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Contents

1. Procedure for Recruitment
2. Recruitment/Advertising
3. Applications for Fostering/Adoption
4. Skills to Foster Training Course
5. Assessment
6. Complaints/Comments/Compliments
7. Records

1. Procedure for Recruitment 

In accordance with the Authority’s Mission Statement and Equal Opportunities Policy the Family Placement Recruitment Team will undertake a rolling programme of recruitment and advertising that reflects the current recruitment targets and embracing the diverse needs of the children who need family placements. This will be co-ordinated by the relevant Recruitment team manager.

The programme of advertising needs to reflect the Authority’s policy on recruitment of substitute carers. Applicants can be considered from:

1. Persons aged 18 years and over for fostering and 21years and over for adoption. There is no upper age limit, but new applicants will need to be fit and healthy for the task. Those offering permanency should generally be of an age to reflect that of a child’s potential birth parent;
2. Those who apply should have a reasonable standard of health and a lifestyle that is compatible with caring for children;
3. Single people;
4. Married or unmarried couples;
5. Minority ethnic groups;
6. People with disabilities;
7. Gay and lesbian people.

The programme of recruitment will have regard to the needs of children/young people looked after by the Authority. Particular emphasis and priority may need to be given to applicants who would consider older children/young people, children/young people with disabilities, children/ young people who originate from ethnic minority communities, applicants residing in specified locations (e.g. where there is a need to place children outside of Walsall) and children/young people with particular care needs or sibling groups.

Response to general enquiries about fostering/ adoption should be undertaken by the relevant duty worker, giving particular priority to those who respond to the needs of those identified above and to current service recruitment targets. An up to date copy of this will remain on the duty file as a guide when taking referrals.

With the exception of children/young people with relatives or friends (including those in emergency placements with Connected Persons), all enquiries regarding applications for fostering, should be directed to the duty officer of the Family Placement Team.

In each case the Duty Social Worker (Family Placement) should complete Form WSS (Initial Enquiry form) and enter details in the Publicity Monitoring Sheet (WSS 9).

At this stage, it is important that the Duty Social Worker (Family Placement) identifies potentially suitable applicants or enquirers who may not have yet given sufficient consideration to substitute caring or do not meet the needs of the Authority. (See Practice Guidance on Taking enquiries about Fostering and Adoption. This guidance will also be located in the duty file).

Potential applicants may for example:

1. Offer a resource which is not needed; or
2. Their response indicates that they are not yet ready for substitute caring, for example the recent loss of a child, the recent birth of a child, unrealistic aspirations or expectations, unsuitable accommodation etc.; or
3. Offer a resource which is not needed but could offer other  facilities, for example supported lodgings; or
4. Are not suitable due to existing/previous approval by  this or another agency, or they have a Children's Services involvement that may deem then unsuitable to care for other people’s children;
5. Any disclosures that prevent working with children/young people including Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) Barred List;
6. All enquiries should be dealt with promptly and courteously.

All enquirers who wish to take their interest further should be forwarded an information pack by the Duty Social Worker within 24 hours of the enquiry, which will include the following:

1. Details of the Authority’s policy and criteria for applicants;
2. Details of the range of needs and examples of children/young people requiring foster/ adoptive care;
3. The procedure to follow if the enquirer(s) wish(es) to proceed further, once the Fostering Offer is returned;
4. Fostering Offer;
5. Details of the timescales relating to assessments;
6. General information about the current demands on the fostering or adoption service;
7. The process for making a complaint.

Where the enquirer appears to be offering a scarce resource, a home visit should be offered and if accepted should only be undertaken after completion of a referral form and a PARIS check. Where the applicant lives outside of the Walsall area, they should be asked to complete the Fostering Offer before the visit. This form includes the enquirers' consent to a local authority check being undertaken. The relevant Team Manager should be made aware by the duty officer that an urgent visit is required and request allocation.

If an initial visit was not offered during the enquiry stage, a referral will be completed on receipt of the Fostering Offer, after which a decision on allocation will be made.  Upon receipt of the fostering offer the referral will be completed within 24 hours and allocated to a recruitment team social worker who will make arrangements to visit the applicant within 2 weeks of receipt of the fostering offer. A confirmation letter will be sent which will includes details outlining information that the prospective carer will need to provide to the Social Worker to confirm their ID.

During Initial Assessment Visits enquirers should be advised that their interest in substitute caring will be discussed with the relevant manager prior to any further progress. The applicants will be invited to complete the FPS6 and WSS302 (the initial assessment form and consent to full statutory and precautionary checks). The applicant is to be advised that checks will only be pursued if the applicant is to be offered a place on the preparation course and at this stage their application, is accepted by the Team Manager. Applicants ID should be checked via either a passport or a driving licence containing a photograph or a birth certificate. The visiting social worker must verify the date of birth given on the above form and complete an enhanced CRB form. 

Other household members dates of birth including all children aged 16 or over will also need to be verified and their consent to statutory checks obtained including an enhanced Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check.

The assessing social worker should make a full record of their initial assessment using Form WSS and make a clear recommendation to the Designated Manager (Fostering Approvals). During the visit the applicant should be informed of any concerns that may preclude their application from proceeding further.

The social worker and manager will advise the enquirer in writing whether or not the authority is in a position to accept and proceed further with the application, giving reasons.

The Manager will return the file to the assessing social worker in the event of the enquirers’ application proceeding.

Where an enquirer is already approved by another agency, or has previously been approved by another agency, and the information given does not present any concerns, an urgent visit can be offered. It is important to share with them the likely process involved if they wished to proceed further following the discussion (see Practice Guidance and Protocol for movement of carers between agencies).

Applicants can only be approved by one agency. See also protocol on Black Country Authority Foster Carers.

In some circumstances and based on the information presented by an enquirer, a joint visit may be beneficial. The purpose would be to provide a second opinion and thus inform further the assessment of their circumstances. 

Where an enquiry is deferred or where the Authority is not in a position to accept an application the manager will inform the applicant in writing and will give reasons. These situations will be managed with sensitivity and in some circumstances it may be appropriate for the manager to undertake a joint visit.

2. Recruitment/Advertising

General media publicity should be approved Recruitment Team Manager and monitored by Marketing Officer, specific advertising in the adoption press by the Adoption Team Manager.

When family finding for children, the Walsall resource must be considered, both in respect to existing approved adopters and potential adopters still undergoing assessment.  Before proceeding with any outside advertising, the relevant team manager must be satisfied, that the child’s needs cannot be met in-house.

Details of advertisements should be discussed with the relevant Manager, together with details of costs, preferred dates for publication and media to be used.

The Manager will approve the budget commitment. And administrative clerk responsible for invoices will raise an official order.

Form WSS is to be completed to record publicity monitoring.

The cost of general recruitment advertising and materials will be coded to the budget identified for this purpose advertising budget, the specific adoption recruitment to the inter-agency budget.

3. Applications for Fostering/Adoption

Application forms for fostering or adoption should only be provided after the procedures outlined above have been completed (see Section 2, Recruitment/Advertising).

Upon receipt of an application form, the team manager will arrange for allocation.

A list of all enquirers and applicants will be held centrally by the recruitment team manager.

Applications will be prioritised according to greatest needs and scarcity of resource. Details of unallocated applications will be logged.

Applicants should be expected to attend, a Preparation Training course (see Section 4, Skills to Foster Training Course), normally either concurrent with or prior to the assessment period. This will be regarded as a requirement of applicants unless they have completed another equivalent course, or there are exceptional circumstances.

The Fostering Panel must make its recommendation on the application within eight months of the receipt of the formal application.

4. Skills to Foster Training Course

Skills to Foster Training is a requirement for all applicants (and their partners). Minimum attendance is 80% and any sessions not attended will be covered by the assessing social worker.  The Team Manager should be consulted prior to, or refusing to process an application on the grounds of inability/unwillingness to attend training.

Lead responsibility for this programme is with the Family Placement Service, and can include the involvement of:

1. Foster carers and adopters;
2. Social workers (Children and Families Teams);
3. Child care workers;
4. Students as co-leaders;
5. Staff from the Training Section;
6. Others, for example guest speakers.

Group training can, at one and the same time, be informative to the prospective carer and to the Agency about their potential skills or areas of difficulty. The applicant(s) should be aware of the assessment element to the preparation programme and group leaders should feedback details in writing of progress on individuals to colleagues undertaking the assessment.

Applicants should be encouraged to fully participate in training, and maintain a work book of outstanding issues for further discussion with the Assessing social worker during the home study/assessment visit.  Applicants are expected to compile a portfolio of competence evidence along with a family book during the preparation course for completing prior to approval. This will be for the purpose of sharing details about the family with potential children to be placed.

5. Assessment

Information as to prospective foster parents and other members of the household and family are contained in the Fostering Regulations 2011 Schedule 3 as follows:

1. Full name, address and date of birth;
2. Details of  health (supported by a medical report), personality, marital status and details of  current and any previous marriage, civil partnership or similar relationship;
3. Particulars of any other adult members of the  household;
4. Particulars of the children in the  family, whether or not members of his household, and any children in the household;
5. Particulars of the accommodation;
6. Religious persuasion and capacity to care for a child from any particular religious persuasion;
7. Racial origin, cultural and linguistic background and capacity to care for a child from any particular origin or cultural or linguistic background;
8. Past and present employment or occupation, standard of living and leisure activities and interests;
9. Previous experience (if any) of caring for their own and other children;
10. Skills, competence and potential relevant to their capacity to care effectively for a child placed with them;
11. The outcome of any request or application made by them or any other member of their household to foster or adopt children, or for registration as an early years provider or later years provider under Part 3 of the Childcare Act 2006, including particulars of any previous approval or refusal of approval relating to them or to any other member of the household;
12. In respect of the prospective foster parent and any other t member of the  household who is aged 18 or over,  an enhanced criminal record certificate issued under section 113B of the Police Act 1997 which includes suitability information relating to children (within the meaning of section 113BA(2) of that Act);
13. The names and addresses of two persons who will provide personal references for the prospective foster parent. 

When the assessment is allocated, the social worker undertaking the assessment and the manager will complete the assessment agreement forms. The agreement is to help monitor timescales for the work to be completed in accordance with the National and Minimal Standards. It is also intended to monitor the need for any support and guidance the worker may need, and to monitor workloads.

• Each assessment should be undertaken by following the BAAF Form F Guidance which covers all of the above (5.2) and will include a competency based approach. It also includes the prospective foster carer’s understanding and dealing with young people’s behaviour including encouraging children to take responsibility for their behaviour and helping them to learn how to resolve conflict.

When the worker begins the assessment it is suggested that they arrange a number of visits and to give the applicants a brief outline of what is likely to be covered in each session. This will give the applicants an idea of intended timescales and any preparation necessary on their part. They can have a copy of the Form F part II to follow if they haven’t been given one during the training course. 

If the applicants are interested in caring for a disabled child Form F Part III will also need to be completed.

Each worker will develop their own individual ways of gathering information and will utilise differing skills and techniques in exploring applicants' attitudes and values. As they get to know the applicants it may be appropriate for the applicants to contribute to the assessment either in writing or perhaps through other media such as tape recordings or video.

The foster home will also be thoroughly checked to ensure it provides appropriate and safe for the child, as well as safe transport. Each child over 3 has their own bedroom or, where this is not possible, the sharing of the bedroom has been agreed by the placing authority. A risk assessment must be conducted in regard  to pets.

Statutory Checks

The statutory checks forms should be completed on the initial visit and passed to the administrative team for processing. It is necessary that these are done early on as it can take some considerable time to obtain responses. A pre-approval file will be made up when the application/offer is received and the assessment is allocated. The administrative staff will arrange for the following checks to be made on all members of the household aged 16 and over: Criminal Records Bureau (CRB), Probation, Health Trust, Education, Children's Services (including the List of Children with a Child Protection Plan) and the NSPCC, and whether the applicants have a right to work in the UK.  Where the applicants live or have lived outside the local authority area, the checks must be made with the local authority and health trust where the applicants live/have lived. These checks should be recorded including the date when the checks were made.

Medicals

It will be necessary for each applicant to have a medical. The social worker will provide the applicant(s) with a covering letter to their own G.P. an A.H. medical form for each applicant and a medical claim form. The claim form allows the G. P. to claim the appropriate fee for undertaking the medicals. The applicants can arrange to have the medical with their own G. P. and at a time convenient to themselves. It is however important to have the medical early on in the process to avoid any delay in the application process. Once the G. P. has completed the assessment he/she can return them to the social worker. The social worker can photocopy the medical forms and forward the originals to the agency’s medical adviser. The worker will send a covering letter to Medical Adviser asking for her to consider the information and to advise them of whether the applicants would be suitable to foster with regard to their health. It is advisable that the letter indicates when the family’s assessment is likely to be presented to the Fostering Panel. This will give the Medical Adviser indication of when the information is needed by. 

Referees

Each application whether a single applicant or a dual application will need the minimum of two unrelated persons who can provide personal references for the applicant. When considering the referees the applicants need to suggest someone who have known them for a considerable time, and someone who is likely to know them well. If the worker has any doubts about the validity of a reference or whether information provided is substantial enough the worker can seek advice from the manager. For example referees suggested may know one partner far better and their knowledge of the other is limited. In some cases it may be necessary to obtain further referees. The referees should be visited and interviewed preferably in their home environment as this helps to validate the source of the information.

Prior to eliciting information it is important that the interviewee is given assurance that the information they give will remain confidential and that the content of the discussion would not be shared with the applicants. The referees need to feel confident that they can share any concerns about the applicants suitability without any reprisals. They themselves can however share information about the discussion with the applicants if they wish. The worker should record the interview in accordance with the Guidance on interviewing referees?

For the procedure to be followed when the assessment of the applicants has been completed, see Fostering Panel Procedure.

6. Complaints/Comments/Compliments

We welcome all comments from enquirers or applicants about any aspect of the referral and assessment process. It is preferable that comments/complaints and representations are in the first instance made to the relevant social worker or manager.

Applicants should have a copy of the relevant complaints leaflet, provided at the time of enquiry and should be advised of how their concerns or complaints can be addressed.

Details of complaints, comments or remarks should be returned to the Consumer Relations Officer in accordance with the relevant procedure.

Applicants should be advised that social workers as agents of the local authority are not permitted to accept gifts at any stage of the process and should only accept basic refreshments.

7. Records

Case files of applicants must be retained for a minimum of 10 years.

(The Fostering Services Regulations 2011(32(3)) requires that details of enquiries must be retained for at least three years from the refusal,  withdrawal, as the case may be, of the applicants to foster.)

Statistical records should also be kept to monitor the recruitment process, for example the number of enquiries compared with the number of applicants etc.

End