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Letter to fostering service providers (February 2009)
This letter is to alert fostering service providers to the coming into force, on 1 April 2009, of regulations introducing an independent review mechanism (IRM) for fostering and amending provisions concerning fostering panels. It also announces the Department's intentions regarding the contract to manage the IRM for adoption and fostering from 1 April 2009.
National minimum allowance rates 2009–10
Guidance for fostering providers.
Disclosure checks for individuals who are involved in the care of a fostered child but who are not approved foster carers
Guidance for fostering providers (July 2007, amended November 2007).
Foster carers play an extremely important role in supporting some of the most disadvantaged children and enabling their successful transition into independent, adult life.
Fostering is a challenging role and requires skills and dedication. We need to encourage more people to become foster carers and make sure that they have the support and skills required to meet the varied and complex needs of looked-after children.
This area of the website has information on fostering for people who work with children, young people, families and carers.
Information on how to become a foster carer is available at the bottom of this page.
See multidimensional treatment foster care for more information.
Documents
Foster carers who also provide childcare (December 2008)
National minimum allowance for foster carers and fostering payment systems (July 2006)
Research on children's services: Children's homes and fostering (August 2006)
Protecting children, supporting foster carers: Dealing with an allegation (April 2006)
This booklet, aimed at foster carers, can help practitioners explain to carers, looked-after young people and their advocates and birth families, what happens when an allegation of abuse or neglect is made.
Becoming a foster carer
Anyone can apply to be a foster carer, as long as they have the qualities needed to look after children who cannot live with their parents.
If you are interested in becoming a foster carer, the first thing you should do is contact your local fostering service (either the social services department of your local council or an independent fostering agency) and arrange a meeting. They will explain what fostering involves and will help you decide whether you are right for fostering.
If you would like information about registered independent fostering agencies please contact Ofsted. Their public enquiry phone number is 0845 640 4040 and they are open Monday to Friday between 8:30am and 8:00pm.
Fosterline
For information, help and advice for current and prospective foster carers, please contact Fosterline on freephone 0800 040 7675. The advice line is open from 9:00am to 5:00pm, Monday to Friday (except bank holidays). It is open till 8:00pm on Wednesdays.
For further information please go to the 'Fosterline' pages on the Fostering Network website.
Associated documents
Download the contents of this page:
as a Word Document
Last updated on 05/05/2009
