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Contents

1. Frequency
2. Consultation and Action before the Review
3. Formal Review Meeting 
4. Presentation to the Fostering Panel
5. After the Fostering Panel
6. Representations Procedure
7. Updates on Checks
8. Retention of Foster Carer Records

1. Frequency

Formal reviews of foster carers will take place at least annually. Reviews will take place more frequently and may be initiated by the supervising social worker or foster carers in the event of a significant change in circumstances of a foster carer affecting the ability or capacity to foster, for example a change in the composition of the household, a significant health issue or concerns about the care provided by the foster carer, for example as a result of a complaint or allegation. 

As well as formal reviews, there will be regular dialogue and feedback between the supervising social worker and the foster carers - see Supervision of Foster Carers Procedure.

Children’s Workforce Development Council standards for foster carers need to be met. Personal development plans must be completed for each carer and this should be linked to their training and their annual review.

Details of the carers’ development and training should be made available to agencies if the carer moves into another local authority area.

2. Consultation and Action before the Review

Prior to the foster carers review, the supervising social worker will send out contribution forms for the foster carers, children and social workers to complete. The Social Worker of any child in placement will be sent a Social Workers contribution form for their opinions on the carers skills and ability to meet the needs of the child/ren and to work with others. They should also support the young person in placement to complete theirs and to contribute to the foster carer review. 

The Social Worker of any child who had been in the placement for a period of more than one month during the review period will also be asked to complete a social worker's contribution form, as will any child who has left the placement in the preceding 12 months.

The Supervising Social Worker will visit the carers to discuss the review period; and to seek the views of any family members living in the home, this will include any children of the foster family, (information to be obtained in an age appropriate manner). The supervising Social Worker will complete their contribution form and share this with the carers, obtaining their signature.

They will carry out a health safety check and if any concerns are identified an agreed plan of action must be formulated, and shared at the review. If there are any concerns about the carers' health, the supervising Social Worker will ask the foster carer concerned to either undertake a medical or obtain a report from their GP or a suitably qualified medical practitioner. The foster carers will also be asked to consent to the report being made available to the Medical Adviser to the Fostering Panel. In addition to the health and safety check the supervising social worker will also review the families safe care policy and ensure that this reflects the current position of the household and the current needs of children placed.

(If possible the views of the parents of the children placed will be sought, this will be done through the Child's Social Worker).

NB Work is currently in progress to develop a form to do this.

3. Formal Review Meeting

The Foster Carers Annual Reviews take place at a suitable venue and is chaired by either the Fostering Manager, Regulated Services Officer or an Independent Reviewing Officer (if the carer has been the subject of allegations or complaints).

The Supervising Social Worker invites the social workers of any child in placement, the foster carers, and any family member who wishes to attend. The Supervising Social Worker will collate all the contribution forms; the foster carers; the looked after child/ren; the child's social workers and their own contribution form and a copy of the last supervision for, along with the health and safety check and safe care policy. These will be passed to all those attending and the information will lead the discussion.

The review will consider the care provided over the review period, appropriate use of the placement, and the support provided to the carers. The training carers have attended or received over the review period will be assessed in relation to their skill level. Future training and development needs will be reviewed. Any complaints, investigation or compliments will be considered.

Any recommendations will be discussed with the carers, and recorded. The Chair  will complete the review form following the meeting within ICS. Once this report has been agreed and finalised then the supervising social worker will ensure that foster carers receive a full copy of the review minutes. Where appropriate the Chair may also provide an overview report to the fostering panel which will subsequently be kept on the carer’s file.

4. Presentation to the Fostering Panel

The supervising social worker will present the Review documentation to the first Fostering Panel after the foster carers’ first annual review. . 

Where termination of the foster carers’ approval is recommended or where any circumstances exist which in the opinion of the Fostering manager require consideration by the Fostering Panel, a written report will be presented to the Fostering Panel. This will include the situation where there has been a Child Protection Investigation, or serious concerns about the care provided or where an updating of Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checks reveals a new concern about the foster carer or a member of the household. It would also include significant changes in the carer’s circumstances. Where the report is to be presented to the Fostering Panel, a copy of the foster carers’ original Form F and any previous relevant Panel minutes and review reports should also be attached to the report. When such a report is to be presented to the Fostering Panel, a copy of the foster carers’ original Form F and any previous relevant Panel minutes (and review reports if deemed helpful) should be attached. 

Foster carers will be invited to attend Fostering Panel when their review is being considered, and the Panel Administrator should be informed if they intend to do so. The foster carers may invite a support person who may be a friend, a member of a fostering support group or solicitor to support them but this person may not speak or advocate for them but may assist in their preparation for panel.

Where the Fostering Panel’s recommendation is for a different category of approval, the Panel may require further assessment or training for the foster carer.

The foster carers will be given 14 days in which to make any written observations and comments on the content of the review report.

When there are specific issues of concern and it is not a first review the Fostering manager will consider the Review Form and, where no changes are recommended, the supervising social worker will confirm in writing to the foster carers their re-approval. 

Where the foster carer has decided to give up fostering, this should be recorded formally by the Fostering Panel as the termination of the foster carer’s approval to take effect 28 days from the date when written notice has been received from the foster carer. At the same time as receiving the foster carer’s written notice, the Panel should receive a copy of the foster carer’s last review and a brief written summary of the carer’s fostering history.

5. After the Fostering Panel

Where the review is presented to the Fostering Panel, the Panel’s recommendation as to the future approval of the foster carer will be submitted to the Children's Service Manager.

Where, as a result of a review, the variation or termination of a foster carer’ s approval is proposed, the Children's Service Manager will write to the foster carer within 10 days of receiving the recommendations and minutes giving written notice of the proposals, whether she / he is minded to accept them along with his / her reasons and inviting the foster carers to submit any written representations within 28 days as set out in Assessment and Approval of Foster Carers Procedure.

If no written representations are received within the period, a decision to terminate or vary an approval can be made. If representations are received see Section 6, Representations Procedure.

Where the termination of the approval of a foster carer is being considered, plans for the termination of any current placement will also be required and made as appropriate.

A copy of the Review Form and a record of the outcome of the review will be retained on the foster carers’ case record.

The Panel’s administrative staff will then record any change in the foster carers’ approval on the Register of Foster Carers. Where such a change has been agreed, an amended Foster Care Agreement will be sent to the foster carer for signature and returned for retention on the records.

When carers are in receipt of professional fees these will either be amended either from the date the decision was signed by the Children's Service Manager or, where  the recommendation would result in a decrease in of  fees, or is recommending  termination of registration 28 days notice will be given from the date the Designated manager writes asking for representations.

In either of these cases of these cases the procedures will follow those outlined in Assessment and Approval of Foster Carers Procedures. Any backdated fees owed would be paid in line with the decision.

6. Representations Procedure

Where, as a result of a review, the variation or termination of a foster carer’s approval is proposed, the Children's Service Manager must write to the foster carers within 10 days of receiving the recommendations and minutes, giving written notice of the proposals, whether she / he is minded to accept them along with his / her reasons and inviting the foster carers to submit any written representations to the Panel as set out in Assessment and Approval of Foster Carers Procedure. If written representations are received within the period, a final decision to terminate or vary an approval can be made.

If no written representations are received within the period, a final decision to terminate or vary an approval can be made.

Where the termination of the approval of a foster carer is being considered, plans for the termination of any current placement will also be required and made as appropriate.

7. Updates on Checks

Criminal Records Bureau checks and all other statutory checks on persons aged 16 and over should be updated every 3 years and if necessary, a review of the foster carers’ approval should be carried out immediately to take account of any new information. See Persons Disqualified from Fostering Procedure.

Medical information should also be updated at least every 3 years by writing to the foster carer’s GP.  In the event of any serious concerns about the foster carer’s health, a review of the foster carer’s approval should be carried out immediately. 

8. Retention of Foster Carer Records

Foster carers’ case records should be retained for a minimum of 10 years after their approval has been terminated.

End