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Contents

1. Frequency
2. Consultation and Action before the Review
3. Annual Household Review Meeting
4. Presentation to the Fostering and Permanence Panel
5. After the Fostering and Permanence Panel
6. Representations/Independent Review Procedure

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.

The National Training Support and Development Standards for Foster Carers needs 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

Six weeks before the formal review meeting, the Supervising Social Worker will start to prepare a report outlining their views of the quality of service and care provided by the carer(s) and any progress made in achieving the required levels of competency (including training and CWDC).

In preparing this report, the Supervising Social Worker will meet the carer(s) and will seek the views of the following people:

• all members of the foster carers’ household;
• children placed with the carer(s);
• children’s parent(s);
• relevant social workers;

  including the child's social worker, Placement Support Team workers, the IRO etc;

Reports/records collated from Supervision undertaken with carer(s) must be taken into account, as well as significant events since the last review.

If there are any health concerns, the supervising social worker will ask the foster carers concerned to obtain a medical report. The foster carers should be asked to consent to the report being made available to the Medical Advisor to the Fostering and Permanence Panel.

The report must also take account of the annual health and safety check carried out by the Supervising Social Worker. Any other checks (CRB, Pet checks). A new health and safety check needs to be completed if the foster carer moves house.

A copy of the report should be circulated to the carer(s) and the chair of the review before the Review. The chairperson will be Either the team manager of the Placement Support Worker.

3. The Annual Household Review Meeting

The review should be held at the foster home, attended by the supervising social worker, the foster carer, and members of the foster carers’ family (if appropriate) and the chair the review. 

The chair may wish to meet individuals prior to the review.

The chair is responsible for ensuring that the matters raised in the Supervising Social Worker’s report are discussed with a view to completing a report of the review.

*The Report should outline the outcome of the review and make recommendations regarding the continuing suitability of the carer(s) and their level of competency. It should also contain an Action Plan for further development. The foster carers should be given the opportunity to contribute to the report and to sign it.

The report of the first review after the carer(s) are approved will be presented to the Fostering and Permanence Panel. Thereafter, it will only be necessary to present review reports to the Panel where significant changes are recommended to the carer’s approval status or where circumstances exist which should be brought to the attention of the Panel e.g. if a serious complaint has been made against the carer(s) or an updating Criminal Records Bureau check reveals a new concern about the foster carer or a member of the household.

Also see: Section 3, Recording, Supervision of Foster Carers Procedure.

4. Presentation to the Fostering and Permanence Panel

If the outcome report from the review (see last paragraph) is presented to the Fostering and Permanence Panel, a copy of the foster carers’ Form F and any previous relevant Panel minutes should also be made available to the Panel as appropriate. 

The foster carers will be given 7 days in which to make any written observations and comments on the content of the review report and carer(s) will be invited to attend the panel.

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

Where the foster carer has decided to give up fostering, this should be recorded formally by the Fostering and Permanence 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.

5. After the Fostering and Permanence Panel

Where the review is presented to the Fostering and Permanence Panel, the Panel’s recommendation as to the future approval of the foster carer will be submitted to the Agency Decision Maker (the Assistant Director for Children's Specialist Services) for a decision to be made.

Whether or not the foster carers are present at the Panel, the Agency Decision Maker (the Assistant Director for Children's Specialist Services) will inform them in writing of the outcome of the review. 

Where the foster carers lives outside the borough, the local authority for the area where he/she resides will also be informed in writing of the outcome of the review.

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

The administrative staff in the Fostering Service will also 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 return for retention on the records.

6. Representations/Independent Review Procedure

Where, as a result of a review, the variation or termination of a foster carer's approval is proposed, written notice of the proposal and the reasons must be sent to the foster carer within 7 days of the decision and he or she must be advised that if they wish to challenge the decision, they have the opportunity to make representations to the Fostering and Permanence Panel or to apply for an Independent Review by BAAF, as set out in Assessment and Approval of Foster Carers Procedures - Section 10, Representations/Independent Review Procedure.

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.

End