3.7.4 Foster Carer Variations

Generally

1.	The terms of approval for a foster carer are determined at the point of their approval i.e. via a recommendation of the Fostering Panel and subsequently by the Designated Manager (Foster Carer Approvals);
2.	Good practice suggests that any changes in the terms of a foster carer's approval should only be considered at the time of the foster carer's review and agreed at Fostering Panel;
3.	However, there are occasions when it may be appropriate to consider temporary, short term changes in their terms of approval to accommodate children with specific needs. This change in terms of approval must be agreed by the Operations Manager, Family Placement Service;
4.	The form WSS 915 must be completed and include wherever practicable, the views of children already placed and the views of their social workers;
5.	The next Fostering Panel must be informed of this temporary variation in the terms of the foster carer's approval .The report completed and authorised by the Operations Manager Family Placement Service will be presented to the Fostering Panel ,who may wish to make comments or recommendations to the Designated Manager (Foster Carer Approvals.) Any gaps in information that were evident when the variation was first agreed should be filled when this report is submitted to panel. This is particularly in relation to the views of children in placement and their social workers;
6.	If the child remains in the placement beyond 6 weeks, then a review of the arrangements and the appropriateness of the change in terms of approval must take place (see guidance below);
7.	A review report must then be presented to the next Fostering Panel to consider whether the foster carer's terms of approval should be temporarily changed for this placement only, or whether they should be changed per se;
8.	Thus, at the point of a variation being agreed by the Operations Manager, the Coordinator (Foster Carer Reviews) must be advised by the worker completing the request for the variation. A provisional date will be arranged for a foster carer review six weeks in advance of the date from which the variation was agreed. In the event that the variation is no longer required within the six week period, then a review will no longer be needed and the provisional date agreed for the review can be cancelled.

Guidance for the Completion of the Review Paperwork Following a Variation to a Carer's Terms of Approval

A review report following a variation should be prepared by the supervising Social Worker, in the usual way, using the Foster Carer Annual Review Document WSS 916;

The following information is required to be recorded in the review report following an agreed variation continuing in excess of a six week period:

A clear recommendation as to whether the request for a change to the carer's approval, is for the duration of the variation only, or for the longer term;
Consideration of the extent to which the approved variation is at variance with the carer's original or most recent assessment, and therefore an analysis of the carer's ability to meet the needs of all of the children in the household;
Where appropriate, in terms of age and development, the wishes and feelings of all of the children in the household;
The views of the placing social workers;
Any additional support needs and recommendations for any further training and development needs;
A revised safer caring statemen;t
A, description of the accommodation, and its suitability to accommodate any additional children;
A description of the sleeping arrangements, to include written risk assessments where required;
A recommendation to the fostering panel about the frequency of any subsequent foster carer reviews. Most usually, all subsequent reviews following a variation will be at six monthly intervals.

End