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Contents

1. Responding to Initial Enquiries
2. Initial Visit and Application
3. Checks and References 
4. Training Course
5. Assessment
6. BAAF Form F
7. The Panel Recommendation
8. After the Panel Recommendation
9. Representations /Independent Review Procedure
10. Criteria for Foster Carers
11. Approval Categories and the Payment for Skills Scheme
12. After the Approval
13. Register of Foster Carers
14. Changes in the Foster Carer's Household or Circumstances

1. Responding to Initial Enquiries

All members of the public who make an initial enquiry by telephone, email or letter in relation to becoming a foster carer will be referred to the Fostering Service. All enquirers will be treated as a potential resource and given a prompt response. They will be contacted by the duty social worker to provide and gather further information and for a general discussion about fostering.

The duty officer will complete an Initial Referral Form in relation to all new enquiries. Preliminary basic information should be obtained - numbers in the household, the availability of a separate bedroom for foster children, working hours etc so that inappropriate enquiries can be filtered out. In addition, a check will be carried out in relation to enquirers and all members of their household on Children's Services records.

The suitability of the carer's accommodation should also be discussed with them (See Foster Care Accommodation Guidance.

Where the enquirers are not previously known, they will be sent an Information Pack and letter.  The Information Pack will be sent within 5 working days of the enquiry. Enquirers will be asked to write to the Fostering Service if they wish to pursue their interest.

Where the enquirer or a member of the household is known, the enquiry will be passed to the manager for a decision on how to proceed. At this early stage, it may be appropriate to advise enquirers against pursing fostering if they clearly do not meet the basic criteria (see Section 10, Criteria for Foster Carers). The manager's decision will be communicated to the person concerned, with reasons given, and the decision will be recorded. Where the decision is not to proceed the referral will be closed. Where the decision is to proceed, the enquirer will be sent an Information Pack and the same procedure will be followed as for all other enquirers.

If there is no response within 2 weeks, the duty social worker will follow up with a letter to the enquirer.

When a response is received, the administrative staff will update the records and the manager will be informed.

The manager will allocate the case immediately to a social worker from the Fostering Service to carry out an Initial Visit.

2. Initial Visit and Application

The allocated social worker will contact the enquirer within 5 working days of the allocation and make arrangements to undertake an Initial Visit. 

The purpose of the Initial Visit is to give further information to the potential applicants about the tasks expected of foster carers and the skills, experience, knowledge and aptitudes necessary for fostering, as well as to describe the assessment and approval process.

At the Initial Visit, the social worker will also discuss any relevant health, criminal, accommodation, employment and financial issues with the potential applicants, and consider with them the next steps and whether it may be appropriate to move to a formal application.

A second visit may be required for some potential applicants to cover areas not explored at the first visit or to explore further any areas of concern highlighted during the Initial Visit. This may be by the social worker alone or jointly with another social work colleague. If there continues to be concerns about the potential applicant, the advice of the manager should be sought.

Prospective applicants should be specifically asked to identify anything that they know may preclude them from fostering.

If any factors emerge which may have an adverse effect on an application, appropriate advice will be given about withdrawing from the process or about the possible need to make early checks, for example in relation to health issues, before any decision can be made to invite an application to be made.

The allocated worker should record the outcome of the visit(s).

The outcome of the visit should be shared with the manager, who will decide whether it is appropriate to proceed with the application, based on the information obtained so far.

If there are reasons for not inviting an application, the manager will write to the enquirers setting out the decision not to proceed and the reasons.  Advice should be given of steps they may take if they disagree with the decision. This will include information about the Complaints Procedure. The outcome will be recorded and the referral will be closed.

If there appear to be issues of concern in relation to the prospective applicants' health, the Medical Adviser should be consulted for advice before a decision is made.  Where advised by the Medical Adviser, the potential applicants should be requested at this stage to obtain a medical report from their GP. Dependent on the outcome of the health information received and the medical advice from the Medical Adviser, the manager will decide whether to proceed with the application and the decision will be communicated to the enquirer in writing with reasons.

Where a decision is made to proceed, the manager will inform the administrative staff and will ensure the potential applicant(s) are sent (and assisted to complete if necessary) an application form. It is a detailed form which should be completed by the person or persons who will be looking after the child (unless there are exceptional circumstances, e.g. a disabled applicant) - however they may need support in completing it.

Proof of identity will be established, e.g. by seeing a passport or birth certificate, as well as receiving forms for Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checks (for all members of the household aged 16 and over) and consent for medical checks - see Section 3, Checks and References.

On receipt of the completed application form, consent to medical checks and authorisations for the statutory checks/references, the administrative staff will input the date of the application and details of the household members on the electronic records.

The manager will book the applicants on to the Foster Carers Preparation/Training Course - see Section 4, Training Course.

3. Checks and References

3.1 Checks

The administrative staff will arrange for the following checks to be made on all members of the household aged 16 and over: Criminal Records Bureau (CRB), Probation, Health Trust, Education, Children's Services (including the List of Children with a Child Protection Plan) and the NSPCC.  Where the applicants live or have lived outside the local authority area, the checks must be made with the local authority and health trust where the applicants live/have lived.

Where the applicant or any member of the household has been known to Children's Services, information should be obtained from the relevant social worker.

Where applicants have recently moved to the UK (within the last 10 years), checks will also be made through International Social Services and/or the relevant Consulate on all members of the household aged 10 and over.

In addition, where the applicant has school age children, the relevant school(s) will be contacted, with the permission of the applicant, for information regarding the applicant's ability to promote the child's education.

On receipt of the statutory checks, the administrative staff will update the electronic records.

Where there are concerns about an applicant's circumstances as a result of the information obtained from the above checks, this should be referred to the manager and the applicant may be advised not to proceed with the application.

If the applicant withdraws, the administrative staff will update the electronic records. If the applicant does not agree to withdraw, see 3.4, General.

Where the checks reveal that the applicant or a member of the household is a Disqualified Person (Foster Carer), see Persons Disqualified from Fostering Procedure.

Where the information relates to an offence which does not automatically disqualify the applicant, for example because the applicant is seeking approval in relation to a specific child only, the manager must consider whether the application should still proceed. Such convictions will not necessarily preclude an application, but this will depend on the seriousness of the offence and how long ago it was committed. In a case where the conviction would usually disqualify an applicant, the case should be referred to the Fostering Panel and the Agency Decision Maker (Fostering) for a preliminary decision - see Persons Disqualified from Fostering Procedure. In any other case where there is doubt, an early referral should be made to the Fostering Panel and/or Agency Decision Maker (Fostering).

Information relevant to the application that has been obtained from the CRB may only be retained on the applicant's file for a limited period and should be destroyed when a decision is made on the application. The manager should note on the file that the CRB information has been destroyed and that the information led to a particular view, without citing the information itself.

3.2 References

Each applicant will be asked to provide the names of two personal referees, who are adults, have known the applicant for at least five years and are not related to the applicant, and another referee who may be a family member or personal friend.  All referees should be people who know the applicants well in a personal capacity.

Where there is a joint application, referees should know both applicants, or additional referees will be required.

A written reference must be obtained from each applicant's current employer regardless of the applicant's occupation. This may be one of the four references provided. In addition, where the applicant has frequently changed jobs, written references should also be obtained from past employers.

Where the prospective applicant has made a previous application to foster or adopt, the relevant agency must be asked to confirm in writing the outcome of the application and provide a written reference.

Interviews with adult children who are no longer household members will be undertaken, as will interviews with ex-partners or spouses particularly if they have cared for children together.

Where there are existing children in the household, contact with health visitor, nursery or school.

The administrative staff will send requests for written references to each referee.

Where foster carers approved by other agencies, elect to transfer to Leeds Social Care, new CRB checks will be required. A formal reference from the agency and the portfolio of evidence will be required.

On receipt of the references, the administrative staff will update the electronic records.

3.3 Health

The applicants will be provided with the relevant medical form to fill in with their details and send to their GP with a covering letter requesting that the GP complete the Form and send it to the manager. On receipt the manager will pass the information to the Medical Adviser for comment.

Where the medical information suggests that the applicant may not be suitable for health reasons, this should be discussed in detail with the applicant(s) and withdrawal may be advisable at this stage. Additional advice may be sought from the Medical Adviser or the Medical Adviser may raise questions with the GP where this is appropriate.  It may be necessary for reports from other health professionals also to be obtained and presented to the Medical Adviser and the Fostering Panel.

3.4 General

Where there are concerns about an applicant's circumstances at any point, for example where there are concerns about their health or about the information obtained from referees, this must be referred to the manager and the applicant may be advised not to proceed with the application.  Any such advice must be confirmed to them in writing and the reasons explained. A further visit may also be arranged to the applicants to explain the decision.

If the information leading to a decision not to proceed relates to a previous conviction of one of two joint applicants or a member of the applicant's household, the details of the offence can only be disclosed to the applicant with the consent of the relevant person; without such consent, the applicant can only be informed that the reason relates to information obtained from the checks but no details can be given.

If the applicant withdraws, the administrative staff will update the electronic records.

Where the applicant disagrees with the decision and/or is not willing to withdraw, a brief report on the application should be presented to the Fostering Panel outlining the circumstances and reasons why approval is not recommended. The procedure to be followed should be the same as if the report was a full report on the applicants (see Section 7 to Section 9 below). The applicants will be contacted by a social worker - preferably the same social worker as undertook the Initial Visit - to explain the process and seek the applicant(s) views so these can be taken into account.

4. Training Course

The Foster Carers preparation/Training Course (Skills to Foster website) will cover in detail all aspects of the fostering task, including the need for approved foster carers to notify the manager of any changes in their home circumstances, for example any new relationships they have where they wish their new partners to become a member of the household - see Section 14, Changes in the Foster Carer's Household or Circumstances the procedure to be followed where such changes occur.

Applicants will be booked on the course once their completed application forms are received.  All prospective foster carers will be required to attend this training, which is an integral part of the assessment process.

The objectives of the course are:

• to raise awareness and understanding of the key issues which need to be addressed by all foster carers
• to assist applicants to consider more thoroughly the implications of fostering
• to assist applicants to determine the type of resource they can offer to the children needing foster placements.

Those facilitating the course will provide written feedback on issues relating to the applicants for the assessing social worker which must be used in his or her assessment. Any issues of concern should be referred to the manager.

Applicants are expected to attend the course. Attendance is generally a requirement and failure to complete must be identified in the report presented to fostering panel, with a clear explanation of the reasons and circumstances.

Where issues emerge during the training as a result of which the manager decides that it is not appropriate to proceed with the application, the applicants should be visited by a social worker and notified in writing of the decision, with reasons.  Advice should be given of any steps they may take in order to meet the criteria or of how they might pursue their interest elsewhere, if appropriate.

Where the applicant disagrees with the decision and/or is not willing to withdraw, a brief report on the application should be presented to the Fostering Panel and the procedure to be followed should be the same as if the report was a full report on the applicants (see Section 7, The Panel Recommendation to Section 9, Representations / Independent Review Procedure below).

5. Assessment

All applicants must be the subject of a full Competency Based Assessment. Where an existing relationship ends, both partners will be subject to reassessment should they wish to continue fostering.

Where foster carers transfer from other agencies, the medical and fostering assessment will be accepted if it was completed within two years of the application. An addendum assessment explaining the circumstances of the transfer should be completed and presented to the fostering panel.

Once the checks and references have been returned, the case will be allocated for a full assessment to a qualified social worker.  The allocated worker will not necessarily be the same as the social worker carrying out the Initial Visit.  Where the allocated social worker is not experienced, he or she will conduct the assessment alongside an experienced worker. The assessment can run alongside the training course.

The Competency Based Assessment model will be used.

The time taken to complete the assessment after a formal application has been received will be no more than six months from the receipt of the application.

The purpose of the assessment is to demonstrate that the applicant(s) have the necessary skills and personal qualities to enable them to provide safe, nurturing care for a child unable to live within their own family.

The assessing social worker will:

• familiarise him or herself with the application form
• contact the applicant(s) and arrange a visit
• draw up a written agreement setting out the dates for the assessment visits and the date for the presentation to the Fostering Panel
• interview couples individually and together and ensure the children of the applicant or other significant members of the family/household are seen alone
• contact ex partners (see below)
• inform the applicant(s) of any revised timescales if there are delays

The assessing social worker will complete all parts of BAAF Form F, which will record all appropriate factual information and address issues including the applicants' understanding of the following areas:

• child rearing
• caring for children born to someone else
• contact between children and their families
• helping children to make sense of their past
• sexual boundaries and attitudes
• awareness of sexual and other forms of abuse
• health and health promotion
• promotion of education
• approaches to discipline
• awareness of how to promote secure attachments between children and appropriate adults
• religion
• standards of living and lifestyles
• racial, cultural and linguistic issues
• experiences of disability and attitudes to disability
• awareness of equal opportunities

The list is not exhaustive - other issues relevant to the individual applicant and his or her family may need to be addressed. The skills and personal qualities that need to be evidenced will be different according to the type of fostering the applicants want to do, e.g. babies and toddlers, short term or permanent.

The suitability of the carer's accommodation should be considered (See Foster Care Accommodation Guidance)

If the applicants own a dog, reference should be made to the Dangerous Dogs Guidance.

As well as providing a written reference, two (or more, if considered appropriate) personal referees will also be interviewed during the assessment. Referees and any other family members spoken to during the preparation of the report should be informed in writing about the position in relation to confidentiality.  A written reference will not be shown to an applicant unless the applicant requests disclosure and the referee consents to disclosure.  The same applies to information and opinions shared in the course of conversation.  These will not be disclosed to an applicant without permission.  However, referees and others should be made aware that it will often be necessary to discuss with applicants information and opinions expressed although where this happens, the particular source of the information or opinion will not be disclosed. Referees should be sent a written record of the discussion held with the assessing social worker and be asked to sign their agreement to it being a true record.

The assessing social worker will also contact the previous partners of the applicants (taking care not to disclose confidential personal information about the applicant). Where there were any children of the relationship or where children were cared for jointly, the social worker will arrange to interview them face-to-face wherever practicable.  All adult children of the applicant(s) living away from home will also be contacted.

Applicants will be encouraged to be actively involved in contributing towards the assessment, and supported to provide their own written report/portfolio for Panel to evidence their capabilities and to support their application.

The safety of the accommodation will also be thoroughly checked, including a risk assessment posed by pets. This will be done using the A 10 report, Health and Safety checklist.

Where there are concerns about the suitability of the applicant that arise at any point during the assessment, the assessing social worker should discuss these with the applicants and consult the manager. Where the issues cannot be addressed by training and the applicants are advised to withdraw, see Section 3.4, General for the actions that should follow.

Applicants will be expected to complete the Education Toolkit.

Carers assessment reports are supported by portfolios of evidence which are returned to them following consideration by fostering panel.  A Safe Care Plan  and a Personal Development Plan will also be completed by the carer as part of the assessment.

6. BAAF Form F

The information gathered during the assessment, the Preparation/Training Course and the checks and personal references, will form the basis of the assessment set out in BAAF Form F.

Once the assessing social worker has completed a draft, it should be submitted to the manager for discussion in order to identify whether there are any issues that are unclear or need further work before the assessment is completed.

The final draft of Form F will then be sent to the applicants.  The applicants should be asked to sign and return the report, if agreed, and/or send their comments in writing to the assessing social worker.  It should be explained to them that they have 28 days to do this, (or they can be asked to sign a disclaimer stating they do not wish to take 28 days to comment) and that any written comments they make will be circulated to Fostering Panel members, with the report.

The BAAF Form F will then be passed to the Team Manager to be endorsed and counter-signed.

The completed assessment should be submitted to the appropriate fostering panel two weeks in advance of the meeting.  The report must be signed by the assessing worker, the applicants, and the team manager. The fostering officer is expected to attend the panel meeting to present the report and the applicant/s may attend if they wish.

The applicants should also be advised of their right to attend the meeting of the Fostering Panel, which considers their application.

The social worker will then send the BAAF Form F, the applicants' written comments (if any), a full health report, the report on the interviews with the referees, the report from the local authority for the area where the applicant lives (if they live in a different local authority area) and any other relevant documents, to the Panel Administrator at least 10 working days before the relevant Fostering Panel meeting.

The date, time and venue of the Fostering Panel meeting will be communicated to the applicants as soon as possible, together with written information about the Panel process, who will attend and their respective roles. If the applicants know a particular Panel member, the applicants may request that the Panel member stand down.  (Panel members are in any event expected to declare an interest in these circumstances - see Fostering Panel Procedure).

7. The Panel Recommendation

The assessing social worker will attend the Panel meeting, together with the applicants if they so wish.  The decision to attend rests with the applicants and a wish not to attend will not prejudice consideration of their application.

Applicants who decide they wish to attend should be fully prepared as to the procedure prior to their attendance.

The Panel will consider the reports together with all the supporting documentation and any additional information presented verbally, and make a recommendation to the Agency Decision Maker (Fostering) regarding the suitability of the applicant for fostering.

The recommendation, with reasons, will be recorded in writing and, where approval is recommended, the category of fostering, any limitations of the approval to named children (for example in the case of a Family and Friends Foster Carer) or conditions as to the age range or number of children to be placed in the foster home will also be specified.

Where the applicant does not attend the Panel meeting, the social worker undertaking the assessment will advise the applicant of the Panel recommendation within 24 hours of the Panel meeting.  This will be verbally, by telephone or, where appropriate, a home visit.

8. After the Panel Recommendation

The Agency Decision Maker (Fostering) will make a decision as to the suitability of the applicant, based on the reports presented to the Fostering Panel and the minutes detailing the Panel's recommendation. Where the decision is to approve the applicants as foster carers, the Agency Decision Maker will specify the terms of the approval i.e. the number and age range of children to be fostered, the type of placement and any specific inclusions/exclusions. Applicants can be approved for more than one placement category.

The decision must be made within seven working days of the Panel meeting and must be recorded, together with reasons. Applicants should be advised in writing of the appeals and representations process in respect of contentious issues.

The manager will arrange for the applicants to be given verbal notification of the decision within 24 hours and written notice of the decision, with reasons, signed by the Agency Decision Maker, within 5 working days of the decision.

If the decision is to refuse approval, the assessing social worker and manager will assess the need for further counselling and arrange any necessary follow-up action.

Following registration carers will only need to undergo a full medical examination if the medical adviser wishes to keep a particular health issue under review, or where new information concerning a carer's health indicates that the medical adviser may need to express an opinion on their suitability to care.

Minutes of the relevant part of the fostering panel meeting which relates to the carer must be kept on foster carer files.

9. Representations / Independent Review Procedure

If a decision is made to refuse an application, the applicant will be advised that if he or she wishes to challenge the decision, applicants should be advised of their right to submit representations within 28 days of the date of the written notice of the decision to the team manager. In addition, as an alternative, they may exercise the right to apply to the Secretary of State to request a review of the decision by an Independent Review Panel. Any such application must be made in writing within 28 days of the decision and supported by reasons.

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. If no written representations or notification of a request for a review are received within this period, the decision to refuse the application can be confirmed.

If written representations are received within the period, the Panel Adviser will arrange for the reports and other documentation to be reconsidered by the Fostering Panel, taking into account the written representations, and make a new recommendation to the Agency Decision Maker (Fostering).

The Panel Administrator will advise the applicant within seven days of the date of the Panel meeting when they can attend and their written representations will be considered.

In these circumstances, applicants who wish to attend the meeting of the Fostering Panel can arrange for a friend or supporter to accompany them.

After considering the representations, the Panel will make further recommendations either confirming or amending their previous views, which the Agency Decision Maker (Fostering) will consider before a final decision is made.

If the decision remains not to approve the application, the team manager will arrange for the applicants to be informed verbally within two working days. Written notice of the final decision, together with reasons, must be sent to the applicant by the Panel Adviser within seven working days of the Panel meeting.  Information about the Complaints Procedure must also be sent. A copy of the report to the Panel, the Panel's recommendation and the decision, with reasons, must be retained on the applicant's case file.

If the applicant requests the matter to be referred to the Independent Review Panel, all the Panel reports, any new information obtained since the Panel meeting, a record of the decision made and reasons, and a copy of the written notification of the decision will be sent to the Independent Review within 10 working days of their written request.

The procedure for the Independent Review is carried out by BAAF; the applicant and two representatives of the fostering agency will be invited to attend the Independent Review.

After considering the representations, the Independent Review may make a recommendation, which the Agency Decision Maker will consider before a final decision is made.

Written notice of the final decision, together with reasons, must be sent to the applicant within seven working days of the receipt of the Independent Review recommendation.here the decision is to approve the application, the procedure set out in Section 12, After the Approval will be followed.

10. Criteria for Foster Carers

10.1 Individual and Joint

Applications will be considered from married couples, civil partners, unmarried couples or single people.

10.2 Religion

Applications will be considered from people of any or no religious persuasion.

10.3 Ethnicity

Applications will be considered from people of any race or culture.

10.4 Age

The minimum age for foster carers is generally 21 years.  In exceptional circumstances, e.g. with some Family and Friends Carers, the minimum age may be reduced to 18. There is no specific upper age limit.

10.5 Gender

Applications will be considered from people of either sex and from same sex couples.

10.6 Sexual Orientation

Applications will be considered from people of any sexual orientation.

10.7 Income and Work Commitment

Applicants may be in work or not.

10.8 Health

Applicants will be required to have a full medical and undergo any further tests/checks that may be required by the Fostering Panel's Medical Adviser.  The Medical Adviser will advise on the applicants' ability, from a health point of view, to meet the needs of a child who is fostered.  Any comments or advice given by the Medical Adviser must be taken seriously by the applicants and will be addressed during the assessment process.

Applicants are expected to positively promote a healthy life-style which will enable a child to reach his or her full potential.  This would encompass attention to nutrition, exercise, routine and hygiene.

It is expected that foster carers will comply with nationally recommended alcohol consumption levels and that children's needs and safety will be met at all times.

10.9 Criminal Convictions

A person who is seeking approval as a foster carer will not be considered if s/he or any adult member of the household is within the category of Disqualified Persons (Foster Carer) unless the application is to foster a child who is already living with the applicant(s) and at least one of the applicants is a relative of the child, in which case the caution/conviction will not automatically preclude the application but will be taken into account when assessing the suitability of the applicant - see Persons Disqualified from Fostering Procedure.

Other convictions will not necessarily preclude an application, but this will depend on the seriousness of the offence and how long ago it was committed. All such cases will be referred to the Fostering Service Manager who may also consult the Agency Decision Maker.

10.10 Accommodation

Applicants may own their own home or live in rented accommodation.

They will need living and sleeping accommodation appropriate to the number and ages of the children they are seeking to foster. They must be able to offer separate bedrooms for each foster child. Only in exceptional circumstances would sharing bedrooms be allowed and this would NEVER be with adult sons or daughters of the foster carer.

It is important that the home environment is child-friendly, welcoming to children, safe and meets reasonable levels of hygiene.

All applicants will have a safety check on their home undertaken by a trained safety assessor.  This will include the outdoor space, animals (including the sleeping and toileting arrangements for any pet) and the holding of any firearms.

10.11 Child Care Experience

It is important that the applicant who is going to be the main carer has some experience of 'hands-on' care of children of the age group in which the applicants are interested.

10.12 Family Contact

All applicants must be prepared to facilitate contact between any foster child and his or her parents and significant family members.

11. Approval Categories and the Payment for Skills Scheme

Most foster carers are part of the Leeds PFS fostering scheme. Placements are financed by making maintenance payments to carers and by paying a fee.

Payment for Skills has four levels linked to a Task, Skills and Competency (TSC) Framework, and fees are paid to carers on levels 2, 3 and 4. Kinship and level 1carers are not paid a fee.

The TSC framework sets out a list of competencies that foster carers must be able to demonstrate at each PFS level. It also sets out training and support group attendance requirements at each level.

Each level adds more to the previous level, so that Level 4 Carers develop higher level skills and competencies, and have a more demanding range of tasks that they must undertake. In return they are paid the highest level of fee.

The Department has a number of specialist fostering schemes where placement is made with the aim of achieving specific objectives. Scheme carers are PFS level 4 carers who give a full time commitment to fostering children with more complex needs.

A foster carer's registration will specify:

• their PFS approval level
• the type of fostering for which the carer is approved
• the number of children the carer is approved to take
• the age and gender of the children who may be placed

All of these are subject to an appropriate fostering panel recommendation and subsequent agency decision.

The approval letter, subsequent foster carer review letters, and Foster Carer Agreement, all confirm the PFS approval level and other registration details of the carer.

12. After the Approval

Once approved, the administrative staff will enter the foster carers' approval details, including their first review date, on the Fostering Register database (see Section 13, Register of Foster Carers) and update the electronic records.  They will also send notice of the outcome to all agencies consulted during the assessment and approval process.

The foster carer will be allocated a supervising social worker, preferably the one who has undertaken their assessment - see Support and Supervision of Foster Carers. If the social worker does not know the new carer, he or she will read the BAAF Form F and the supporting documentation presented to the Fostering Panel including the references prior to introducing him or herself to the carers and arranging to meet the carers, their family and members of their support network as appropriate.

The foster carers will receive,  within one week of their approval, a letter which will include:

• Foster Care Agreement
• Payment For Skills terms and conditions
• ID registration and request form
• Bank  details form
• Training and support group information.

An induction session will also be undertaken by the supervising fostering officer to follow up the above issues. The Foster Care Agreement should be used by supervising fostering officers at the carers post approval induction session, to explore and develop carers' understanding of their roles and responsibilities, foster carer tasks, and what carers may expect from the fostering service. 

The foster carer will be given two copies of the Foster Care Agreement for signature, and will retain one signed copy.  The other will be kept on the foster carer's file, together with the report and supporting documents presented to the Fostering Panel, a copy of the Panel's recommendation and a copy of the approval decision. The Team Manager will also sign the agreement.

The Foster Care Agreement will contain the following information:

1. Leeds Social Care operates a Payment for Skills fostering scheme. Foster Carer Terms and Conditions, and the signed Foster Carer Agreement, form the basis of the ongoing agreement, between Leeds City Council and its foster carers. The carers will be advised which level of the scheme that they have been approved for.
2. The terms of the foster carer's approval including number, age range gender and type of placements
3. The support and training to be provided to the foster carer
4. The procedure for the review of the foster carer's approval
5. The procedure for placements of children
6. The procedure for making representations and complaints
7. The requirement to inform the fostering service of any change of circumstance, address or in the household composition, or of any registration as a childminder or application to adopt or of any offence
8. The requirements in relation to confidentiality and internet usage.
9. The procedures for behaviour management and unauthorised absences of children placed with the foster carer including the ban on corporal punishment
10. The procedures for informing the supervising social worker of the child's progress and any significant events relating to the child
11. The need to give 28 days' notice in writing of they wish to cease fostering
12. The need to allow access to the Regulatory Authority
13. The duty to promote the child's well being and in particular to promote their Health and Education.

New foster carers will also be given their personal copy of the Foster Carer's Hand-Book, which contains information about fostering in the local authority and covers policies, procedures, guidance, legal information and insurance details.  Information about local foster carer support groups will also be provided.

The foster carer(s) must sign confirmation of receipt. The signed and dated confirmation of receipt will be placed on their file.

Foster carers will be assisted by their supervising social worker to produce a Safe Caring Policy and Fire Plan.

The supervising social worker will continue to provide support and supervision to the foster carer up to, during and after all placements - see Support and Supervision of Foster Carers and ensure that they understand the need to undertake CRB and other checks and assessments on any new member of the household - see Section 14, Changes in the Foster Carer's Household or Circumstances - and the need to repeat CRB checks on themselves every three years - see Review of Foster Carers Procedure.

13.  Register of Foster Carers

A register of all approved foster carers will be maintained by the fostering service containing the following particulars:

1. The name, address, date of birth, sex and ethnic origin of each foster carer
2. The date of approval and of each review of the approval
3. The category and current terms of the approval
4. The name, address, date of birth of each person with whom a child is placed under Regulation 38 who is a relative or friend (but not an approved Family and Friends Foster Carer) and who has entered an agreement to provide care for the child placed, together with the date and terms of the agreement.

Once approved, the administrative staff will be informed and will enter the foster carers' approval details, including their first review date, on the Fostering Register database.

14.  Changes in the Foster Carer's Household or Circumstances

The supervising social worker will ensure that any newly approved foster carer is clear about his or her responsibility to notify the fostering service before any change in the composition of their household occurs or where there is any significant change in their circumstances which affects their fostering, for example any new relationship, pregnancy or bereavement.

If the supervising social worker discovers that there has been a change in the foster carer's household without prior notice, the manager must be informed and an immediate review of the foster carer's approval must be convened - see Review of Foster Carers Procedure.  In these circumstances, a suspension of the foster carer's approval may have to be considered at the review.

14.1 Foster Carer's Partners

Where the proposed new member of the household is a partner of the foster carer, there will be a presumption that he or she will have a part to play in caring for any child in the placement and therefore a full Form F assessment of his or her suitability for this role must be completed before the partner moves into the foster home. The same procedure for this assessment will be carried out as for any foster carer applicant and it will be presented to the Fostering Panel and the Agency Decision Maker (Fostering) in accordance with the preceding Paragraphs of this chapter. There will be no presumption that any such assessment will be approved.

Pending the completion of the full assessment, where the foster carer wishes his/her partner to stay overnight before the full assessment is completed, a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) enhanced check must be carried out, and a risk assessment must also be completed to determine the level of additional checks required, before agreement to overnight stays can be given.  The risk assessment should take account of, amongst other things, the number and ages of the children in the placement, their views about the foster carer's partner, the significance and stability of the relationship (including how long they have known each other) and the foster carer's history of fostering.  Any agreement to overnight stays must be endorsed by the Service Manager.

14.2 Other members of the household

Where a foster carer proposes that any person will join the household, notice must be given before this occurs in sufficient time to enable a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) enhanced check to be carried out on the relevant person and an assessment at the appropriate level to be undertaken before the change in household composition occurs.  The required detail of the assessment will depend on the extent to which the new member of the household will undertake a caring role in relation to any child placed.  Where the new member of the household will play a part in caring for the child in the placement, consideration will be given to the need for a full Form F assessment as for any new partner of the foster carer.  Otherwise, the assessment will be considered at a Foster Carer Review which should be convened to consider the change in the foster carer's circumstances - see Review of Foster Carers Procedure.  This will determine whether any change to the foster carer's terms of approval is required and if so, a report to the Fostering Panel will be prepared.

For Exemptions to the usual limit of three children and Alterations or other Extensions to Approval, see Fostering Exemptions and Extensions Procedure

End