Terms of approval, reviews, and resignation

Once a foster carer is approved, they must be notified in writing of this fact and of any terms of approval. Terms may specify, for instance, that they may foster only a specific named child or children, or may identify a maximum number of foster children who can live with them at one time. Terms may also include factors such as short-term or long-term fostering arrangements, short break care, or inclusion in a particular fostering scheme.

Foster carers must also enter a foster care agreement, covering the matters in Schedule 5 to the Regulations (regulation 2 and standard 14).

Alternatively, a revision may be proposed as part of a formal review process which will ascertain the views of the foster carer. This may be presented at Foster Panel with any reports, minutes and recommendations passed to the Agency Decision Maker (ADM). The ADM will write to the foster carer(s) with details of any proposed decision regarding changes of their terms of approval. They will have 28 days from the date of the letter to request a review of the decision if they disagree, either from their fostering service or by using the Independent Review Mechanism (IRM).