Assessment and Approval of Foster Carers

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• Author:Department for Education
• Published:July 2013
• Country:

Fostering services: Assessment and approval of foster carers: Amendments to the Children Act 1989 Guidance and Regulations. Volume 4: Fostering Services.

This guidance is for local authorities and their staff, including:

• Children’s services social workers.
• Supervising social workers.
• Front-line managers who have particular responsibilities in relation to looked-after children.
• Directors of children’s services.
• Managers of services for looked-after children.
• Commissioners of services for looked-after children.

It is also relevant to independent fostering services and foster carers. Looked-after children and the families of looked-after children may also have an interest.
This guidance replaces the following paragraphs of volume 4 ‘Children Act 1989: fostering services’:

• 5.29 to 5.38 (assessment and approval of foster carers).
• 5.42 to 5.44 (independent review mechanism).
• 5.46 to 5.53 (the usual fostering limit).
• 5.59 to 5.63 (reviews and terminations of approval of foster carers).
• 5.39 to 5.41 (the decision-maker).

Related statutory guidance:

• Volume 1 – Children Act 1989: court orders.
• Volume 2 – Children Act 1989: care planning, placement and case review.
• Volume 3 – Children Act 1989: transition to adulthood for care leavers.
• Volume 4 – Children Act 1989: fostering services.
• Volume 5 – Children Act 1989: children’s homes.