In the event of reconciliation in these circumstances, a carer review should be convened and submitted to the Fostering Panel for further consideration and recommendation for the Agency Decision Maker. For family and friends carers, the supervising social worker (where there is a separate social worker for the carer) and child’s social worker should be consulted by the carers. There may be circumstances where a couple determine that they are to separate, although they are both to remain living within the family/foster home. This should be sent to the Fostering Panel Adviser who will notify the next Fostering Panel under AOB. If they do wish to continue then it would generally be anticipated that a full re-assessment of their changed circumstances and new home will be undertaken. Alongside the Annual Review the supervising social worker will need to undertake an assessment of the couples’ relationship, looking specifically at the stability and safety of the relationship. Within 6 months from the date of the separation, an Annual Review on the foster carer must have been completed. As a consequence, the Foster Carers approved status and changed circumstances need to be referred to the Fostering Panel. About Foster Care • Foster carers are child care experts working alongside a team of professionals providing children with the highest standard of foster care. Careful consideration should also be given as to whether either, or both, of the Foster Carers should be invited to attend this meeting. It must be stressed that foster carers have to keep separate records for individual children. The foster carers were entitled to paid annual leave, which could be taken with or without any children who happened to be in their care at the time. ... Foster care is seen as a separate process to adoption. The report should contain the following information: (It is not expected that this report will be more than a side of A4). Jane Wright, chair, Foster Care Workers Branch of the IWGB says: “During a time of crisis, those caring for the most vulnerable must be treated with respect. Once a child's placement has ended, foster carers must ensure that any information relating to … Foster carers, like other childcare workers, can find themselves facing allegations about the quality of their care. Focus groups (n=23) Four focus groups were held in four English counties in urban and rural areas. Guidance for Supervising Social Workers when Foster Carers Separate When approved foster carers who are a couple and registered as such separate it must be considered a ‘significant change’ and as a consequence of this, a report on the foster carers’ approval and circumstances needs to be presented to the Fostering Panel. There were two elements: an online survey of foster carers followed by focus groups. This will inform the development of future foster carer training plans. It is not necessarily anticipated that a full reassessment of the remaining carer as a single carer needs to be undertaken. This means that when you say goodbye to a foster … When foster carers separate it needs to be considered as a “significant event.” As a consequence, the Foster Carers approved status and changed circumstances need to be referred to the Fostering Panel. Separate chapters look at good practice principles when reviewing foster carers’ health, and achieving the Training, Support and Development Standards. The carer who has moved out of the home should be encouraged to offer their resignation unless they wish to be assessed as a foster carer in their own right. Similarly, the sharing of bedrooms, upon friends/family visiting the foster household, should be subject to a separate risk assessment. Local authorities insist that each child has his or her own space but when it comes to siblings, they accept that siblings up to the age of 10, or thereabouts, may share a bedroom. It should be acknowledged that the Foster Carers will themselves probably be unclear and uncertain about the future and the need for the fostering service to be sensitive to the needs of all members of the household is essential. It would generally be anticipated that any children in placement would be found alternative placements and the carer’s status placed on hold until such time as their relationship issues are finally resolved. Some agencies pay their foster carers a retainer which is a weekly allowance before a planned placement is made. There are reasons why keeping sibling groups together is difficult. When foster carers separate it needs to be considered as a “significant event.” As a consequence, the Foster Carers approved status and changed circumstances need to be referred to the Fostering Panel. The report should also address the issue of the remaining carers approved status, with a clear recommendation with regard to any change of their approved status that might be appropriate. However, an analysis of the situation should be provided for the review by the Supervising Social Worker and include consideration of the following matters, alongside those detailed above: However, in the event that a new partner is to join the fostering household, a full reassessment of the new arrangements must be undertaken. My ex-husband never wanted to have more kids or foster (we have one between us). Allegations against foster carers. Foster carers who felt empowered and confident in their role as part of a wider ... For further information about our methodology, please see the separate Appendix. If you want to read about them in more depth, (and some people like to!) 3.5: Arrangements that involve sharing a bedroom in holiday circumstances should be subject to a separate risk assessment. It may be useful to hold a professionals meeting or placement stability meeting to look at the support to the placement and children during this time. Their attendance should not be considered essential, although clearly their views and future plans must be taken in to account to ensure the best interests of any child in placement are maintained. Details of the couple - name address and dates of birth; The length of service previously offered; The quality of care they have previously provided; Consideration as to how they have coped since the breakdown of their previous relationship. Their ability to meet Fostering Standards and the National Minimum Standards schedule their work accordingly anticipated that full! 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