6.1.10 Family and Friends Foster Carers Assessment and Approval Procedures

1.1

Definition of a Family and Friends Foster Carer

1.2

Situation to Which These procedures DO NOT Apply

• These procedures do not apply when there are no concerns about a child and they go to live with a family member and this is a private arrangement between the parent/person with parental responsibility and the family member;
• These procedures do not apply when a child comes to live with a friend and this is a private arrangement between the parent/person with parental responsibility and friend. If this placement continues or is likely to continue up to 28 days it becomes a private foster care placement and is covered by the regulations and procedures covering children placed with private foster carers and Children¡¦s Social Care Services must be informed.

1.3

Situation to Which These Procedures DO Apply

• When the Local Authority places a child with a relative or friend under either Section 20 of the Children Act or a court order this means they are a Child In Care;
• Where a child is already living with a relative or friend and this child subsequently becomes a Child In Care of the Local authority due to concerns, then see Child Protection procedures.

1.4

Policy Principle

1.5

Local Authority Duties

1.6

The Initial Family and Friend Assessment Overview

A planned placement with a Family and Friends Foster Carer(s) should always be the preferred option when placing a child.

The subsequent procedures are for situations when there is time to carry out a Family and Friends Fostering Assessment and for that assessment to be approved by Fostering Panel before the child starts to reside at the placement.

3.1

Assessment of Need

3.2

Planning Meeting

• The Child Care Social Worker may refer for a Family Group Meeting (FGM) in order for the child's extended family to explore all the possible options available to them, and make a plan for the child's future.
• The person(s) with parental responsibility must give their consent before a referral can be made.
• The FGM may be used to decide whether any family members wish to be assessed as possible carers for the child. Depending on their age and understanding, the child/young person will play a central role in deciding who should be invited to the meeting and what their placement preferences would be. The resulting Family Plan should be agreed by Children's Social Care as long as it is deemed safe and legal. This may depend on the result of Family and Friends Assessments.

Once:

1. It has been identified that the child's needs would be best met by a placement with a Family and Friends Foster Carer(s) Placement. (If there are any parental disagreements these should be recorded).
   
   and
2. That all parties with Parental Responsibility for the child and the Applicant Family and Friends Foster Carer(s) are in agreement with the placement; the planning meeting should, where possible, decide on the practical arrangements and timetable for the placement.

The Planning Meeting should comprise of the following people:

• Parent(s)/person with parental responsibility;
• Child/Young Person (Depending on age and maturity);
• Applicant Family and Friend Foster Carer(s);
• Child's Social Worker;
• Fostering representative;
• Any other relevant person.

The child care social worker briefly assesses the suitability of applicants by:

• Interviewing applicant family and friends foster carer(s) and all other household members.
• Inspecting the applicants house and in particular the sleeping arrangement for the Child in Care.
• Requesting that the applicants complete form AA1 and then ensuring this is returned to their administration team.

The Child Care Social worker then:

• Creates a Contact (on the child's record on ICS) requesting a Family and Friends Assessment to the Fostering Team;
• Completes the Request for Family and Friends Fostering Assessment (See ICS Business Process)
• Ensures that fostering duty are aware of any court timescales for the child.

3.3

The Family and Friends Fostering Assessment will Comprise of the Following Components

The following areas will be addressed in detail during the assessment and recorded on the Competency Based Assessment Form:

Caring for Children

1. An ability to provide a good standard of care to the specific foster children, which promotes healthy emotional, physical and sexual development as well as their health and educational achievements.
2. An ability to work closely with children's family, and others who are important to the child, and considering family / relationship dynamics which may impact upon the placement. Consideration will be given to issues such as contact, carers, and current and previous relationships with parents / extended family.
3. An ability to set appropriate boundaries, and manage children's behaviour within these, without the use of physical or other inappropriate punishment.
4. A knowledge of normal child development and an ability to listen to and communicate with children appropriate to their age and understanding, and considering their own previous and current relationship with the child(ren).
5. Consideration will also be given to:
   • Family relationships and safeguarding the child;
   • The timing of and attitude towards the assessment;
   • Motivation and impact on the family;
   • Carer's own feelings;
   • Accommodation;
   • Location;
   • Health;
   • Parenting capacity
   • Criminal convictions.

Providing a Safe and Caring Environment

1. An ability to ensure that children are cared for in a home where they are safe from harm or abuse, their understanding of the reasons why the children are looked after and their feelings around this.
2. An ability to help children keep themselves safe from harm or abuse, and to know how to seek help if their safety is threatened, including how they would be able to prioritise the child(ren)'s needs over their relationship with the child(ren)'s parents / extended family

Working as Part of a Team

1. An ability to work with other professional people, contribute to the agency's planning for the child/young person, and including how they would be able to manage their relationship with the child(ren)'s parents, share concerns etc. as they arise.
2. An ability to communicate effectively.
3. An ability to keep information confidential.
4. An ability to promote equality, diversity and rights of individuals and groups within society

Own Development

1. An ability to appreciate how personal experiences have affected themselves and their families, and the impact fostering the child(ren) is likely to have on their own family dynamics.
2. Having people and links within the community to provide support and the impact that caring for the child(ren) will have on these support networks.
3. An ability to use training opportunities and to improve skills.
4. An ability to sustain positive relationships and maintain effective functioning through periods of stress, including, where appropriate, how they are managing with the children being looked after, and with their own relationships with the child(ren)'s parents and extended family.

3.4

Finance and CIC Paperwork

Foster Children placed with Family and Friends carers are entitled to the following:

• initial clothing grants;
• birthday grants;
• holiday grants;
• mileage allowances;
• Christmas and other non-Christian festival grants such as Eid and Diwali.

For further information see:
Allowances for Foster Carers Procedure (FO3(h)) and Fostering Service Special Grants Procedure (FO3(w))

Family and Friends carers are paid an initial weekly allowance on approval at Fostering Panel to ensure that the carer is paid a weekly allowance to care for the child.

Once a Foster Carer's agreement (see Appendix 2: Foster Care Agreement Family and Friends) has been returned, carers will be paid at the level 1 enhanced rate. Those carers who have successfully completed STF training are paid the level 2 rate upon returning the Foster Care agreement.

Family and friends carers who want to be considered as a general carer and take stranger children have the opportunity to apply, be assessed, and progress in line with all other carers (see Approval of Foster Carers Procedure (FO3(b)).

3.5

Referrals for Family and Friends Support / Assessment to Fostering Team Duty

3.6

Foster Carer's File

In accordance with Regulation 30 of the Fostering Service Regulations 2011 every Family and Friends Foster Carer must have their own file.

This file is to hold all the relevant information on the Family and Friends Foster Carer(s) such as:

• 'Application to Foster', Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and other agency checks and any other reports submitted to the fostering panel
• Fostering Panel recommendations
• The notice of approval given under regulation 27(5) and any notice given under regulation 28(12)
• Foster carer agreement
• Foster Carers medical reports
• A copy of the Placement Information Record
• Evidence of Statutory Visits
• Annual reviews
• Training records
• Connected Person's Assessment (if appropriate)

3.7

Fostering Panel Positive Recommendation

3.8

Fostering Panel Negative Recommendation

If the applicants are still dissatisfied with the decision then there are two options available to them:

1. They may invoke the Foster Care Complaints Procedure (FO3(n))
   
   or
2. They may apply through the Independent Review Mechanism for a review of the Fostering Service provider's 'qualifying determination'.
   For further information see: Independent Review Mechanism

Note: they cannot do both.

The Children in Care Team, in conjunction with the child's parents/person with parental responsibility and the Family and Friends Foster Carer should make a decision in respect to the child's permanency care plan.

The Review will need to consider the following options for the child:

• The child returns home to his/her family within identified timescales.
• The child remains with the current Family and Friends Foster Carer and the carer chooses to apply to the courts for an SGO or Child Arrangements Order.
• The child remains with the Family and Friends Foster Carer under a long term fostering arrangement (should all other options not be the most appropriate route, clearly evidenced within the long-term assessment)
• The child moves to another Family and Friend's foster placement or a Local Authority placement
• The plan for the child is adoption.

4.5

Criteria for Permanent Family and Friends Foster Placement

• The permanent care plan for the child could not be progressed under a Child Arrangements Order / SGO / adoption route
  
  or
• That the care plan and placement would need long term ongoing social work support
  
  or
• That the long-term care plan for the child is permanent foster care with a Family and Friend Foster Carer
  
  and
• The child cannot return to live with his/her birth parent(s).

4.6

Fostering Team Family and Friends Foster Care Assessment and Approval Process

• The child's long term Social Worker completes an up-to-date Assessment including a Profile of Child's Needs and the child's matching form.
• The Fostering Team Social Worker carries out a full competency based assessment and matching form, taking into consideration the views of the child care social worker and the Assessment report.
• The Children's Views Form must be completed.
• The Family and Friends Foster Carer will be invited to ongoing foster carer training.
• The child's completed assessment and the Fostering Team's competency based Carers Assessment should be presented together with the matching report to Rochdale Fostering panel. The panel will then make a recommendation of approval or non-approval to the Service Director for Children's School's and Families Targeted Services who will then subsequently approve or not approve the placement. Both parties should be present.

The Family and Friends Foster Carer is only approved as a foster carer for the specific child, or children that they have been approved for. The Family and Friends Foster Carer once approved will receive regular supervision and support from the Fostering Team Supervising Social worker, and will be reviewed annually in line with the 2011 regulations, or more frequently if required.

The Family and Friends Foster Carer will also be invited to ongoing training and support groups and will be expected to comply with the standards and requirements of being a foster carer as stipulated in the Foster Carers Agreement.

They can also access additional support through the Fostering Team support workers, clinical psychologist, buddying schemes, and support groups.