Review and Termination of Approval of Foster Carers
Related guidance
Amendment
In June 2025, this chapter was updated.
Formal reviews of foster carers will take place at least annually and will assess foster carers skills and abilities utilising the Fostering Services: National minimum standards (Department for Education 2011).
Reviews will take place more frequently in the event of a significant change in circumstances of a foster carer for example where there are concerns about the care provided by the foster carer as a result of a complaint or allegation.
As well as formal reviews, there will be regular dialogue and feedback between the fostering worker and the foster carer.
Responsibilities of the Link Supervising Social Worker (SSW):
Begin panel process 12 weeks prior to the Panel review:
- Request reports from social workers of children/young people placed with the carers since the last review,
- Request a written report from the foster carer utilising the Foster carer views proforma.
- Request the views of all cared for children utilising an age and developmentally appropriate Rochdale fostering service children's views proforma;
- Speak to and request a written report from all members of the fostering household including adult/birth children, in preparation for a review.
- Inform panel administrator or reviewing manager of panel review date.
8 weeks prior to the Panel review submission date:
- If social worker reports are not received by 6 weeks before panel paperwork submission dates, the Supervising Social Worker should send a written reminder, including a copy to the fostering practice manager and social worker's team manager.
6 weeks prior to the Panel review submission date:
- Complete the Fostering review report and reassign the document to the SSW's Fostering Practice Manager for approval and counter signature.
This should be accompanied by:
- Personal Development Plan;
- Health & Safety Plan;
- Pet Questionnaire;
- Safer Care Plan *one for each child placed;
- Fire Safety plan;
- Foster carer feedback sheet;
- Children's Social Worker feedback;
- Cared 4 Child feedback;
- Education feedback;
- Independent Reviewing Officer feedback.
Also where applicable;
- Smoking Questionnaire;
- Holiday home Risk assessment;
- Birth child feedback;
- Staying Put young person feedback;
- Family time worker feedback.
Ensure carers receive timely copies of SSW's Review Report, social worker reports, all professional feedback and/or details of verbal reports when available:
Enable sufficient time for carers to consider the reports, offer their consideration and comments and add their signature, this could be in paper form or via the electronic delegation portal.
Should they wish, the foster carer can provide further written comments once they have read the review documentation bundle, in addition to the foster carer comments sheet which is completed prior to foster carers reading the review report. All feedback and comments provided by foster carers must be shared with the Fostering Panel prior to their review.
Submit all review papers to panel administrator by the required submission date.
(N.B. originals must be scanned by the SSW on to the carer's ICS file)
A Fostering Review report must be presented to the Fostering Main Panel on the foster carer's first review for a recommendation, this panel will consist of a panel chair, panel advisor and a minimum of four panel members.
Thereafter, Fostering Review reports will be presented to an annual review panel, consisting of a panel chair, panel advisor and one panel member.
With the exception of reviews following concerns or allegations and every fourth review which will be presented to the main Fostering Panel, this panel will consist of a panel chair, panel advisor and a minimum of four panel members.
Foster carers are invited to and expected to attend their annual review.
In relation to reviews following allegations, foster carers attending panel may be accompanied by a friend or supporter, such as a fostering independent worker appointed by Foster Talk Allegations Support Team (AST, formerly known as FISS) which is independently funded by the fostering service Foster Legal Services | Foster Care Allegations | FosterTalk.
The review report, supporting documents, fostering panel minutes including panel's recommendation will then be presented to the Agency Decision Maker for a decision as to whether the foster carer remains suitable to foster and whether the terms of approval remain accurate.
Agency Decision Maker may not always agree with the recommendations made by the fostering panel.
Where the Review recommends the termination of approval of the foster carer, see Section 6.1, Proposal to Terminate Foster Carer’s Approval.
Where the Fostering Panel's recommendation is for a different category of approval, see Section 6.2, Proposal to Revise the Terms of the Foster Carer’s Approval.
Where the foster carer has decided to give up fostering, see Section 8, Resignation by Foster Carers.
The foster carer will be informed in writing by the fostering service of the outcome of the fostering review process and Agency Decision Maker decision.
A copy of the Review Form, fostering panel minutes and agency decision maker's outcome of the review will be retained on the foster carer's LCS case record.
Where, as a result of a review, the variation or termination of a foster carer's approval is proposed, written notice of the proposal and the reasons must be sent to the foster carer within 7 days of the decision and he or she must be advised that if they wish to challenge the decision, they have the opportunity to make representations to the Agency Decision Maker or to request a review by an Independent Review Panel under the Independent Review Mechanism as set out in the Assessment and Approvals of Foster Carers Procedure, Representations / Independent Review Procedure. Notification/representations/ will need to be received by the Agency Decision Maker within 28 days of the date of the notice of the decision being sent to them. The matter will be referred to the fostering panel, and the Panel Administrator will then notify the foster carer within 7 working days of the date when the Panel will reconsider the matter.
The foster carer will not have the right to request a review by an Independent Review Panel is if he or she is regarded as disqualified as a result of a conviction or caution for a specified offence - see Persons Disqualified from Fostering Procedure.
If no written representations or notification of a request for a review are received within the period, a final decision to terminate an approval can be made.
If written representations are received within the period, the matter must be referred to the Fostering Panel for further consideration. Foster carers wishing to make representations in person to the Panel may be accompanied by a friend or supporter. Where a foster carer wishes to make representations in person, the Panel Chair may consider the Panel meeting as a smaller quorate sub-group.
The Panel will make a new recommendation in relation to the foster carer and a final decision will be made by the Agency Decision Maker taking into account any fresh recommendation made by the Panel.
Written notice of the final decision, together with reasons, must then be sent to the foster carer within 7 working days of the decision.
Where the termination of the approval of a foster carer is being considered, plans for the termination of any current placement will also be required and made as appropriate.
Where the approval is terminated, the Agency Decision Maker, in consultation with the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) or nominated person will decide whether to refer will decide whether to refer the former foster carer to the Disclosure and Barring Service for inclusion of the carer's name on the Children's Barred List.
6.2.1 Where the Foster Carer is in Agreement
Where, as a result of a review, the it is proposed to revise the terms of the foster carer’s approval, a statement must be sent to the foster carer setting out whether it is considered that the foster carer or members of their household (including any children placed there) may have additional support needs as a result of the proposed revision and, if so, how those needs will be met, and request the foster carer’s agreement in writing to the proposed revision of terms.
Where the foster carer’s written agreement is received, the decision to revise the terms of approval may be made immediately.
The Agency Decision Maker’s decision in such circumstances is not a Qualifying Determination and the foster carer may not apply for an independent review of the decision by way of the Independent Review Mechanism.
Foster carers must not be pressured to accept changes to their terms of approval.
6.2.2 Where the Foster Carer is not in Agreement
Where the foster carer does not agree in writing to the revision of their terms of approval, then the representations/review procedure as set out in Section 6.1, Proposal to terminate foster carer’s approval above will apply.
Disclosure and Barring Service checks should be updated every 3 years (unless the foster carers have subscribed to the Disclosure and Barring Service Update Service) and if necessary, a review of the foster carer's approval should be carried out immediately to take account of any new information.
Before a carer's annual review can take place, the Supervising Social Worker (SSW) must ensure that all of the relevant statutory checks, including DBS's are no older than 3 years. If a carer's checks are due for renewal the SSW must ensure that new consent to disclosure forms and DBS forms are completed and submitted. To avoid delay, the DBS check renewal process should commence at a minimum of 6 months before the DBS expiry date. Any household member over 18 must also have a relevant DBS check.
See Persons Disqualified from Fostering Procedure.
Whilst there is no statutory time interval, as good practice medical information should also be updated at least every 10 years by writing to the foster carer's GP. In the event of any serious concerns about the foster carers health, a review of the foster carers approval should be carried out immediately. Foster carers have a responsibility to update the fostering service in respect of any changes to their health, any new health information should be shared by foster carers in a timely manner.
A foster carer may give written notice at any time of their wish to resign from the role. Once written notice has been given, their approval will automatically be terminated 28 days after receipt of the notice. The foster carer cannot withdraw their notice once it has been received, nor can the Agency Decision Maker decline to accept the resignation. Should a foster carer who has resigned subsequently wish to foster again, they will need to be assessed under the procedure for Assessment and Approvals of Foster Carers. There is no requirement for the fostering panel to be notified of resignations. However the panel may find it helpful to be advised, as part of its monitoring role.
Last Updated: June 25, 2025
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