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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/Independent Review Procedure
7. Updates on Checks
8. Notice of Termination by Foster Carers

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 family placement social worker or foster carers where there has been a significant change in circumstances, for example a change in the composition of the household, a significant health issue or concerns about the care provided by the foster carer as a result of a complaint or allegation. 

Areas of concern or the need for additional support that are identified between reviews are addressed at the time rather than waiting for reviews.

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

2. Consultation and Action before the Review

Prior to the Review, the family placement social worker will seek the views of all members of the foster carers’ household including the children of the foster family using a questionnaire (in an age-appropriate way).

The family placement social worker will also take account of the written comments and opinions as to the foster carers’ abilities from all social workers who have used the foster carers for a placement since the last formal review as recorded on their End of Placement Reports.  This will include contacting a social worker from outside the authority where appropriate.

The family placement social worker will request the written views of the social workers for any child currently in placement (a Standard Memo is available).

The family placement social worker will also seek the views of any child placed with the foster carers and his or her parents (where the parents have had contact) in relation to placements made since the last review.  These views will be sought via the child’s social worker. 

Personal development plans must be completed for each carer and this should be linked to their training and their annual review.

3. Formal Review Meeting

There will be a formal review meeting held at the foster home attended by the family placement social worker, the foster carers and members of the foster carers’ family (if appropriate).  The family placement social worker will chair the review except where issues of concern or complex issues are likely to arise, in which case a Team Manager from the Family Placement Team will attend and act as chair.

At the review meeting, the agenda will follow the Cue Sheet for the Annual Review of foster carer’s approval.  The family placement social worker will also carry out a safety check and raise any issues of concern at the review meeting. 

After the Review, the family placement social worker will complete a Review Report and pass it to his/her Team Manager for agreement and signature.  Once agreed, the family placement social worker will send the Review Report to the foster carers to agree, sign and return with any comments they wish to make.  The top copy of the Review Report will be kept on the foster carer’s case record and a copy will be held by the foster carers.

Where there is a health concern, the family placement social worker may consult the Medical Adviser to seek guidance as to any further action required, for example an update from the GP, a full medical report and/or seeking the foster carer’s consent for the Medical Adviser to write to the specialist treating him or her.

 The family placement social worker will also write to any social worker with a child placed with the foster carers to inform them of the outcome of the review.

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

This will constitute the end of the review process unless there are circumstances which require the Review Report to be presented to the Fostering Panel, in which case the procedure set out in section 4 should be followed.

4. Presentation to the Fostering Panel

The Review Report will be presented to the Fostering Panel on the foster carer’s first annual review. 

Otherwise, the Review Report will only be presented to the Fostering Panel where changes to or termination of the foster carers’ approval are recommended or where there are any specific issues of concern or a significant change in circumstances, for example a new member of the foster family, which in the opinion of Team Manager of the Family Placement Team require consideration by the Fostering Panel.  This will include the situation where a Strategy Meeting has been held or an updating Criminal Records Bureau check reveals a new concern about the foster carer or a member of the household.

See Section 13, Alterations to Category of Approval, Assessment and Approval of Foster Carers Procedure, for the alterations which can be approved by the Team Manager (but should be reported to the Panel for information only) and those which require further assessment and Panel approval.  Where the Review recommendation is for a different category of approval, the Panel may require further assessment or training for the foster carer.

Where a Review Report is submitted to Panel, a copy of the foster carers’ Form F/assessment report and any previous relevant Panel minutes should also be attached to the report. 

The foster carers will be given 7 days in which to make any written observations and comments on the content of the Review Report before it is presented to Panel.

Where the Review Report recommends the termination of approval of foster carers (other than where this is requested by the foster carer), the Review Report should be presented to the earliest possible Fostering Panel. 

One copy of the report (and attachments) should be sent to the Panel Administrator at least 14 days before the relevant Panel meeting.

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 Agency Decision Maker (Fostering) for a decision to be made.

The foster carers will be informed in writing of the outcome of the review. 

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

The family placement social worker will notify the Fostering Register Administrator (using a Standard Form) of any changes and the Administrator will record any change in the foster carers’ approval on the Register of Foster Carers. 

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 Panel or to request a review by an Independent Review Panel as set out in Assessment and Approval of Foster Carers 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 Persons Disqualified from Fostering Procedure

If no written representations or notification of a request for a review 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 (CRB) 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

8. Notice of Termination by Foster Carers

A foster carer may give written notice at any time to his/her family placement social worker that he or she no longer wishes to act as a foster carer.  His or her approval will then be terminated 28 days from the date when the notice is received.

The foster carer will be offered an exit interview/meeting with the relevant Team Manager. 

The family placement social worker will notify the Fostering Register Administrator (using a Standard Form) of this and the Administrator will remove the foster carers from the Register of Foster Carers.

End