CONTENTS
- Introduction
- Background
- Legal Context
- Development of Standards
- Relationship with UK National Standards for Foster Care
- Standards for Kinship Foster Carersin Northern
Ireland
- Consultation Response Framework
Copies of the Draft Standards can be accessed on the DHSSPSNI website:
1. Introduction
Under Care Matters in Northern Ireland – A Bridge to a Better Futureat Chapter 4.10 it states:-
“Children and young people have indicated that where they can no longer live with their parents their preferred option is to be cared for by other family members or close friends. The evidence suggests that this is not considered as a first option often enough and yet it also indicates that such placements with family and friends give children greater stability than other care placements. We also know that potential family or friend’s carers are deterred from coming forward by the process of seeking approval as a foster carer and their perception of the bureaucracy associated with becoming a carer. We want to offer more support to these ‘kinship’ foster care arrangements and where possible make these more flexible and sustainable.”
This document sets out minimum standards for Kinship Foster Carers in Northern Ireland. “Kinship” includes relatives and friends. The standards specify the arrangements, services, support and procedures that need to be in place to ensure the unique needs of kinship foster carers and of the children they foster are met.
These draft standards were informed by detailed research on Kinship Care throughout UK and Republic of Ireland as well as consultation with a wide range of stakeholders from Trusts, QUB, Voluntary Organisations, and DHSSPSNI under the auspices of Fostering Network who have taken lead on this project.
2. Background
The emphasis of these standards is on achieving:
- That the child/young person’s welfare and safety and needs will be at the centre of the fostering process
- A regional approach to service provision;
- Availability of consistent and shared standards of service delivery;
- Equity of service provision for all young people and carers; and
A further driver for the development of these standards is the requirement on HSC Trusts to ensure compliance with clinical and social care governance arrangements.
3. Legal Context
The development of The Health and Personal Social Services (Quality Improvement and Regulation) (Northern Ireland) Order 2003 established the Regulation and Quality, Improvement Authority. This independent body has the responsibility for and power to regulate agencies and establishments within the HSC Trusts and the independent sector. Article 38 of the Order confers powers on the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to prepare, publish and review statements of minimum standards applicable to all services including Leaving and Aftercare Services.
HSC Trusts should continue to ensure that they remain compliant with the Looked After Arrangements as laid out in the Children (NI) Order 1995 to review and safeguard young people and in line with theChildren Order Policies and Procedures for Looked After Children, Volume 2 (1998) HSC Trusts should also take due cognisance of the United Nations Convention on theRights of the Child.
These standards need to be considered alongside relevant legislation, policy and procedures including, for example, Vulnerable Adults Policy and Procedures, Looked After Children and Safeguarding policy and procedures.
4. Development of Standards
The standards applicable to kinship foster carers have long been a source of debate. Whilst interpretation of guidance has been that the same standards should be applied as to stranger foster carers this has in practice proven to be unrealistic. The Code of Practice on the Recruitment, Assessment, Approval, Training, Management and Support of Foster Carers states in 3.64 - “The same standards as for other carers should therefore be applied in relation to the ‘safety’ competencies though some discretion may be made on other specified criteria.”
One action identified in Care Matters in Northern Ireland – A Bridge to a Better Future published in 2007, endorsed by NI Executive in November 2009,points to the need for the “introduction of separate approval processes and standards for kinship foster carers reflecting the value of the close bond children may already enjoy with kinship carers, whilst retaining the key safeguarding elements of the approval process such as vetting.”
Standards 1-3 deal with the identification and assessment of carers at different points in the process. Standards 4 -13 will apply only to those who go on to be assessed and approved as kinship foster carers for a looked after child.
Standards are need in recognition of the unique position of children placed with kinship foster carers. These standards are based on the premise that existing guidance and legislation may have to be changed.
5. Relationship withUKNational Standards for Foster Care
The UK National Standards for Foster Care, produced in 1999, along with the Code of Practice on the recruitment, assessment, approval, training, management and support of foster carers, continue to be applicable to fostering services.
Those standards are more far-reachingand child centred – in the sense that they cover all aspectsof the life of the foster child, not only the services provided by the fostering services. They represent best practice and as such should be fully complied with by fostering service providers.
The kinship standards are in recognition of the unique position of children placed with kinship foster carers and are there to enhance the general standards already in place.
6. Standards for Kinship Foster Carersin Northern
Ireland
The standards below are set out as follows:
Standard 1: Identification of Kinship Foster Carers
Standard 2: InitialAssessment of Kinship Foster Carers
Standard 3: Full Assessment of Kinship Foster Carers
Standard 4: Foster Panel
Standard 5: Kinship Foster Care Agreement
Standard 6: Training and Support for Kinship Foster Carers
Standard 7: Monitoring and Review of Kinship Foster Carers
Standard 8: Safe Environment
Standard 9: Kinship Foster Carers Allowances
Standard 10: Health Care and Development
Standard 11: Education and Training
Standard 12: Preparation for Adult Life
Standard 13: User Involvement
Identification of Kinship Foster Carers
Standard 1:
Where substitute care is required or anticipated for a child or young person the HSC Trust has a system in place to facilitate the identification of kinship foster carers capable of meeting her/his assessed needs, in accordance with their duty under the Children(Northern Ireland) Order 1995, Article 27(2) unless this is impracticable or inconsistent with the child’s welfare.
1.1There is a regional policy to promote family and friends as foster carers and maintain the child or young person in a familiar setting. Family and friends should be identified and approached at an early stage.
1.2Identification of family and friends can be achieved in a number of ways:
- Family members may offer themselves to Social Services to care for the child.
- The Social Worker may be already aware of potential family / friends from their contact with the child/ family.
- A Family Group Conference can be held.
1.3A Family Group Conference should always be considered when a child/ young person require to be accommodated by a Trust in order to explore potential within the extended family / friend network to provide a kinship placement.
1.4A person with Parental Responsibility consents to referral for an FGC and to the sharing of relevant information. If a parent is unwilling to proceed and the Trust has PR (under a Court Order) and it is deemed to be in the child’s best interest to do so, the Trust can consent to FGC progressing. Legal advice may be sought in such instances. As the ethos of the FGC model is partnership and empowerment, every effort will be made to engage the parent in the process.
1.5FGC is an inclusive process, should a parent or potential participant be unable to attend the FGC, their views can be sought and presented on their behalf by the FGC co-ordinator.
1.6Even when a potential kinship placement is identified, a FGC can be utilised to consider:
- The potential carers best placed to meet the child’s needs when more than one family member makes themselves available.
- Support for those carers and the child from within the family/ friends network
- Ongoing contact arrangements for the child with parents, siblings, other extended family members and friends.
- Ensuring stability in a kinship placement should difficulties present in the future.
1.7 The Plan which is produced by a family at an FGC should be agreed and resourced by the referring agency provided it adequately addresses the concerns identified and will safeguard the child/young person and should be considered as a supportive document to the Kinship assessment process.
Initial Assessment of Kinship Foster carers
Standard 2:
Initial assessments of kinship carers take into account the kinship relationship and establish that they have the qualities and aptitudes to meet the assessed needs of the child as per the UNOCINI assessment.
2.1There is an agreed written policy and procedures on the areas to be covered in an initial assessment.
2.2 Where a placement is required in an emergency, the child’s social worker should complete a CLA 7 assessment within two weeks and there should be a joint viability visit by the kinship social worker during this time. This visit will be an opportunity to explain the full process to the kinship carer, assess any support that may be required immediately and begin to assess whether there are any obvious reasons why they may not be able to care for the child/ young person.
2.3If the placement is to continue beyond two weeks an initial assessment, CLA 9, should be carried out jointly by the kinship social worker and the child’s/young person’s social worker.
2.4 A medical reference is obtained on each applicant and appropriate Access NI and Trust checks carried out. Applicants should be asked to supply the names and addresses of two personal referees to be taken up if there is a need for full assessment. Prospective kinship carers sometimes have difficulty identifying suitable referees. Every assistance should be given to them in doing so but if this still proves impossible the fostering panel will have to make a decision as to whether or not enough information can be gathered by other means to allow a decision to be made as to their suitability.
2.5The initial assessment includes an evaluation of the accommodation and outdoor space to confirm it is comfortable, clean and safe, and where necessary that adaptations are carried out and equipment provided to facilitate placement of child/young person with a disability. Safety equipment should also be provided where necessary for young children.
2.6The normal requirements for foster carers are that a child over the age of 18 months should not sleep in the same bedroom as an adult. It may however be appropriate to be more flexible for family and friends carers, but as a minimum each child should have their own bed or cot, and any room sharing should be appropriate to the age and gender of those concerned. If the arrangement includes the foster child sharing a bedroom with any person, a risk assessment must be completed. The child must be consulted about any anticipated arrangements being put in place.
2.7 Records are kept of all documentation relating to the assessment procedure.
2.8 Prospective Kinship Carers are given a full copy of the completed initial assessment report and informed of any future accommodation inspection.
Full assessment of Kinship Foster carers
Standard 3:
Assessments of kinship foster carers establish that they have the qualities, skills or aptitudes for fostering which meet the assessed needs of the child as per the UNOCINI assessment and take into account the kinship relationship.
3.1There areagreed written regional policy and procedures on the areas to be covered in a full assessment. This will build on the initial assessment and enquiries.
3.2The full assessment should commence when the recommendation is made that the child should be looked after as defined in Article 25 (1) of the Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995.
3.3A range of verified employment, health and personal references, are obtained on the suitability of each applicant and appropriate Access NI, Trust and current or previous employer (where applicable) checks carried out.
3.4The assessment includes an evaluation of the accommodation and outdoor space to confirm it is comfortable, clean and safe, and where necessary that adaptations are carried out and equipment provided to facilitate placement of persons with a disability. Safety equipment should also be provided where necessary for young children.
3.5Children placed must have their own bed and their own room would be desirable.
3.6Records are kept of all documentation relating to the assessment procedure.
3.7Prospective Kinship Foster Carers are given a copy of the completed assessment report prior to approval and should be allowed an opportunity to comment on it.
3.8The fostering agency has a policy which promotes the development of kinship foster carers by providing support, training and services.
Foster Panel
Standard 4:
Kinship Foster Carers are approved to provide placement by a Foster Panel that is properly constituted.
4.1There are agreed written regional policies and procedures that detail the operations and functions of the foster panel including maximum participation of kinship carers.
4.2Panel members receive training on the specific nature and requirements of kinship care
4.3There are requirements about the suitability of foster panel members, including relevant checks. No panel members are appointed until all checks have been satisfactorily completed.
4.4Prospective Kinship carers are offered the opportunity to attend the part of the Foster Panelmeeting, when their application is being considered.
4.5The responsibilities and functions of the Foster Panel are clearly stated in writing and a copy of these is provided to applicants coming forward for approval. Foster Panels are responsible for:
- The approval of all prospective kinship Foster Carers
- The decision as to whether an approved kinship Foster Carer can continue to be approved following a major change in circumstance or a serious complaint against them.
4.6Foster panels have access to medical expertise and legal advice as required.
4.7Foster panels receive information about the outcome of kinship foster carers’ annual review to ensure training and support is adequate.
4.8One of the independent members is normally a person who has at some time been placed with kinship foster carers or a parent of such a person or an experienced kinship foster carer from another agency.
4.9There are clear decision-making mechanisms in place when it is evident that all members of the panel are not in full agreement.
4.10Foster panels provide a quality assurance function in relation to the assessment process – in particular
- to monitor and review the work of the assessors;
- to provide feedback; to identify problems;
- to ensure that there is consistency of approach in assessment across the agency, that is fair to all applicants and that it has been completed according to the policy on the assessment of kinship carers.
KinshipFoster Care Agreement
Standard 5:
Each kinship foster carer has an individual written Foster Care Agreement.
5.1Each Placement has an individual written agreement which is signed and dated by the approved kinship foster carer(s) and by the registered manager of the agency prior to a child/young person being placed or as soon as possible thereafter.
5.2 The written agreement identifies: -
- The terms and conditions of acting as a kinship foster carer which includes policies, procedures, guidance, legal information and insurance details.
- Arrangements for looking after money and valuables belonging to the child/ young person placed.
- The financial arrangements and procedure for paying any agreed costs incurred.
- Support available to the kinship carerincluding details of his/her specific social worker and the arrangements for allowing access to other professional advice to help them to carry out their day to day tasks.
- The arrangements for regularly monitoring and reviewing the agreement and the circumstances when the agreement can be reviewed outside these arrangements.
- The period of notice (if any) for terminating the agreement.
- A copy of the signed agreement is given to the kinship foster carer and a copy is held in the agency.
Kinship Foster Carers’ Allowances
Standard 6:
The fostering agency provides the kinship foster carers with the full fostering allowance and agreed expenses, for each child or young person placed with him or her.
6.1.There is an agreed written regional policy on fostering allowances. This and the current allowance levels are well publicised and provided annually to each carer.
6.2.The kinship foster carer receives clear information about the allowances and expenses payable and how to access them before a child/young person is placed with them.
6.3.Kinship Foster carers are provided with advance notice of any change to allowances or fees
6.4.Kinship Foster carers are provided with details of support provided to those with young people remaining after 18 years.
6.5.Payments are made promptly and at the agreed time.
6.6.Allowances and fees are reviewed annually and raised in line with current inflation amounts.
6.7.The Placement Agreement identifies where financial responsibility lies for all school costs, including school uniform, school trips and school equipment.
6.8.The fostering agency considers the adaptations required to the kinship foster carers’ home or vehicle to accommodate the needs of a child, or group of children.
6.9.Financial support is provided to the kinship foster carer for transport or other costs involved in ensuring contact with natural family and significant others takes place at the agreed frequency and in a suitable place.
6.10.The fostering agency promotes and finances kinship carer support groups.
Training and Support for Kinship Foster Carers
Standard 7:
The fostering agency ensures that kinship foster carers are offered training in the skills required to provide high quality care and meet the needs of each child or young person placed in their care.