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Contents

1. Frequency
2. Consultation and Action Before the Review
3. Formal Review Meeting
4. Presentation to the Fostering Panel or Designated Manager
5. After the Fostering Panel
6. Representations /Independent Review Procedure
7. Updates on Checks
8. Retention of Foster Carer Records

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 fostering 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. In addition reviews will be held where the foster carer has had a break from fostering for 6 months or more.

As well as formal reviews, there will be regular dialogue and feedback between the fostering social worker and the foster carers.

2. Consultation and Action Before the Review

Prior to the formal review, the fostering social worker will send the foster carers a copy of the Foster Home Review Report to enable them to prepare for the review in advance. The foster carers will have the opportunity to communicate their views verbally or in writing to the fostering social worker.

Where there is a health concern, the fostering social worker will ask the foster carers to obtain a medical report from his or her GP or a suitably qualified medical practitioner. The foster carers will also be asked to consent to the medical report being made available to the Medical Adviser to the Fostering Panel.

The fostering social worker will also, prior to the formal review, seek the views of all members of the foster carers' household as well as 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 the child's social worker's end of placement report. This will include contacting a social worker from outside the authority where appropriate.

The fostering social worker will also seek and take into account the views of any child placed with the foster carer and his or her parents, since the last review via the child's social worker.

Children's Workforce Development Council standards for foster carers need 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.

3. Formal Review Meeting

As part of the review, there will be a meeting held between the fostering social worker and the foster carer at the foster home. The chair of the meeting will be an independent person, wherever possible.

At the review meeting, the agenda as set out in the Foster Carer Review Form will include an appraisal of the foster carer's training and development needs, an evaluation of the training received since the last review, the foster carer's views of the service and support provided as well as the appropriateness of placements made, the care provided by the foster carer and any under/over use of the foster care resource.

As part of the review, the fostering social worker will also carry out a health and safety check. 

The independent Chair/fostering social worker will complete a Review Form and any recommendations discussed with the foster carer will be recorded. The foster carer should have the opportunity to put their views on the recommendations in writing to be presented to the Fostering Panel or the Designated Manager (Review of Foster Carers) when the Review Form is considered.

4. Presentation to the Fostering Panel or Designated Manager

A report will be presented to the Fostering Panel on the foster carer's first review and thereafter every third year. Otherwise, the report will be presented to the Designated Manager (Review of Foster Carers) unless significant changes to the foster carer's approval, or the termination of the foster carer's approval is recommended, or where any circumstances exist which in the opinion of the Designated Manager require consideration by the Fostering Panel. This will include the situation where an updating Criminal Records Bureau check reveals a new concern about the foster carer or a member of the household.

The fostering social worker will present the review findings and recommendations to the Fostering Panel or Designated Manager in a written report which incorporates the views of the child or children placed and their parents, the written views of the foster carer and any report provided by a social worker particularly where concerns have been expressed about a placement with the foster carer. Any recommendations for change in the foster carer's approval should be highlighted in the report.

Where the report is to be presented to the Fostering Panel, a copy of the foster carers' BAAF Form F and any previous relevant Panel minutes should also be attached to the report. The report (and attachments) should be sent to the Panel administrative staff at least 10 working days before the relevant Panel meeting.

Foster carers should be invited to attend Fostering Panel when their review is being considered, and the Panel administrative staff should be informed if they intend to do so. 

Where the Review recommends the termination of approval of the foster carers, the review should be presented to the earliest possible Fostering Panel. 

Where the Fostering 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 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 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 Designated Manager (Foster Carer Approval) for a decision to be made.

The fostering social worker will inform the foster carer in writing of the outcome of the review. 

A social worker from outside the authority with a child placed with the foster carer will also be informed in writing of the outcome of the review.

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

A copy of the Review Form 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.

6. Representations 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, Foster Carers in this position must be advised that if they wish to challenge the decision, they have the right to request a review by an Independent Review Panel or make representations to the Fostering Panel. 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.

Representations may be submitted either in person to the next available Fostering Panel meeting or in writing.

Notification/representation will need to be received by the Panel administrative staff within 28 days of the date of the notice of the decision being sent to them. The Panel administrative staff will then notify the foster carer within 7 working days of the date when the Panel will reconsider the matter.

If no written representations or notifications of a request for a review are received within the period, a final decision to terminate or vary an approval can be made.

If written representations are received within the period, the matter must be referred to the Fostering Panel for further consideration. A friend or supporter may accompany foster carers wishing to make representations in person to the Panel. 

Where a foster carer wishes to make representations in person, the Panel Chair may consider the Panel meeting as a smaller quorate sub-group.

The Panel will make a new recommendation in relation to the foster carer and the Designated Manager (Review of Foster Carers) taking into account any fresh recommendation made by the Panel will make a final decision.

Written notice of the final decision, together with reasons, must then be sent to the foster carer within 7 working days of the decision.

If the applicant decides to refer the matter to an Independent Review Panel, the procedure will be as set out in Section 11, Assessment and Approval of Foster Carers Procedure.

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 checks 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.

Medical information should also be updated at least every 3 years by writing to the foster carer's GP. 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.

8. Retention of Foster Carer Records

Foster carers' case records should be retained for a minimum of 30 years after the last placement with the foster carer has ended.

End