Other useful organisations
At Fosterline, we’re here to support you on your fostering journey, every step of the way. But there may be times where you, or a child or young person in your care, need more advice and support from a specialist organisation. The following organisations may be helpful.
Adoption and fostering organisations
First 4 Adoption
https://www.first4adoption.org.uk/
The Fostering Network
https://www.thefosteringnetwork.org.uk/
FosterTalk
https://fostertalk.org/
New Family Social (UK Network for LGBTQ+ adoptive and foster families) https://www.newfamilysocial.org.uk/
0203 880 2683
Advice and support for birth families
FFLAG (supporting families and LGBTQ+ loved ones)
https://www.fflag.org.uk/
0300 688 0368
Family Rights Group
https://frg.org.uk/
0808 801 0366
Kinship
https://kinship.org.uk/
Children's rights and advocacy services
The Children’s Commissioner for England
May take up issues on behalf of children and young people in care
0800 528 0731 Home - Help at Hand (childrenscommissioner.gov.uk)
Coram Children’s Legal Centre
provides legal advice for looked after children
https://lawstuff.org.uk/
https://lawstuff.org.uk/contact-us/
Become
https://becomecharity.org.uk/
0800 023 2033
National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS)
https://www.nyas.net/
0808 808 1001
Children's Rights Alliance For England (CRAE) (currently only taking on cases for children living in London)
Aims to protect children's rights in the UK and merged into organisation ‘Just for Kids Law’ in 2015 being a UK charity that works with and for children and young people to hold those with power to account and fight for wider reform by providing legal representation and advice, direct advocacy and support, and campaigning to ensure children and young people in the UK have their legal rights and entitlements respected and promoted and their voices heard and valued
020 3174 2279
[email protected]
Child law advice on Education for Education for looked after children
Education for looked after children - childlawadvice.org.uk
Advocacy Child law advice
Advocacy - childlawadvice.org.uk
Article 39 is a small, independent charity which fights for the rights of children living in state and privately-run institutions (boarding and residential schools, children’s homes, immigration detention, mental health inpatient units, prisons and supported accommodation) in England. Rights4Children to advocacy
Rights to advocacy – Article 39
If the Local Authority refused to allow your Advocate to attend any child protection meeting, you should raise these concerns with your Local Safeguarding Children Board or the Local Government Ombudsman
The government has issued guidance and regulations on advocacy:
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Children Act 1989 (legislation.gov.uk) gives the right to looked after children to make representations and complaints to the Local Authority regarding their care arrangements.
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Adoption and Children Act 2002 (legislation.gov.uk) which places a duty on Local Authorities to assist looked after children who want to make a complaint.
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The Children Act 1989 guidance and regulations Volume 2: care planning, placement and case review July 2021The Children Act 1989 guidance and regulations (publishing.service.gov.uk)
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The Advocacy Services and Representations Procedure (Children) (Amendment) Regulations 2004The Advocacy Services and Representations Procedure (Children) (Amendment) Regulations 2004 (legislation.gov.uk) to mean that the Local Authority must provide advocacy services to looked after children who wish to make a complaint about their care.
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IRO Handbook Statutory guidance for independent reviewing officers and local authorities on their functions in relation to case management and review for looked after children iro_statutory_guidance_iros_and_las_march_2010_tagged.pdf (publishing.service.gov.uk)
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Providing Effective Advocacy Services for Children and Young People Making a Complaint under the Children Act 1989 The Advocacy Services and Representations Procedure (Children) (Amendment) Regulations 2004 5414-DfES-AdvocacyServices txt (publishing.service.gov.uk) came into effect on 1st April 2004
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Government guidance Education advocacy see page 11 and documents on LAC Education https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a9015d4e5274a5e67567fbe/Promoting_the_education_of_looked-after_children_and_previously_looked-after_children.pdf
Financial and legal advice
Citizen’s Advice
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/
0800 144 8848
Turn to Us
https://www.turn2us.org.uk/
Government departments
Department for Education
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-education
Department for Work and Pensions
https://www.gov.uk/browse/benefits
HM Revenue & Customs
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/hm-revenue-customs
Self-Assessment: 0300 200 3310
Tax Credits: 0345 300 3900
Child Benefits: 0300 200 3100
Self-Employed Income Tax: 0300 200 3300
National Insurance Enquiries (Class 1,2, and 3): 0300 200 3500
National Insurance Enquiries (Class 4): 0300 200 3300
Ofsted
https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/
National organisations offering advice and support
British Dyslexia Association
https://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/
0333 405 4555
The National Autistic Society
https://www.autism.org.uk/
National Centre for Eating Disorders
https://eating-disorders.org.uk/
0845 838 2040
The Information Commissioners Office
https://ico.org.uk/
Food in Care
https://foodactive.org.uk/what-we-do/resources-and-training/food-in-care/
NSPCC
https://www.nspcc.org.uk/
0808 800 5000
LGBTQ+ Youth in Care
https://www.lgbtyouthincare.com/
Support for young people
Anti-Bullying Campaign
https://www.familylives.org.uk/advice/bullying
Childline
https://www.childline.org.uk/
0800 1111
Missing People’s Helpline
https://www.missingpeople.org.uk/
116 000
National Drugs Helpline
https://www.talktofrank.com/
0300 1236600
Samaritans
https://www.samaritans.org/
116123 or email [email protected]
Young Minds
https://www.youngminds.org.uk/
Parent’s Helpline: 0808 802 5544
Speech and Language UK
https://speechandlanguage.org.uk/
Care Advice Line
https://www.thecareadviceline.org/
Stone Wall Young Futures
https://www.stonewall.org.uk/young-futures
The Independent Review Mechanism (England)
IRM
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/independent-review-mechanism
0113 202 2080
Support for disabled children and young people
Resources National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS)
0808 808 1001
https://www.nyas.net/
Coram Voice advocacy service
0808 800 5792
https://coramvoice.org.uk/
Cerebra – Our Vision is that every family that includes a child with a brain condition will have the chance to discover a better life together.
https://cerebra.org.uk/
Council for Disabled Children UK
https:// councilfordisabledchildren.org.uk/
Children’s Commissioner for England – https://www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/
0800 528 0731 for Children in care 08088 020 008
Children’s rights Children and young people’s Legal Centre England
https://www.childrenslegalcentre.com/
Contact a family (for families with disabled children)
0808 808 3555
www.contact.org.uk
Disabled Facilities Grants
https://www.gov.uk/help-fordisabled-child/home-adaptations
https://www.gov.uk/ disabled-facilities-grants
Disability Law Service
020 7791 9800
Disability Rights
https://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/
Equality Act 2010: Information and guidance on the Equality Act 2010, including age discrimination and public sector
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/equality-act-2010-guidance
Information Advice and support services for special educational needs
www.kids.org.uk/sendiass
Shared Lives Shared Lives
https://sharedlivesplus.org.uk
UN Convention on the Rights of the Child www.unicef.org.uk/what-we-do/unconvention-child-rights/
Support for autistic children and young people
There are lots of resources available online offering advice on how to provide help and support to children and young people with autism.
National Autistic Society
www.autism.org.uk
Resources for Autism
www.resourcesforautism.org.uk
020 8458 3259
Child Autism UK
www.childautism.org.unhs
NHS autism support groups hub
www.nhs.uk/service-search/other-services/ Autism-support-groups/LocationSearch/310
Ambitious about Autism
For autistic children and young people, their parents and carers. 020 8815 5444
Website: www.ambitiousaboutautism.org.uk
Further support and guidance for SEND students
Children and Families Act 2014 (including definition of SEN) https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2014/6/part/3/enacted )
Equality Act 2014 (including definition of disability): https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/15/section/6
Information on Disability Discrimination in Education from Child Law Advice
https://childlawadvice.org.uk/information-pages/disability-discrimination-in-education/
A SEND Guide for Parents and Carers from the Department for Education:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/send-guide-for-parents-and-carers
SEND Code of Practice from the Department for Education:
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a7dcb85ed915d2ac884d995/SEND_Code_of_Practice_January_2015.pdf
A guide for young people aged 16 to 25 raising a SEND complaint from the Department for Education:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/send-complaints-guide-for-young-people-aged-16-to-25-in-education
Law Stuff is run by Coram’s Legal Centre and can provide advice:
https://lawstuff.org.uk/
The Special Needs Jungle:
https://specialneedsjungle.com/
Additional legislation links
The Human Rights Act -
https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/human-rights/human-rights-act
The Equality Act -
Children Act 1989 -
www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1989/41/contents.
Children Act 1989 Guidance and Regulations Volume 2: Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (2010) - www.education.gov.uk/publications/standard/publicationDetail/Page1/DCSF
Children Act 1989 Guidance and Regulations Volume 3: Planning Transition to Adulthood for Care Leavers (2010) -
http://media.education.gov.uk/assets/files/pdf/p/volume%203%20planning%20transition%20to%20adulthood%20for%20care%20leavers.pdf
Care Standards Act 2000
Sets the regulatory and inspectoral regime and establishes National Minimum Standards.
www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/14/contents
Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000
The primary legislation governing services for care leavers. www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/35/contents
Children Act 2004
Requires local authorities to promote educational achievement of looked after children.
www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2004/31/contents
Children and Young Persons Act 2008
Amends the Children Act 1989 regarding placement of looked after children, and strengthens visiting requirements and the role of the independent reviewing officer
www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2008/23/contents
Fostering Services (England) Regulations 2011
Regulate all fostering services, replacing the Fostering Services Regulations 2002. www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2011/581/contents/made
Independent Review of Determinations (Adoption and Fostering) Regulations 2009 - extends the Independent Review Mechanism (IRM) to fostering. www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2009/395/contents/made
Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England) Regulations 2010, amended in 2021
Specify requirements for care plans and placement plans, placement decisions, monitoring and review of looked after children, amended in 2021 https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2021/161/made
Care Planning, Placement and Case Review and Fostering Services (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2015
These Regulations amend the Care Planning, Placement and Case Review Regulations 2010 and also amend the Fostering Services Regulations 2011.
Care Planning and Case Review
Care Leavers (England) Regulations 2010
Designed to ensure that young people leaving care receive the same support that would be expected of any reasonable parent.
www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2010/2571/made
Sufficiency: Statutory Guidance on Securing Sufficient Accommodation for Looked After Children (2010) – explains the duty of local authorities to secure sufficient accommodation within their area to meet the needs of looked after children.
www.education.gov.uk/publications/standard/Lookedafterchildren/Page1/DCS
A guide to inter-agency working to safeguard and promote the welfare of children is available in the Working Together to Safeguard Children
Short Breaks: Statutory Guidance on how to Safeguard and promote the Welfare of Disabled Children using Short Breaks (2010) – seeks to improve outcomes for disabled children through short breaks provision. Available online at www.education.gov.uk/publications/standard/publicationDetail/Page1/DCSF
Promoting the Educational Achievement of Looked After Children: Statutory Guidance for Local Authorities – statutory guidance which came into force in 2010 https://www.education.gov.uk/publications/standard/Childrensworkforce/Pa
Statutory Guidance on Promoting the Health and Well-being of Looked After Children – statutory guidance which came into force in 2009 and updated https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/promoting-the-health-and-wellbeing-of-looked-after-children--2
Statutory Guidance on Children Who Run Away or go Missing From Home or Care. – statutory guidance which was updated January 2014 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/children-who-run-away-or-go-missing-from-home-or-care
Designated teacher
The designated teacher for looked after and previously looked-after children: statutory guidance on their roles and responsibilities (PDF)
Stable Homes Built on Love https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/650966a322a783001343e844/Children_s_Social_Care_Stable_Homes__Built_on_Love_consultation_response.pdf
National Kinship Care Strategy
Special Guardianship https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/special-guardianship-guidance
Delegation of Authority: Amendments to the Children Act 1989 Guidance and Regulations Volume 2: Care Planning, Placement and Case Review(2015). This Guidance places requirements on local authorities with regard to delegating authority to foster carers in respect of the children in their care. Available at: Volume 2: Care Planning, Placement and Case Review
Volume 4: Fostering Services – updated to reflect the inclusion of `Delegation of authority to foster carers` in Volume 2}
IRO Handbook: Statutory Guidance for Independent Reviewing Officers and Local Authorities on their Functions in Relation to Case Management and Review for Looked After Children (2010) – guides independent reviewing officers in the discharge of their responsibilities towards looked after children, with the aim that they receive the support and services required to meet their full potential - www.education.gov.uk/publications/standard/Lookedafterchildren/Page1/DCS
Implementation of Children and Social Work Act 2017 Sections 1-7
The Department for Education has published statutory guidance aimed at local authorities and other agencies to help these organisations to implement the changes to the legislative framework for looked-after and previously-looked after children, and care leavers introduced by sections 1 to 7 of the Children and Social Work Act 2017.
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Applying corporate parenting principles to looked-after children and care leavers: To help local authorities implement the corporate parenting principles
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Local offer for care leavers guidance: To guide local authorities on consulting on, and publishing in one place, the statutory entitlements and other discretionary support available to care leavers
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Extending Personal Adviser support to all care leavers to age 25: To help local authorities implement the extended duty for Personal Adviser support to be made available to all care leavers up to age 25, if they want such support
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Applying corporate parenting principles to looked-after children and care leavers: To help local authorities implement the corporate parenting principles
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Local offer for care leavers guidance: To guide local authorities on consulting on, and publishing in one place, the statutory entitlements and other discretionary support available to care leavers
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Extending Personal Adviser support to all care leavers to age 25: To help local authorities implement the extended duty for Personal Adviser support to be made available to all care leavers up to age 25, if they want such support
The revised statutory guidance relating to sections 4 to 7 of the Act is aimed at local authorities, schools and school governing bodies:
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Promoting Education of Looked after Children: To help local authorities and VSHs to promote the educational achievement of the children they look after
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Roles and Responsibilities of the Designated Teacher for looked-after and previously looked-after children:Applies to local authority maintained schools
Extending personal adviser support to all care leavers to age 25: statutory guidance for local authorities (PDF)
Extending personal adviser support to age 25: new burdens assessment (PDF)
Local offer for care leavers: statutory guidance -
Local offer guidance: guidance for local authorities (PDF)
Promoting the education of children in care and care leavers-
Further information: Promoting the education of looked-after children and previously looked-after children (PDF)
