Foster carer reviews : process, practicalities and best practice

Reviews of foster carers have a key role in evaluating foster care practice and offering the opportunity for improving the quality of foster care provided. They are governed by regulations and require an assessment of whether or not a foster carer and their household remain suitable to care for foster children and if their terms for approval are still appropriate. There is surprisingly little published about foster carer reviews, other than that which is within regulations, standards, guidance and codes of practice. This pioneering and informative guide sets out the process and practicalities and makes recommendations for good practice. It includes: • An outline of the current legal and policy frameworks for reviews within the four nations of the UK; • An understanding of the legal mandate for foster carer reviews; • Learning from the recommendations and findings arising from inquiry reports and serious case reviews involving foster carers; • Social work knowledge underpinning the assessment and review processes; • How to set up reviews and organise their administration; • Information gathering for reviews including who might be approached to provide evidence; • The review meeting itself and foster carers’ reviews’ relationship to fostering panels. This guide will be an invaluable contribution towards establishing good, evidence-based practice in conducting foster carer reviews.