Assessment of a New Partner of Existing/Approved Foster Carers

This guidance is provided to ensure consistency in the approach to assessing a new partner of an existing single foster carer. It considers guidance/practice notes from CoramBAAF, practice note 72 and practice note 65.

Single foster carers will on occasion form new partnerships and significant relationships.

Definition of partner: a significant person with whom the foster carer is having/intending/expected to develop a relationship, which is committed and serious.

This guidance is not intended to cover occasional dating situations, which occur outside of the foster home.

For safe caring reasons, an assessment of the new partner is required and a discussion/decision is needed.

If a foster carer is single at the point of application their initial approval should explore what would happen should they form a new partnership or a significant relationship. For foster carers who experience separation or divorce, whilst fostering, new relationships should be covered as part of their review which considers their suitability to foster as a single foster carer.

There is an expectation that foster carers conduct their relationships in the manner to be discussed below.

• The foster carer would be expected to carry on any relationship within the context of a safe caring policy;
• The supervising social worker should be informed that the foster carer is in a new relationship;
• The carer should be aware that an assessment will be needed.

The timing of such an assessment is important although it is recognised that the department may be asking the foster carer, to decide upon the 'status' of their relationship, before the 'natural course of events' has occurred.

This is a difficult position in which to place the foster carer. However, the nature of fostering and the safe caring issues involved are such that the foster carer and, the foster carer's new partner, have to accept this position.

There are different stages of a relationship and different levels of assessment should occur at different stages. For the purpose of this situation, the relationship has been defined in four different stages but it is accepted that the progress of the relationship, between the stages, will vary in each individual situation.

Stage one: Initial stages of the relationship (i.e.) no contact with foster child/home.

• Foster carer to inform the supervising social worker that they are beginning a relationship. The impact of this new relationship, upon the foster carer, to be addressed by the supervising social worker;
• Supervising social worker to reiterate that an assessment will be needed as/when/if the relationship progresses. A copy of this policy should be discussed with the existing/approved foster carer and a copy left for their reference;
• Supervising social worker informs the new partner of her/his fostering status and that this will lead to a further assessment.

Stage two: New partner intends to become a visitor to the foster home.

• The foster carer must inform the supervising social worker of the new partner's intention to visit the foster home prior to visits taking place;
• The supervising social worker meets with the new partner to explain the assessment process and the need for statutory checks to be undertaken;
• An application for an enhanced DBS disclosure is made. Whilst the new partner can visit the foster home, before the outcome of the DBS is known, the foster carer must supervise the new partner's contact with fostered children/young people at all times. The safer caring should be updated, discussed and a copy left with the foster carer to support around expectation;
• Checks with local authorities and outside local authorities should also be completed for any new partner;
• The child's social worker should talk to the foster child/ren about the new partner to gain their understanding and views. This should be clearly case noted on mosaic on the foster carers file and the child's files;
• If required a risk and impact assessment should be undertaken, with this dependent upon the outcome of the DBS check.

Stage three: New partner visits and stays over at the foster home when the foster children are in placement.

• The outcome of a DBS check MUST be known for this to occur and if applicable a risk and impact should be agreed by the fostering service manager;
• At this stage the new partner needs to make an application to foster. Statutory checks and references (two personal and one paid employment) are sought. References also to be sought of former partner(s) children parented as/if applicable. New partner enrolled onto Skills to Foster Training;
• A Confidentiality Statement should be signed by the new partner, which is part of the fostering agreement;
• The supervising social worker should give the new partner information about the allegations/ complaint procedures;
• The supervising social worker reviews the Safer Caring Policy for the foster household to reflect the change in household composition and discuss expectations;
• The supervising social worker, in conjunction with the foster carer and the new partner, confirms the involvement of the new partner in respect of childcare responsibilities within the household;
• The child social worker will provide the views of the foster child/young person in respect of the new partner visiting the home to inform assessments. These should be clearly recorded on mosaic on the carer and child's file;
• If the new partner wishes to move into the foster home, then a Form F must be completed. This assessment is conducted in accordance with Assessments and Approvals of Foster Carers Procedure and is as thorough and robust as any assessment of a prospective foster carer;
• When using Form F for such an assessment, it is not appropriate to name the existing foster carer as an applicant, as they are not applying to foster, but are already an approved foster carer. However, it is important to make clear that the assessment of the new applicant is in the context of them wishing to foster alongside the existing carer as part of a couple, and this information should be set out clearly in the "pen picture" at the beginning of Form F, and throughout the assessment report;
• Sessions should be undertaken with the couple together, as well as separate discussions with the new partner, who is being assessed.
• In addition to the information required for the Form F Assessment and given the new partner will be fostering alongside the existing carer, The Form F should also include:
  • Relationship with the foster carer, dynamics of the partnership and impact of partnership within the foster household;
  • Relationship with the foster child/ren;
  • Joint competence ( new partner and foster carer) to care safely for children, commitment to fostering and ability/potential to work in partnership with the department.

The assessment should be presented to the fostering panel, to consider the new partner's suitability to foster, the existing foster carer should also attend panel. 

Stage four: New partner moves into foster home.

The new partner should not move into the foster home until statutory checks and information listed in the above stages have been completed. If the new partner moves into the foster home before their approval, the service needs to satisfy itself that this is safe and appropriate to do so, and their assessment so far has informed this. 

The safer caring document should be updated to reflect the new partner moving into the foster home. This should be discussed with the carers and a copy left for them to refer to.

The new partner is required to complete the Training Support and Development Standards (TSDS) within 12 months of approval if a mainstream carer or 18 months for a Family and Friends Foster Carer. They will also need to complete mandatory training. 

Next Foster Carer Review

Regulation 28 of the Fostering Services Regulations 2011 (as amended) requires that the approval of each foster carer is reviewed 'not more than a year after approval' and then 'at intervals of not more than a year'. If an existing foster carer is joined by a newly assessed partner, this requirement for review remains unchanged. Post the new partner's approval as a foster carer. The next review, whilst being the new partner's first annual review will be conducted as a joint review of both foster carers and will need to be presented to the fostering panel.

Careful planning needs undertaken by the service and in consultation with the Fostering Independent Reviewing Officer (FIRO) to ensure that the existing carer's review is still undertaken within the required timescales. irrespective of the new partner's approval and subsequent post approval review. For example, below are three possible options, but not exhaustive as each existing carer's circumstances/review cycle will be different:

• Keep the review date of the existing carer if between 6-9 months of the approval of the new partner as a foster carer;
• Hold the review of the existing carer just prior to the assessment conclusion of the new partner being completed, bringing it forward if necessary;
• Set the new review date 6-9 months after the new partner has been approved ensuring that this does not compromise the existing carer's review timescales.