Who makes the final decision on foster care approval?

The agency decision-maker has responsibility for deciding whether you are approved to foster. The fostering panel provides an independent recommendation, but it does not itself grant approval. The decision-maker must consider the panel’s recommendation alongside the full assessment information before reaching a decision.

What the fostering panel does

The panel examines the evidence gathered during your assessment. This can include your social worker’s report, references, health information, safeguarding checks, training record and any other relevant information about your ability to foster. It considers whether you meet the required standards and what approval terms would be appropriate.

The panel may recommend that you:

• are approved to foster;
• are approved with particular terms, such as the number or age range of children you can care for;
• are not approved; or
• need further information or assessment before a recommendation can be made.

Panel members are intended to provide an independent view rather than simply endorse the assessing social worker’s opinion. A panel commonly includes an independent chair, a social work professional and members with relevant personal or professional experience. The people who assess you and prepare your report should not make up the whole panel deciding how to recommend your application.

What the agency decision-maker does

The agency decision-maker is appointed by the fostering service and considers the panel’s recommendation, the assessment report and the supporting evidence. This person should not be involved in carrying out your assessment or sit as a member of the panel for the same application. Their role is to make the formal decision for the fostering service.

The decision-maker will normally agree with the panel where the evidence supports its recommendation. However, the panel’s view is a recommendation rather than an automatic outcome. If the decision-maker reaches a different conclusion, the reasons for that decision should be recorded and explained. The decision must be based on the evidence about your suitability to foster and the welfare of children, rather than on personal preference.

What happens at the end of the process

Once the decision has been made, the fostering service should tell you the outcome in writing. If you are approved, the written decision should set out the approval terms. These terms define the type of fostering you are approved to undertake and help the service identify placements that are suitable for your skills, circumstances and household.

Approval is not the end of the assessment of suitability. Foster carers continue to receive supervision, reviews and training, and their approval may be reviewed if their circumstances change or if new information becomes available. Any proposed change to approval terms should be discussed with you and handled through the appropriate fostering procedures.

If the outcome is not approval, or the decision does not reflect the panel’s recommendation, you should receive information about the reasons and the procedure for responding. Depending on the circumstances, this may involve making representations, asking for the decision to be reviewed or using the relevant independent review process. The letter from the fostering service should explain which route applies and the time limit for taking action.

You can also ask your social worker to explain how the evidence was considered, which approval terms were recommended and whether any information was missing or misunderstood. Raising questions before the panel and checking the accuracy of your assessment can help ensure that the panel and agency decision-maker are working from a complete and accurate account.