Cautions/Convictions/Reprimands & Warnings

DBS Risk Assessment – Prospective foster carers, approved foster carers and

family members aged 18 plus

Who requires risk assessment?

This proforma will be completed for:

  • All fostering applicants/approved carers – including adult members (18 plus) of the fostering household, where a criminal record is disclosed, or comes to light, arising from the receipt of a DBS disclosure check.
  • Any individual within the groups above, in respect of whom, post-approval/appointment, new information is received about a criminal charge, caution or conviction following earlier DBS disclosure and/or risk assessment (where this occurs then the routine renewal of the DBScheck must also be brought forward).

Wherever possible, risk assessments will be conducted by the assessing fostering officer/form f assessor before being presented to the relevant fostering manager.

Purpose of risk assessment

The overall purpose of the risk assessment is to address the question: ‘on the basis of what we know of the individual’s history, is it reasonable and defensible to consider, on the balance of probabilities, that he/she will not present a significant risk to the welfare and safety of children/young people if they are approved/continue to be appointed/approved as foster carers.

This is an assessment of risk based on the nature and pattern of offending, the honesty and integrity of the individual and evidence of acceptable behaviour/learning since offending. If, on conclusion of the risk assessment process, using the parameters given, significant doubt exists that the individual’s historyposes a risk to the welfare or safety of children/young people then an application to foster must be declined. For post-approval the risk assessment must be presented to the relevant Team Manager

Principles

  • Risk assessment will reflect individual circumstances relevant to the role i.e. prospective/current foster carer/job or member of the fostering household.
  • Where a ‘Specified Offence’ or listing on the ISA ‘Barred’ list – from 12.10.09(England, Wales, Northern Ireland), is disclosed, then the individual may not be approved/appointed/continue to be approved as a foster carer or member of a fostering household.Where children are placed in Kinship care placements this policy should be used as best practice.
  • Each risk assessment must involve face to face discussion between assessor/s and applicant. Each conviction, caution and any relevant incident-related information must be addressed with the individual and recorded on the proforma in the risk assessment process.
  • It is important that a direct interviewing approach is taken i.e. do not ‘beat about the bush’ or avoid confronting inconsistency, or sensitive matters that may be relevant to the assessment.
  • Allcompleted risk assessmentsmust be read and determined by the relevant Team Manager, who must briefly summarise the reasons for their decision on the proforma before signing it off.
  • Where available, opportunities to validate applicant’s accounts should be utilised e.g. reference to CV, another professional, other documentary evidence (this is particularly relevant for job applicants where a DBS disclosure check is not required).
  • Assessment of the individual’s integrity is central to the process – if there is any discrepancy between his/heraccount and the Disclosure information received this must be explored thoroughly with the individual and considered in the decision making process.Where information is considered to have been withheld deliberately by an individual then consideration should be given as to termination of their assessment/appointment. In respect of current foster carers, where they have not disclosed post-approval offending which has come to light this may initiate an early Foster Carer Review as it is a breach of the Foster Care Agreement and is to betreated as a ‘serious concern’.
  • Outcomes of risk assessments will be shared verbally with the relevant individuals, but only afterreflection by the risk assessor and determination by the decision maker i.e. not at the face to face assessment interview with the individual concerned.
  • The risk assessment must be recorded (proforma) and placed on the relevant applicant/carer file. It may notbe shared with an external person/body without explicit written consent of the applicant/carer, unless, exceptionally, upon the authority of the relevant senior manager in response to a request or direction from a court, the statutory regulator, or a reasonable request from a local authority conducting a related safeguarding investigation.

Completed risk assessments of prospective foster carers/household members, and any fresh risk assessment undertaken post-approval for a review which is to be referred to Panel, must be included with the relevant Panel papers for Panel to consider.

Assessment Tool and Guidance

Disclosure information received must be risk assessed against:

  • Nature, pattern, and seriousness of offences
  • Court disposale.g. Crown or Magistrates
  • Relevance to the role i.e. carer or household member, job holder
  • Length of time since offence(s)
  • Single offence/history of offending
  • Age(s) at time of offence(s)
  • Full disclosure of offence(s) or not by applicant/job holder, or, if post approval/appointment, at the time of the offence
  • Potential impact of offence(s) on the fostering role/childcare post
  • Mitigating representations offered by the individual

It is recommended that each offence is considered by the assessors using the following acronym:

S – Settings i.e. context

T – Triggers i.e. antecedents

A – Action – what the behaviour/offence actually involved

R – Response i.e. behaviour/conduct since offence(s); perpetrators view of offence

In respect of a history of offence(s) of physical violence, the following assessment tool may be useful:

Mitigating / Continuum / Aggravating
Minor or No Injury / Injury / Incapacity orDisability
Spontaneous / Planning / Premeditated
No Weapon/Slap / Weapon / Knife/Firearm
Single Blow / Duration of Attack / Sustained
Similar Age/Size/Gender / Vulnerability of Victim / Younger/ Smaller Victim/Disadvantaged
Severe Provocation/ Threat to Self / Provocation / No Provocation

Version 2 – November 2013

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Cautions/Convictions/Reprimands & Warnings

DBS Risk Assessment – Prospective foster carers, approved foster carers and

family members aged 18 plus

Risk Assessment – Offending History

Individual’s Details: Name………………………………….
DOB: ………………
Address:
DBS Certificate Number/ Date…………………………………………..
(where applicable)
Date of this Assessment: ………………..
Conducted by:
Name, Assessor:…………………………
Designation: …………………………
1. Will the Individual’s role involve likely unsupervised contact with children? YES/NO (insert any relevant qualifying comments)
2. Has the information (convictions/cautions/other offending history) been openly disclosed by the Individual. YES/NO (if no briefly describe how received and indicate any particular discrepancies and reasons/explanations given and/or sensitivity e.g. is partner aware? and state your view as to whether deliberately with held or not).
3. Explanation provided by Individual (include individual’s description ofevery offence/caution/other, refer to the S.T.A.R. matrix for offences of violence; and if either violence or custodial sentence (s.)
4. Has it been possible to independently validate the applicants disclosure in any way (e.g. DBS,Other reference, CV etc). YES/NO (if yes, explain)
5. Evidence of any relevant subsequent change of applicant behaviour/attitude (e.g. length of offending free employment/care provision, stated current attitude, known behaviour etc).
6. Assessment - comments on your assessment and specify your recommendation, regarding approval/continued suitability in post, utilising the risk assessment guidance. Consider any additional or ‘soft’ information received. Advise the applicant that you will advise them of the decision as soon as possible)
Assessment/Decision by relevant Team Manager.
Assessment Positives:……………………………………………………………
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Assessment Contraindications:…………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………..
………………………………………………………………………………………..
………………………………………………………………………………………..
………………………………………………………………………………………..
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Reasons for decision:……………………………………………………………..
…………………………………………………………………………………………
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………………………………………………………………………………………..
………………………………………………………………………………………….
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Continue with assessment/reapproval/appointment process YES/NO
Signature:………………………………Designation:………………………………….
Date:
Any conditions: …………………………………………………………………………..
……………………………………………………………………………………………….
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
Date Applicant Informed: * …………………………….
Date this document filed: * ………………………

Version 2 – November 2013

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