Social Services Involvement
- Why do Children and Young People's Services have to be involved?
- What happens next?
- If the placement is agreed
- If the placement is not agreed
- What if the placement ends?
Why do Children and Young People's Services have to be involved?
The Children Act 1989 and Section 44 of the Children Act 2004 say that Children and Young People's Services have a legal duty to make sure that the welfare of all privately fostered children is safeguarded and promoted.
We also provide advice and support to parents, private foster carers and the child who is fostered.
Children and Young People's Services has a legal duty to check that the placement, the private foster carers and their premises are all suitable. So once you have told us about the proposed private fostering arrangement, a social worker will arrange to visit both you and the child’s parents to discuss the plan.
The Social Worker will ask you to sign forms which allow them to take out statutory reference checks with the Police, Probation, Child Protection Register, Department of Health, Local Authority, G.P. and Health Authority. This is to make sure the child will be looked after by suitable people who will not harm him or her. Everyone living in the house who is over 16 years old will have to agree in writing to be checked in this way.
If you do not agree to this process we will not be able to check whether you are suitable to be a foster carer, and will have to consider you unsuitable.
A fee will be charged for the Police check. You may not have to pay this fee if you receive benefits.
You will also be asked to give the names and addresses of 2 people who have known you personally for over 2 years and who can give a reference about your suitability as a carer of children.
The Social Worker will write a report about you, the suitability of your home, the reasons and intended length of the placement, the involvement of birth parents in the arrangements and the child’s views about the placement.
Children and Young People's Services will then make a decision about your suitability to be a private foster carer.
You will get a letter telling you what the decision is. As part of the arrangement we might need to impose some requirements. For example, this could be about the number of children a private foster carer may have living with them.
You can appeal against these decisions if you disagree.
After the placement has been agreed, a Social Worker will regularly visit you and the child, and keep in touch with the parents, for as long as the placement lasts.
If the placement is not agreed
If our decision is that you are not considered to be suitable to privately foster a child you will be informed in writing. If you wish to appeal against this decision, you should do so within 14 days of being notified of the decision. First you should contact Children and Young People's Services to attempt to resolve the disagreement. If you cannot reach an agreement with the Department, you may appeal to the Family Proceedings Court within 14 days of the notification.
It is an offence to accept the placement of a child when the purpose is for adoption. In general, only an Adoption Agency can arrange such a placement.
- If the child leaves your care, you must inform Children and Young People's Services within 48 hours, giving the name and address of the person who has taken over the care of the child.
- If the child dies whilst living with you, you should notify Children and Young People's Services in writing within 48 hours.
