Review and Termination of Approval of Foster Carers

A review must take place not more than one year after approval and thereafter whenever considered necessary but at intervals of not more than one year.

The purpose of the foster carer review is to consider whether a foster carer and their household continue to be suitable to foster and whether their terms of approval continue to be appropriate. Although the review is expected to primarily focus on the review period, it is important to consider this in the context of everything that is known about the foster carer and their household and to take into consideration historical information, including any areas of development or vulnerability identified in the original assessment of their suitability to foster.

A foster carer’s first annual review must be considered by the fostering panel. Reviews will take place in the event of a significant change in circumstances of a foster carer, for example where there are concerns about the care provided by the foster carer as a result of a concern or allegation, where there is a change in the foster carer’s profile (health circumstances, offending history etc) and where there is a permanent change in the foster household membership.

The Mosaic step in respect of the foster carer review process, is to be completed in respect of each foster carer review. Alongside this, the foster carer chronology, post approval training log, compliments, and complaints step should also be completed.

 As well as foster carer reviews, there will be regular supervision between the supervising social worker and the foster carer and a minimum of 2 unannounced visits each year.

Prior to the review meeting, the supervising social worker will provide a report of the foster carer's progress and any significant events or changes within their household. The supervising social worker and fostering team manager should provide a recommendation as to the carers continued suitability to foster and whether their terms of approval remain appropriate.

The supervising social worker will ensure sections 1-9 of the Mosaic foster carer review step and all documents pertaining to each section are completed and uploaded onto Mosaic 5 working days before the review meeting takes place. This information will also be sent to the foster carer 5 working days before the review meeting. This timescale is to allow both the foster carer and the Fostering Independent Reviewing Officer (FIRO) adequate time to prepare for the review meeting. The foster carer will have the opportunity to communicate their views in the form of a report for the review.

The supervising social worker will also, as part of the review and before the review meeting, seek and update the following information:

• The views of all members of the foster carer’s household;
• Written views about the quality of care provided to the child/young person from all the professionals who have worked with the foster carer in the review period. Examples of the professionals involved are the child/young person’s social worker(s), the child/young person’s independent reviewing officer(s), fostering family workers and support carers (who provide support care for the child/young person living with the main foster carer);
• The views of all children/young people who have lived with the foster carer in the review period, this includes those who are no longer in the household. These views will be sought via the child/young person’s social worker and by another other means deemed appropriate for each individual child/young person. All children/young people should be actively encouraged to use the Mind of My Own Application as a means of expressing their views, wishes and feelings;
• Update the safer care, health and safety, bedroom sharing, pet, and caravan (where appropriate) assessments;
• Update the declarations of health and suitability for foster carers and every adult household member;
• Update any risk and impact assessment (where appropriate);
• Update the foster carer chronology work step for the review.

The review will be chaired by a fostering independent reviewing officer, held at the fostering household or an alternative venue or virtually as appropriate, with the foster carer and the supervising social worker. Unless a sole carer situation, both carers will be expected to attend the review meeting, At the review meeting, the agenda will include:

• The 4 areas of competence: Caring for Children, Providing a Safe Home Environment, Working as Part of a Team and Professional Development;
• The quality of the supervision provided by the supervising social worker;
• An appraisal of the foster carer’s training and development needs;
• An evaluation of the training undertaken since the last review;
• The foster carer’s views of the Fostering Service and the support provided as well as the appropriateness of the placements made, and the care provided by the foster carer;
• The views of the placing social workers for all foster children/young people who have lived with the foster carers in the review period including those who are no longer part of the household;
• The views of all other children/young people living in the household, e.g., the foster carer’s own children, children who are part of the household under the auspices of a Special Guardianship Order;
• The suitability of existing bedroom arrangements, including a bedroom sharing assessment if children over the age of 3 are sharing a bedroom, i.e., to ensure compliance with NMS 10.6 (2011);
• Consider and review any exemption to the usual fostering limit in place or advise of the need for such to be in place;
• The Fostering Service’s and any other professional’s recommendation regarding continued suitability will be considered alongside any assessment relating to the foster carer’s terms of approval.

All review documentation considered at the review meeting, the FIRO’s completed report and the foster carer’s written response to this, will be considered by the Fostering Panel.

The foster carer(s) will attend panel along with the supervising social worker, fostering team manager, FIRO and a support person if applicable.

When considering a foster carer review, Fostering Panel will identify the strengths of each foster carer and agree upon the questions to be asked of the supervising social worker, fostering team manager, FIRO and foster carer. These questions will enable panel to make a recommendation as to the continued suitability of the foster carer and whether their terms of approval remain appropriate.

When considering a foster carer review, Fostering Panel have the following options:

• Make a positive recommendation, i.e., the foster carer continues to be suitable;
• Make a negative recommendation, i.e., the foster carer is no longer suitable to foster;
• Defer making a recommendation as more information/work is required;
• Recommend the foster carer’s terms of approval.

Where the review recommends the termination of approval of a foster carer, the review should be presented to the earliest possible panel.

Where the review is presented to Fostering Panel, the Panel’s recommendation as to the continued suitability of the foster carer and the continued appropriateness of the foster carer’s terms of approval, will be submitted to the Agency Decision Maker for a decision to be made.

The Agency’s decision will be made 7 working days after Fostering Panel has taken place. Once the Agency’s decision is made, the supervising social worker has 2 working days in which to inform the foster carer of the decision.

The foster carer will be informed in writing by the Agency Decision maker of their decision within 5 working days of the decision being made.

A copy of the review reports, panel minutes and a record of the outcome of the review will be retained on the foster carer’s case record.

If the outcome of the review is one of continued suitability and the foster carer agrees to any change to the terms of their approval, the Foster Carer Agreement will be signed by the foster carer(s), supervising social worker and fostering team manager; terms of approval will be clearly identified.

Disclosure and Barring Service checks must be updated every 3 years (unless the foster carers have subscribed to the Disclosure and Barring Service) and if necessary, a review of the foster carer's approval should be carried out immediately to take account of any new information. All foster household members 18yrs and over must have a DBS check renewed every three years. All babysitters/ support carers to the foster household should have a DBS check undertaken every three years.

See Persons Disqualified from Fostering Procedure.

Medical information should also be updated at least every 3 years by seeking a reference of the foster carer's GP. In the event of any serious concerns about the foster carer's health, further medical advice should be sought from the foster carers GP with a view to convening a foster carer review if a significant change/concern is indicated.

Declarations of Health, and Declarations of Suitability, should be completed by the foster carer and relevant members of the foster household on an annual basis.

A foster carer agreement should be shared and discussed with the foster carer. This should then be signed by the foster carer, supervising social worker and Fostering Team Manager once the Agency’s decision has been made.

A foster carer may give written notice at any time of their wish to resign from the role. Once written notice has been given, their approval will automatically be terminated 28 days after receipt of the notice. The foster carer cannot withdraw their notice once it has been received, nor can the Agency Decision Maker decline to accept the resignation. Should a foster carer who has resigned subsequently wish to foster again, they will need to be assessed under the procedure for Assessments and Approvals of Foster Carers Procedure. There is no requirement for the fostering panel to be notified of resignations. However, the panel may find it helpful to be advised, as part of its monitoring role.

A copy of any notice given must be sent to the placing authority of children currently placed with the carer.

If a foster carer resigns during the concerns/allegations process all attempts should be made to convene a review following concerns/allegations with the recommendations clearly case noted. If a review and presentation to panel do not take place due to a foster carer’s resignation, a case note is added to the foster carer’s record on Mosaic outlining the concerns/allegations, outcome of the managing allegations process and a clear statement of the Fostering Service’s view of the foster carer’s suitability to foster.