Foster Carer Reviews and Terminations

The foster carer review is a statutory process in which all foster carers must participate. The purpose is to review the foster carer's approval to determine whether the foster carer and their household continue to be suitable to foster and, if so, whether the foster carer's terms continue to be appropriate.

In accordance with the:

• Isle of Man Fostering Minimum Standards Section 13, point 8;
• Regulation of Care Act 2013;
• BAAF good practice Guide for Foster carer reviews, which sets out the requirements for annual reviews of foster carers.

Following initial full approval by the Agency Decision Maker, all fostering household should have a review within their first year of being approved.

Family Placement Business Support is responsible for sending out the required feedback needed for the annual review. This includes:

• Feedback from children and young people in placement;
• The child(ren) social worker;
• Any other fostering household members (including adults).

The annual reviews are undertaken by a supervising social worker and will be an assessment of the carer(s) suitability to foster, in line with the Isle of Man Fostering Minimum Standards and provide an update of the care they provide to Looked After children. 

Along with the supervising social worker's report, all panel bundle's for annual reviews should incorporate the following:

• An up to date safer caring report;
• An up to date pet questionnaire;
• An up to date health safety checklist;
• An up to date DBS and medical check;
• An updated Welcome Book;
• A minimum of two unannounced visits;
• Feedback from the child(ren) who are currently or previously been in their care;
• Feedback from any other person(s) in the fostering household. This is to include birth children and any other adults;
• Feedback from the child's social worker. This is to be signed by the social worker and the team manager and will need to be returned to Family Placement Business Support worker no later than four weeks prior to the panel date;
• Feedback from the foster carers;
• Overview of the carer's current training history and any identified training needs.

In light of the information and feedback gathered, the annual review should make a recommendation in terms of the carer(s) continued approval and registration. The foster carer(s) must have sight of the annual review report and be given the opportunity to provide their feedback. The annual review should be signed by the supervising social worker, fostering team leader and the carer(s).

Once the review is signed, the carer(s) first annual review should be presented to Fostering Panel, who will consider and make recommendations in respect of the carers continued registration and approval. Annual reviews are then completed on a yearly basis and returned to Fostering Panel every three years, unless there has been any significant change, complaints, allegations or disruptions.

The Agency Decision Maker will consider the recommendations made by Fostering Panel at the first review and at each subsequent three year review. The Agency Decision Maker will inform the carer(s) of the outcome, in writing, within fourteen working days of the panel minutes being received.

Foster carers will be invited to attend Fostering Panel for their annual review. The panel chair will verbally advise the foster carers of the panel recommendation on the day of panel.

However, if the foster carers are not in attendance, the supervising social worker will need to verbally inform the foster carers of the outcome within 24 hours. This must be recorded on the carer's electronic file and cited within the chronology. It should be noted that if only one of the fostering family carers attends, and there are particular questions for this carer then the review should be deferred to the next panel.

Annual reviews undertaken in between these times, will authorised by the Fostering Team Leader and the carer(s) should be verbally informed of the outcome, via their supervising social worker, within five working days and recorded on the carer(s) electronic file.

Foster carers may be unable to continue with the fostering role for reasons such as:

• The annual review has assessed that the carer(s) are no longer able to meet the Fostering Minimum Standards;
• The carer(s) provide 28 days written notice of resignation or wish to withdraw from the fostering process. 

On such occasions, the Fostering Panel will need to have oversight of the annual review or written resignation and consider the appropriateness of termination. Fostering panel will then make a recommendation to the Agency Decision Maker.

If a prospective foster carer(s) has already embarked upon the assessment process and either withdraws or external checks, such as a DBS, have highlighted an area of concern, this would need to be discussed with the Fostering Team Leader and a short summary provided to Fostering Panel to consider termination.

The Agency Decision Maker will inform the carer(s) of the outcome, in writing, within fourteen working days of the panel minutes being received.