroboration of the abuse.

Where a former partner check is not made for any reason, efforts will be made to seek independent views on the nature of that relationship, and the reason that it ended. Where possible, that will include interviews with an adult child or another person who knew the household very well at the time of the applicant's co-habitation with the former partner.

Checks will not be waived simply because the applicant prefers that they are no undertaken, or because the relationship ended acrimoniously, or because they do not want their former partner to know about their application to foster.

Applicants will be expected to provide contact details for former partners, or where they do not have this, to contribute to the best of their ability with information to help in locating them. Efforts will be made to locate former partners using LexisNexis and www.192.com as well as using the internet and social media.

In making check with former partners, the service will use the specific reference form and will send this out with a standard letter setting out the reasons for the reference request.

The outcome of reference requests will be recorded and used as part of the assessment report.

Where there are existing children in the household, contact with health visitor, nursery or school.

The Business Support staff will send requests for written references to each referee.

On receipt of the references, the Business Support staff will update the electronic records.

Prospective foster carers should be prepared to become foster carers in a way which addresses, and gives practical techniques to manage, the issues they are likely to encounter and identifies the competencies and strengths they have or need to develop.

The Foster Carers preparation/Training Course will cover in detail all aspects of the fostering task, including the need for approved foster carers to notify the manager of any changes in their home circumstances, for example any new relationships they have where they wish their new partners to become a member of the household - see Section 14, Changes in the Foster Carer's Household or Circumstances for the procedure to be followed where such changes occur.

Mainstream fostering applicants will be booked on the course once the manager decision of the Initial visit report is completed. All prospective mainstream foster carers will be required to attend this training, which is an integral part of the process prior to the formal assessment process.

The objectives of the course are:

• To raise awareness and understanding of the key issues which need to be addressed by all foster carers;
• To assist applicants to consider more thoroughly the implications of fostering;
• To assist applicants to determine the type of resource they can offer to the children needing foster placements.

Those facilitating the course will provide written feedback on issues relating to the applicants for the Manager to decide whether an application can be offered to the applicant or whether further exploration of the applicants' enquiry is required.

Where issues emerge during the training as a result of which the manager decides that it is not appropriate to offer an application, the applicants should be visited by a Social Worker and notified in writing of the decision, with reasons. Advice should be given of any steps they may take in order to meet the criteria or of how they might pursue their interest elsewhere, if appropriate.

If it is felt following attendance at the training course that the applicants appear suitable then an application form will be sent to the applicants to complete. On receipt of the completed application form a Social Worker will be allocated to commence the assessment process (see Section 3, Assessment - Stage One).

At the earliest opportunity a panel date will be identified and booed. This will be within the timescales outlined above.

Feedback from training will be used as part of the assessment process by the allocated Social Worker.

Attendance at the Skills to Foster training course may not be required for those applicants who are already or have recently been foster carers for another Agency. This will be decided on a case by case basis.

In Westmorland & Furness Council, it is planned for those applicants approved as Connected Persons foster carers for specific children to attend a Skills to Foster training course within their first year of approval.

Where the Assessment – Stage One information has been obtained, and no notification has been given within 10 working days that the applicant is not suitable to be a foster carer, the following must be undertaken:

• Obtain the following information relating to the applicant and other members of the household, together with any other relevant information:
  • Details of personality;
  • Religious persuasion, and capacity to care for a child from any particular religious persuasion;
  • Racial origin, cultural and linguistic background and capacity to care for a child from any particular racial origin or cultural or linguistic background;
  • Past and present employment or occupation, standard of living, leisure activities and interests;
  • Previous experience (if any) of caring for their own and other children;
  • Skills, competence and potential relevant to their capacity to care effectively for a child placed with them.
• Consider whether the applicant is suitable to be a foster carer and whether the applicant 's household is suitable for any child;
• Prepare a written report on the applicant which includes the following matters:
  • The information required to be obtained, as set out above;
  • Any other relevant information;
  • An assessment of the applicant's suitability to be a foster carer;
  • Proposals about any terms of approval.

There are no specific regulatory requirements about the way in which assessment information must be collected or presented to panel.

Where, having regard to the information obtained during Stage 2, it is decided that the applicant is unlikely to be considered suitable to become a foster carer, notwithstanding that not all the Stage 2 information has yet been obtained, a Brief Report may be prepared and submitted to the fostering panel in the same way as for a full assessment report. (There is no prescribed length or format for a brief report.)

The assessing Social Worker will:

• Review the information in the application form;
• Contact the applicant(s) and arrange a visit;
• Draw up a written agreement setting out the dates for the assessment visits and the date for the presentation to the Fostering Panel;
• Interview couples individually and together and ensure the children of the applicant or other significant members of the family/household are seen alone;
• Contact ex partners (see below);
• Inform the applicant(s) of any revised timescales if there are delays.

The assessing Social Worker will record all appropriate factual information and address issues including the applicants' understanding of the following areas:

• Child rearing;
• Caring for children born to someone else;
• Contact between children and their families;
• Helping children to make sense of their past;
• Sexual boundaries and attitudes;
• Awareness of sexual and other forms of abuse;
• Health and health promotion;
• Promotion of education;
• Approaches to discipline;
• Awareness of how to promote secure attachments between children and appropriate adults;
• Religion;
• Standards of living and lifestyles;
• Racial, cultural and linguistic issues;
• Experiences of disability and attitudes to disability;
• Awareness of equal opportunities;
• Understanding and dealing with young people's behaviour including encouraging children to take responsibility for their behaviour and helping them to learn how to resolve conflict;
• These areas will be used to assess the applicant against the National Minimum Standards Fostering;
• Comments and analysis will explore attachment specifically the work of Schofield and Beek, Secure Base Model;
• The methodology of Signs of safety will be used as part of the assessment process including; mapping and scaling questions;
• The applicants will be given details of support from Fostering Network and understand how to make a complaint;
• The assessment is to be completed with time to make amendments and managerial oversight and ensure that the report is ready for the panel 2 weeks prior to the panel date.

The list is not exhaustive - other issues relevant to the individual applicant and their family may need to be addressed. The skills and personal qualities that need to be evidenced will be different according to the type of fostering the applicants want to do, e.g. babies and toddlers, short term or permanent.

The assessing Social Worker should contact the previous partners of the applicants (taking care not to disclose confidential personal information about the applicant), where they lived together, where there were children of the relationship or where children were cared for jointly. The Social Worker will arrange to interview them face-to-face wherever practicable. All adult children of the applicant(s) living away from home may also be contacted. If it was felt that previous partner or a child should not be contacted then this will be discussed and decided on a case by case basis between the assessing Social Worker and the Team Manager.

Applicants will be encouraged to be actively involved in contributing towards the assessment, and supported to provide their own written report/portfolio for Panel to evidence their capabilities and to support their application. Westmorland & Furness Council has developed a Fostering Workbook for this purpose.

The foster home will also be thoroughly checked to ensure it provides appropriate and safe accommodation for the child, as well as safe transport. Each child over 3 has their own bedroom or, where this is not possible; the sharing of the bedroom has been agreed by the placing authority. A risk assessment must be conducted in regard to pets.

The applicant must be notified that the case is to be referred to the fostering panel, be given a copy of the report and be invited to send any observations in writing within 10 working days beginning with the date on which the notification is sent.

At the end of the 10 working days, (or when the applicant's observations are received, whichever is sooner), the report, the applicant's observations on that report, if any, and any other relevant information obtained, must be sent to the fostering panel.

The assessing Social Worker and if different the Social Worker from the Fostering Support Team who will take case responsibility following approval will attend the Panel meeting, together with the applicants if they so wish. The decision to attend rests with the applicants and a wish not to attend will not prejudice consideration of their application.

Applicants who decide they wish to attend should be fully prepared as to the procedure prior to their attendance.

The Panel will consider the reports together with all the supporting documentation, and make a recommendation to the Agency Decision Maker (Fostering) (see Documents Library, Appendices) regarding the suitability of the applicant for fostering.

The recommendation, with reasons, will be recorded in writing and, where approval is recommended, the category of fostering, any limitations of the approval to named children (for example in the case of a Family and Friends Foster Carer) or conditions as to the age range or number of children to be placed in the foster home will also be specified.

Where the applicant does not attend the Panel meeting, the Social Worker undertaking the assessment will advise the applicant of the Panel recommendation within 24 hours of the Panel meeting. This will be verbally, by telephone or, where appropriate, a home visit.

The Agency Decision Maker (Fostering) (see Documents Library, Appendices) will make a decision as to the suitability of the applicant, based on the reports presented to the Fostering Panel and the minutes detailing the Panel's recommendation. Where the decision is to approve the applicants as foster carers, the Agency Decision Maker will specify the terms of the approval i.e. the number and age range of children to be fostered, the type of placement and any specific inclusions/exclusions. Applicants can be approved for more than one placement category.

Where a Brief Report has been submitted to the fostering panel, the Agency Decision Maker will, taking into account the fostering panel's recommendation, make a determination about whether to terminate the assessment or whether the full assessment should be completed.

The decision must be made within 7 working days of receipt of the panel's recommendation and final set of panel minutes and must be recorded, together with reasons.

The manager will arrange for the applicants to be given verbal notification of the decision within 24 hours and written notice of the decision, with reasons, signed by the Agency Decision Maker, within 5 working days of the decision.

If the decision is to refuse approval, the assessing Social Worker and manager will assess the need for further counselling and arrange any necessary follow-up action.

Upon approval, foster carers should be issued with an agreed form of identification to enable their role as a foster carer to be verified.

If, at Stage 2 of the assessment process, the Agency Decision Maker gives a Qualifying Determination that they propose not to approve the applicants as foster carers, the applicant will be advised that if they wish to challenge the decision, they have a right to submit representations within 28 days of the date of the written notice of the decision to the Agency Decision Maker. In addition, as an alternative, they may exercise the right to apply to the Secretary of State to request a review of the decision by an Independent Review Panel under the Independent Review Mechanism. Any such application must be made in writing within 28 days of the decision and supported by reasons.

The foster carer will not have the right to request a review by an Independent Review Panel if they are is regarded as disqualified as a result of a conviction or caution for a specified offence - see Persons Disqualified from Fostering Procedure.

Where it is decided at Stage 1 of the assessment process that the applicant is not suitable to become a foster carer, there is no right to have the case reviewed under the Independent Review Mechanism.

If no written representations or notification of a request for a review are received within this period, the Agency Decision Maker will decide whether or not to approve the applicant as a foster carer (following a full assessment) or continue the assessment (following a Brief Report).

If written representations are received within the period, the Panel Adviser will arrange for the reports and other documentation to be reconsidered by the Fostering Panel, taking into account the written representations, and make a new recommendation to the Agency Decision Maker (Fostering) (see Documents Library, Appendices).

The Panel Administrator will advise the applicant within 7 days of the date of the Panel meeting when they can attend and their written representations will be considered.

In these circumstances, applicants who wish to attend the meeting of the Fostering Panel can arrange for a friend or supporter to accompany them.

After considering the representations, the Panel will make a recommendation, which the Agency Decision Maker (Fostering) will consider before a final decision is made.

If the decision remains not to approve the application, the manager will arrange for the applicants to be informed verbally within 2 working days. Written notice of the final decision, together with reasons, must be sent to the applicant by the Panel Adviser within 7 working days of the Panel meeting. Information about the Complaints Procedure must also be sent. A copy of the report to the Panel, the Panel's recommendation and the decision, with reasons, must be retained on the applicant's case file.

If the applicant decides to refer the matter to an Independent Review, the relevant Panel reports, any new information obtained since the Panel meeting, a record of the decision made and reasons, a copy of the written notification of the decision and a copy of the Panel minute, if different, will be sent to the Independent Review within 10 working days of their written request (see also: Prepare for a Review Panel (Foster Carers and Adopters)).

The procedure for the Independent Review is carried out by Coram Children's Legal Centre on behalf of the Department for Education; the applicant and two representatives of the fostering agency will be invited to attend the Independent Review.

After considering the representations, the Independent Review may make a recommendation, which the Agency Decision Maker will consider before a final decision is made.

Written notice of the final decision, together with reasons, must be sent to the applicant within 7 working days of the receipt of the Independent Review recommendation.

Where the decision is to approve the application, the procedure set out in Section 13, After the Approval will be followed.

Once approved, the Business Support staff will enter the foster carers' approval details, including their first review date, on the Fostering Register database and update the electronic records. They will also send notice of the outcome to all agencies consulted during the assessment and approval process (see Section 13, Register of Foster Carers).

The foster carer will be allocated a Social Worker Fostering who will supervise and support the carers - see Supervision and Support of Foster Carers Procedure. Ideally this Social Worker will have attended the Panel when the carer is approved. A handover visit will be arranged between the assessing Social Worker and if the Social Worker does not know the new carer, they will read the Form F and the supporting documentation presented to the Fostering Panel including the references prior to contacting the carers and arranging to meet them, their family and members of their support network as appropriate. This will normally involve a joint visit with the assessor and attendance at fostering panel.

The Social Worker Fostering will visit the foster carers within one week of their approval and request the foster carer to sign a Foster Care Agreement between the local authority and the foster carer, which contains the information the foster carer needs to carry out their functions as a foster carer effectively, ensuring that the foster carer understands its contents.

The foster carer will be given two copies for signature, and will retain one signed copy. The other will be kept on the foster carer's file, together with the report and supporting documents presented to the Fostering Panel, a copy of the Panel's recommendation and a copy of the approval decision.

The Foster Care Agreement will contain the following information:

1. The terms of the foster carer's approval;
2. The support and training to be provided to the foster carer;
3. The procedure for the review of the foster carer's approval;
4. The procedure for placements of children;
5. The procedure for making representations and complaints;
6. The requirement to inform the fostering service of any change of circumstance, address or in the household composition, or of any registration as a childminder or application to adopt or of any offence;
7. The requirements in relation to confidentiality and internet usage;
8. The procedures for behaviour management and unauthorised absences of children placed with the foster carer including the ban on corporal punishment;
9. The procedures for informing the Supervising Social Worker of the child's progress and any significant events relating to the child;
10. The need to give 28 days' notice in writing of they wish to cease fostering;
11. The need to allow access to the Regulatory Authority.
12.  

New foster carers will also be given an electronic copy of the Foster Carer's Handbook, which contains information about fostering in the local authority and covers policies, procedures, guidance, legal information and insurance details. Information about local foster carer support groups will also be provided.

The foster carer(s) must sign confirmation of receipt. The signed and dated confirmation of receipt will be placed on their file.

Foster carers will be assisted by their Social Worker Fostering to produce a Safe Caring Policy and Fire Plan.

The Social Worker Fostering will continue to provide support and supervision to the foster carer up to, during and after all placements - see Supervision and Support of Foster Carers Procedure and ensure that they understand the need to undertake Disclosure and Barring Service and other checks and assessments on any new member of the household - see Section 14, Changes in the Foster Carer's Household or Circumstances - and the need to repeat Disclosure and Barring Service checks on themselves every three years (unless they have subscribed to the Disclosure and Barring Service Update Service) - see Review and Termination of Approval of Foster Carers Procedure.

A register of all approved foster carers will be maintained by the fostering service containing the following particulars:

1. The name, address, date of birth, sex and ethnic origin of each foster carer;
2. The date of approval and of each review of the approval;
3. The category and current terms of the approval;
4. The name, address, date of birth of each Connected Person with whom a child is placed under Regulation 24 of the Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England) Regulations 2010 and who has been granted temporary approval as a foster carer, together with the date and terms of the temporary approval.

Once approved, the administrative staff will be informed and will enter the foster carers' approval details, including their first review date, on the Fostering Register database.

The Social Worker Fostering will ensure that any newly approved foster carer is clear about their responsibility to notify the fostering service before any change in the composition of their household occurs or where there is any significant change in their circumstances which affects their fostering, for example any new relationship, pregnancy, separation or bereavement.

If the Social Worker Fostering discovers that there has been a change in the foster carer's household without prior notice, the manager must be informed and an immediate review of the foster carer's approval must be convened - see Review and Termination of Approval of Foster Carers Procedure. In these circumstances, a suspension of the foster carer's approval may have to be considered at the review.

When Foster Carers separate or a Foster Carer sadly passes away, this should be considered as a “significant event.” As a result, the Foster Carers approval status and change in circumstances is required to be reviewed and consequently referred to the Fostering Panel within 6 months of the service being notified. This is a period of uncertainty and change within the household and requires careful consideration.

It is essential that the fostering service is sensitive to the needs of all members of the household during this period, however it is particularly important that alongside the support we offer carers, The Social Worker Fostering is confident, and can evidence the Foster Carers ability to continue with the Fostering role. This specifically refers to their ability to meet the National Minimum Standards fostering 2011 and the needs of the children in placement.

If/ When Foster Carers become aware that they are planning to separate and one of the carers decides to leave the family home, or a bereavement of an approved Foster Carer occurs, the Social Worker Fostering must be notified immediately. The Child Social Worker for all children placed must also be advised immediately to obtain their views on the continuation of the placement.

As soon as is possible, a professional's meeting should be convened, to consider any needs of additional support to the household and children in placement. It should also be recorded at this meeting as to whether any children need to be moved to an alternative placement sourced if this decision has not already been made. The social worker for each child in placement (or their Manager) should be in attendance.

Careful consideration should also be given as to whether either, or both, of the Foster Carers should be invited to attend this meeting. Their attendance should not be considered essential, although their views and future plans must be taken in to account.

Minutes of this meeting should be completed and utilised to inform the Fostering Review and submitted to Fostering Panel.

A brief written notification of the change of circumstances and intended plans of action should be completed and submitted to Fostering Panel within 28 working days. The Panel Advisor will ensure that this update is noted by the panel under any other business.

A specific foster carer review would meet the need to consider the foster carer's ability to meet the child's needs now as a single applicant. The detail of the review will differ depending on what experience the foster carer had has prior to the change of circumstances, i.e. they may or may not have already been the primary carer or not.

The report would benefit from including the following:

• Reference to the considerations at the professionals meeting including views of childcare team on the placement;
• Views of Foster Carer;
• Foster Carer Length of service;
• Experience;
• Quality of care;
• Consideration as to how they have managed since the breakdown of their previous relationship or passing of their partner;
• Ability to meet the needs of the children as a single carer including any changes in support network etc.
• Analysis of how they are meeting the NMS 2011.

Consideration as to whether the Foster Carer is able to attend the Fostering review, and or Fostering Panel should be applied on the basis of the sensitive circumstances, this should be discussed with the Fostering IRO and Panel Advisor.

If the Foster Carer does not attend the review, or Fostering Panel, it is essential that they provide a written submission on their views on the changes of circumstances and continuation as a single foster carer and provide permission for the review and Panel to proceed without them.

See also: Section 4.1, Information Sharing.

Where a foster carer proposes that any person will join the household, notice must be given before this occurs in sufficient time to enable a Disclosure and Barring Service enhanced check to be carried out on the relevant person and an assessment at the appropriate level to be undertaken before the change in household composition occurs. The required detail of the assessment will depend on the extent to which the new member of the household will undertake a caring role in relation to any child placed. Where the new member of the household will play a part in caring for the child in the placement, consideration will be given to the need for a full Form F assessment as for any new partner of the foster carer. Otherwise, the assessment will be considered at a Foster Carer Review which should be convened to consider the change in the foster carer's circumstances - see Review and Termination of Approval of Foster Carers Procedure. This will determine whether any change to the foster carer's terms of approval is required and if so, a report to the Fostering Panel will be prepared.

For Exemptions to the usual limit of three children and Alterations or other Extensions to Approval, see Exemptions and Extensions/Variations to Foster Care Approval Procedure.