Below is a brief summary of UK regulations.
National Fostering Regulations
Fostering in the UK is overseen by legislation and fostering regulations, including statutory guidance. The controls are in place to provide the legal and statutory framework for fostering organisations.
Agencies have to make sure that all the controls and best practice guidelines are followed, making sure that they are central to the agency’s policies, procedures, and practices.
National Fostering Legislation
The legislator in England is Parliament – Department for Education.
- Children Act 1989
- Children Act 2004
- Fostering Services Regulations 2011
- Care Standards Act 2000
- The National Minimum Standards (NMS), the inspection and conditions for registration of a fostering organisation.
Fostering Regulations for England
- Children Act 1989 is the main legislation relating to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.
- The Children Act 2004, triggering Every Child Matters Agenda and the Five Outcomes.
- The Fostering Services (England) Regulations 2011, the regulations for all Fostering Services.
- Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England) Regulations 2010, the monitoring, planning and reviews of children’s placements.
- Care Leavers (England) Regulations 2010, the circumstances and arrangements for leaving care.
- National Minimum Standards (NMS), a best practice guidance, providing the minimum standards expected of fostering agencies.
Every Child Matters is a UK government initiative. The Five Outcomes are aims for every child and they are ingrained with each other.
Outcomes:
- Being healthy
- Staying safe
- Enjoying and achieving
- Making a positive contribution
- Achieving economic wellbeing
Legal Position Of Children In Foster Care
The Local Authority where the child’s birth family live when they have been taken into foster care, is responsible for the children and young people. The main legal responsibility stays with that Local Authority whether or not they are placed in local authority or an independent fostering agency.
Other posts…
How does foster care work?
Foster carers offer children and young people a safe, secure and caring family environment on either…
Why foster care is important?
Fostering is one of the most varied, challenging and yet rewarding jobs you can do. The numbers of f…
Top Questions You Will Want to Ask Potential Foster Parents
At People Who Foster we thoroughly assess everyone wanting to become a foster carer. Our foster care…
Why choose People Who Foster?
Read below to hear what our foster carers say in their own words. “The agency have a good matc…
Things I Wish I’d Known Before Becoming a Foster Carer
Here’s some advice and top tips from the experience of our carers. “It is important to understanding…
Top fostering agencies – what do they look like?
OFTSED have highlighted that the best Independent Fostering Agencies (IFA) know what the commissione…
Reach out…
Become A Foster Carer
Come and join us – we are a family run company who pride ourselves in placing the needs of children at the heart of what we do. If you are enthusiastic, caring and have time to spare, then get in touch with us today.