Northern Ireland – Children in Foster Care
Children in foster care
Foster Care is when a child is placed by a Health and Social Care Trust, or by its parents (or those with parental responsibility), with another person who is not related to the child. Fostering provides children who cannot live with their own families for whatever reason with alternative care where they can benefit from a loving, safe and stable home for as long as they need it.
Legislation
The current legislative framework for foster care is set out within:
- The Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995(external link opens in a new window / tab)
- Children (Leaving Care) Act (Northern Ireland) 2002(external link opens in a new window / tab)
- Contact with Children Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996(external link opens in a new window / tab)
- The Children (Private Arrangements for Fostering) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996(external link opens in a new window / tab)
- The Foster Placement (Children) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996(external link opens in a new window / tab)
- The Arrangements for Placement of Children (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996(external link opens in a new window / tab)
- The Review of Children’s Cases Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996(external link opens in a new window / tab)
- The Placement of Children with Parents etc. Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996(external link opens in a new window / tab)
- The Represenations Procedure (Children) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996(external link opens in a new window / tab)
- The Refuges (Children’s Homes and Foster Placements) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996(external link opens in a new window / tab)
- The Disqualification for Caring for Children Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996(external link opens in a new window / tab)
- The Foster Placement (Children) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012
Guidance
Guidance for Health and Social Care professionals on foster care is set out within;
Standards
Foster care allowances
Health and Social Care Trusts pay foster care allowances as agreed annually with the Health and Social Care Board. The allowances are in line with national minimum rates in England. These standard rates of foster care, care allowances are known as the Model Scheme.
Information, Help and Support
Help and support created for foster carers, by foster carers, we are the experts by experience. We have the first foster carers knowledge bank.
Please find our help and support page here.
Access both the open pages and members area. Both are free to access and footprint-free. The member’s area gives you privileged confidential access to FosterWiki’s experts by experience for advice and guidance. You will also find short courses and guides from the foster carer’s perspective, top tips, allegation help, templates, and the ability to add to FosterWiki. With more content being uploaded regularly.
Please let us know what information or advice pages you would find useful and we will put them in place. https://fosterwiki.com/register/