Review and Termination of Approval of Foster Carers

Formal reviews of foster carers will be undertaken between the Foster Carer, Supervising Social Worker and Chaired by the Independent Fostering Reviewing Officer. Reviews will take place at least annually and the first annual review will take place so that it can be reported to the fostering panel within 12 months of the foster carer's approval - see Section 4, Presentation to the Fostering Panel.

 Reviews of foster carers in their fourth and seventh year of fostering will also be presented to panel.

Dates and the venue for review meetings will be arranged in advance.

Reviews can also take place more frequently - and may be initiated by the Supervising Social Worker or foster carer/s. This may be due to:

• A significant change in circumstances of a foster carer affecting the ability or capacity to foster, a change in the composition of the household;
• A serious complaint or allegation made about the foster carer;
• A death in the foster home;
• A significant health issue;
• Concerns about the standards of care provided by the foster carer;
• Persistent use of inappropriate discipline;
• Serious and/or persistent breaches of the Foster Care Agreement;
• A complaint or allegation made about the carer resulting in a Section 47 Enquiry;
• Concerns as a result of information from updated Disclosure and Barring Service checks or a request/recommendation for a change of approval;
• To change in the terms of the foster carers approval;
• Where there are uncertain or contentious issues which require the advice and independency of the panel;
• At the request of the foster carer.

Where an allegation or concern is raised in relation to a foster carer, see also Allegations, Concerns and Standards of Care in relation to Foster Carers or Members of their Household Procedure.

As well as formal reviews, there will be regular supervision, dialogue and feedback between the Supervising Social Worker and the foster carer - see Supervision, Support and Training of Foster Carers Procedure.

Prior to writing the annual review report, the Supervising Social Worker will collate all information relevant to the foster carers' suitability to foster, including the number and type of placements in the last year, information from the Looked After Reviews of children placed, any variations or exemptions that have been agreed in the previous year, supervision records, post placement reports and records of any complaints or allegations made against the foster carers or members of their household.

The views of the foster carers, all members of the household, any children placed since the last review, their parents (where appropriate), their social workers, children’s Independent Reviewing Officers, Children Always First’s Clinical Lead and any other professional whose views are relevant will be sought and taken into account at the review. This will include contacting the social worker for children previously placed but no longer in the placement. Wherever possible these views should be reported to the review in writing.

Any updates on checks will also be carried out - see Section 7, Updates on Checks.

The Supervising Social Worker, in consultation with the foster carer, will then produce a comprehensive report that includes all consultations, the foster carer's Safe Caring practice, fire plan, training programme and any risk assessment in relation to the family pets as part of the review. A health and safety checklist will also have been completed prior to the review meeting.

This report will then be provided to the Supervising Social Worker’s line manager for oversight and for their comments. A copy is sent to the foster carer for their observations and signature.

The Independent Fostering Reviewing Officer will be provided with all written information pertaining to the review 5 working days prior to the review meeting. The formal review meeting is chaired by the Independent Fostering Reviewing Officer and attended by the Supervising Social Worker and the foster carers.

The review will consider all the available information and views and reach the following conclusions:

• Whether the foster carer continues to be suitable to foster children;
• Whether the terms of approval continue to be suitable;
• What training and development needs the foster carer has;
• How these needs will be met and who will be responsible;
• What support needs the carer has, and how these will be met;
• Any difficulties or concerns since the last review;
• The date for presentation to the fostering panel, if relevant.

The Independent Fostering Reviewing Officer will prepare an independent review report stating whether the carers continue to be suitable to foster and whether the terms of his or her approval continue to be appropriate. This report should include a summary of the fostering work undertaken so far and how this relates to the development of the foster carer's skills. Any recommendations for change in the foster carers' approval should be highlighted.

A copy of the independent review report will then be sent to the foster carers for their signature to demonstrate that it is an accurate representation of the meeting that was held. All reports will then be made available to either the Fostering Panel or the Agency Decision Maker which ever is applicable. A copy should also be kept on the foster carer's file.

The report on the first, fourth and seventh annual review meeting will be presented to the fostering panel. The first review will be presented within 12 months of the original approval.

All reviews will be chaired by the Independent Fostering Reviewing Officer, but some circumstances require the review to be presented to the fostering panel. These circumstances would include but are not limited to:

• Significant changes to the foster carer’s approval;
• Significant change within the home (death of individual, house move, relationship status etc.);
• Disclosure and Barring Service check reveals a new concern about the foster carer or a member of the household;
• Serious and/or persistent breaches of the Foster Carer Agreement;
• Serious complaint or allegation made against a foster carer;
• Where there are uncertain or contentious issues which require the advice and independency of the panel;
• Termination of the foster carer’s approval.

In these circumstances, the review will be presented to the fostering panel. Foster carers should be invited to attend the Fostering Panel when their review is being considered, together with a supporter if they wish, and the Panel Administrator should be informed if they intend to do so.

The outcome of the review will be recorded and the database be updated to inform the Register of Foster Carers. Where there has been any change in the terms of the approval, the Foster Care Agreement will be updated and signed by the Supervising Social Worker and foster carer.

Where the approval is terminated, the Fostering Service Manager must inform the Regulatory Authority.

Where the approval is terminated, the Registered Manager for the agency, in consultation with the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO)/team of designated officers, will decide whether to refer the former foster carer to the Disclosure and Barring Service under the Vetting and Barring Scheme.

Where, as a result of a review, the change of criteria or termination of a foster carer's approval is proposed, he or she must be advised, when informed of the outcome of the Agency Decision Maker's decision, that if they wish to challenge the decision, they have the opportunity to make representations to the Panel or to request a review by an Independent Review Panel, as set out in Recruitment, Assessment and Approval of Foster Carers Procedure, Representations/Independent Review Procedure. The only circumstances where the foster carer will not have the right to request a review by an Independent Review Panel is if he or she is regarded as disqualified as a result of a conviction or caution for a specified offence (see also GOV.UK, Prepare for a review panel: adopters and foster carers).

If no written representations or notification of a request for a review are received within the period, the decision to terminate or change the approval can be confirmed.

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.

Disclosure and Barring Service checks on persons aged 18 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.

Whilst there is no statutory time interval, as good practice the foster carers will be required to undertake a health assessment every 5 years. 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.

Local Authority checks for where the foster carer(s) currently reside, will also be updated every three years.

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

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 the Recruitment, Assessment and Approval of Foster Carers. The Fostering Panel will be notified of resignations through the provision of a Resignation Report and copy of the foster carers resignation. This aids the Panel's monitoring role.