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Contents

1. Strategy and Marketing Policy for Recruiting Lambeth's Foster Carers
2. Fostering Application Process
3. The Initial Assessment Home Visit and the Eligibility Criteria to become a Foster Carer
4. Statutory Checks
   1. Criminal Record Bureau Disclosures
   2. Proof of Identity
   3. Local Authority Checks
   4. Health Checks
   5. Housing & Utility Checks
5. Skills to Foster 2 - Day Preparation Groups

1. Strategy and Marketing Policy for Recruiting Lambeth's Foster Carers

The Fostering & Adoption Services are working to continuously improve their recruitment strategy, which aims to recruit a Professional pool of Foster Carers; Family & Friend Carers & Adopters living in and within reasonable travelling distance of Lambeth and who have the skills and qualities to meet the diverse needs of our Looked After Children and Young People. This strategy is based on an analysis of practice information including current and emerging areas of need in terms of our Children & Young People, to illustrate, there is a need for the service to develop respite provision for Children & Young People with disabilities; and also Young People placed with Remand Carers instead of being received into the care of a residential placement.

The Recruitment Strategy will ensure that the Fostering Service maintains a high profile within the community with a view to attracting potential carers for Lambeth's Looked After Children & Young People. All members of the public who contact the service about becoming carers will receive a timely response from the service.

The Head of Service, Team Managers  and Communications Officer of the Fostering & Adoption Services will evaluate the effectiveness of the strategy and will make sure information is available which will form the basis of succeeding strategies and targets. This includes marketing, direct publications for specific demographic groups such as Education and Religious groups and organisations.

Advertising for Prospective Foster Carers for specific children will only commence after the Divisional Director, as agency decision-maker, approves the plan for long term fostering.

2. Fostering Application Process

Prospective Foster Carers can make an Initial Enquiry regarding their interest in Fostering via the telephone, personal visit to the Offices, marketing and Promotional events or the CYPS Website. 

All Initial enquiries by Prospective Foster Carers will be given a realistic briefing regarding the benefits and challenges of fostering. The Duty Social Worker outlines details of the applicant's interests and motivations to Foster, some background information regarding the applicant's circumstances will be taken on the Initial Enquiry Form and an Application Pack will be sent out to the Prospective Foster Carer. They will be asked to attend the Fostering & Adoption Information Evening, which are held on a monthly basis at Lambeth Town Hall. The Information Evenings provide Prospective Foster Carers with the following:

1. Opportunity to meet the Recruitment & Assessment Team Social Workers who could be allocated to commence and complete the Initial Assessment;
2. Opportunity to view a Power-Point presentation upon Fostering and the needs of Looked After Children & Young People; and
3. An opportunity to discuss and clarify issues pertaining to the Fostering role with the assessing Social Workers.

Enquirers who are unsuitable to progress further will be dealt with sensitively and given appropriate advice; they will be sent a letter explaining the reasons why we will not proceed with his/her application.

Applicants who are employed by Lambeth Council should normally be advised to approach an alternative Local Authority, or other Independent Fostering Agencies in order to avoid any potential confusion of roles. Where Lambeth members of staff wish to foster a specific child due to an ongoing relationship this interest should be referred to the Head of Service, Fostering and Adoption.

Applicants who, having read the Information Pack and wish to pursue their application should return the Initial Application Enquiry Form to the Recruitment & Assessment Team Fostering & Adoption Service, within a maximum of 21-days from date of the Initial Enquiry and the Fostering Application was sent out to the applicant.

In order to ensure that there is efficiency within the process, the Recruitment & Assessment Team Duty Rota will ensure that all Prospective Carers applications receive a follow-up call by the Duty Social Worker so a decision can be made regarding the case proceeding to the next stage.

Where there is incomplete or unclear information on the returned Initial Enquiry Application Form this should be clarified in a further telephone discussion by the Duty Social Worker in order to determine whether it is appropriate to offer an Initial Assessment Home Visit.

Please note that at this stage in the process, the Team Manager is able to cease an Initial Enquiry from proceeding if there are clear issues which are unrealistic to change and modify in appropriate enough time to meet the needs of Looked After Children.

The Team Manager will then make a decision whether the case can be allocated to a Social Worker to commence the Initial Assessment.

The Initial Assessment is grounded within the ethos of the Assessment Framework (Department of Health 2002) - ensuring that the Initial Assessment is (a) child-focused; (b) uses practices including Attachment Theory and Child Development Theory; (c) discusses parental capacity and deficits; whilst discussing environmental issues such as racism and the impact.

The Framework Process for Fostering Applications as follows: Check index and create person on Framework - Administrator to complete; Begin receive Initial Enquiry - Framework Outcome>Contact Episode - Administrator to complete; Enter details of enquiry using standard format. Administrator & Duty Social Worker to complete; Send Contact Episode to Team Manager - Recruitment & Assessment Team; Team Manager places information to be Tracked by Duty Social Worker; and once the Fostering Application Pack has been received the - Framework Outcome> Fostering Receive Enquiry and the case is then Allocated to Social Worker to commence and complete the Initial Assessment in the home; If the Fostering Application Pack is NOT received back within 15-working days - TM requests Duty Social Worker to arrange follow up phone call; and if the Fostering Application is not returned within a further 7-working days, without justification, a letter will be sent and the case will be CLOSED - Framework - Outcome > Close to the Department - NFA.

3. The Initial Assessment Home Visit and the Eligibility Criteria to become a Foster Carer

Please read in conjunction with Initial Assessments Home Visits Guidance

An Initial Assessment Home Visit should normally be carried out within 15 working days of the completed Fostering Application Form being returned to the Recruitment & Assessment Team. This will allow the Fostering Social Worker to undertake an Initial Assessment of the applicant's suitability to become Foster Carer(s).  The Social Worker will address the areas listed in the Initial Assessment Proforma and Assessment Notes on Framework. The interviewing Social Worker will write up the Initial Assessment and make a recommendation, based on explicit criteria such as:

1. Safeguarding Issues;
2. Motivations to Foster;
3. Every Child Matters Outcomes - including the needs of the prospective Foster Carer's own children & young people in the family;
4. Commitment to Foster.

The Prospective Foster Carer who meets the Eligibility Criteria (Please see below) can only proceed to the next stage of the Fostering process if the recommendations made by Social Worker are critically supported by the Team Manager. Therefore if there is agreement, the case can proceed to the next stage of the assessment process the Skills to Foster 3-day Preparation Groups (please see Section on Skills to Foster), and a full Form F Assessment would be offered to the applicant(s) once there is a positive outcome from the 3-day course.

However, an outcome of the Initial Assessment could be a DETREMENT due to further information needed for the Initial Assessment to be answered in full; or the Initial Assessment could be CLOSED for No Further Action as there have been concerns identified which are unable to be rectified at this juncture, to illustrate, a Client's Adult Health Assessment could deem that the individual is not physically or psychologically well enough to become a Foster Carer.

Therefore if it appears on the basis of available information that the applicant may not meet the criteria for further assessment (please read the Eligibility to Foster for Lambeth Section) this should be discussed with them, clarified as far as possible and any further relevant information obtained. Some applicants may be able to re-submit their applications e.g. when they have more suitable accommodation or after they have gained more experience of caring for children.

Where a criminal offence by the applicant or member of their household is disclosed the circumstances of this must be discussed with them. A brief report should be made to the Head of Service, endorsed by the Team Manager, making a recommendation as to whether the application should be proceeded with. (Please read the Section 4, Statutory Checks)

A decision not to proceed with an application should be taken by the Fostering Team Manager on the basis of all relevant information and with the advice of colleagues and the Head of Service as necessary. The reasons for this decision should be discussed with the applicant in person or by telephone and confirmed in writing by the Fostering Team Manager. Letters of Closure are then sent to the Prospective Applicant who is informed of the reasons why we will not proceed with the Fostering Assessment process.

ELIGIBILITY TO FOSTER FOR LAMBETH
Housing and utilities	The applicant's housing must be secure i.e. owner occupation, a tenancy with a social housing provider or other secure tenancy. There must not be any significant arrears in mortgage or rental payments; Any extension, loft conversion etc. must conform to Building Regulations; Applicants in private sector tenancies with renewable 6 month leases or accommodation tied to employment cannot normally be considered; Accommodation must be suitable for children in a good state of cleanliness, decoration and repair; and able to conform to requirements of the Health and Safety Checklist; The applicant must be able to provide each child over the age of 3 with their own bedroom; Utility and council tax bills must be paid regularly, with no threat of disconnection or legal action.
Work and finances	Applicants must be aware that fostering will involve regular daytime commitments, both routine and unexpected.  Single applicants must therefore be in either flexible or part time employment. For joint applicants, one must have some daytime availability; Applicants wishing to foster pre-school children should be aware that they cannot routinely be placed in full-time day care, though access to early year's education is encouraged; Applicants wishing to foster school age children must be aware that one adult member of the household must be available at the beginning and end of the school day.
Personal relationships and lifestyle	Applicants must have reasonably stable personal lives and cannot therefore be considered if: They are involved in a series of casual or short term relationships; There are current or recent relationship difficulties between joint applicants; There is any history of violence between partners: where an applicant has been involved in a previous violent relationship two years should have elapsed between the ending of that relationship and the fostering assessment. Married or cohabiting applicants should be able to demonstrate that their relationship is long-term and should have lived together for at least a year prior to the assessment beginning Applicants should be aware that their overall lifestyle should not be one which could or could be seen to impact adversely on a looked after child or could bring the agency into disrepute.  Examples would include abuse of alcohol or drugs.
Health	Any health conditions the applicant suffers must be reasonably stable and not have a regular impact on their day-to-day functioning. If they have suffered a serious illness they should have recovered for at least a year before beginning the assessment; Two years should have elapsed since any treatment for mental health problems; this includes medication for depression prescribed by a GP; Applicants should be aware that smoking within a fostering household is strongly discouraged and that foster carers who smoke will not be able to care for children of under 5 years or children in high risk groups.
Current family issues	Family life should be reasonably stable and carers must be able to focus on the needs of child placed with them - applicants cannot be considered if: They have a child of under two years or if they are currently trying to conceive; The make up of the household is unstable or variable, though this does not apply to young people away at university; There are any current problems relating to truancy, suspension or exclusion from school affecting their own children; Where there has been previous involvement from Children's Social Care, CAMHS, and Youth Offending Team, Education Welfare or any voluntary social care agency two years should have elapsed before the assessment begins. Applicants should be aware that the issue will also have to be discussed in detail during the course of the assessment.
Experience of caring for children	Applicants need to have significant experience in both the emotional and practical aspects of caring for children. Applicants who have neither had their own children nor had professional experience of working with children may need to be advised to gain some experience of work with children or young people in a voluntary capacity before making their application to foster. Please note that there can be flexibility around this requirement for relatives and friends carers. Applicants must be able to demonstrate that they have the potential to understand and deal with young people's behaviour including encouraging them to take responsibility for their behaviour and help them to learn how to resolve conflict.
Education level	Applicants must be able to read, write and speak English and understand that they will be required to study to NVQ level 3. They must therefore be committed, where necessary to improving their English. Applicants who are not fluent should be given every encouragement to re-apply after they have made the necessary improvement. Applicants must be made aware that the promotion of a child's learning is an important aspect of the fostering role and they therefore will need to have or to develop confidence in dealing with educational professionals as well taking on their own role in supporting and educating the child.
Proximity to Lambeth	Applicants need to live in or within reasonable travelling distance of Lambeth. As a rule of thumb this should be approximately an hour by car or public transport. Flexibility in this can be exercised where applicants have an interest in caring for children on a longer term basis and they have skills or qualities that are in particular demand e.g. applicants with a relevant professional background in the caring professions or in teaching; black couples and couples including one black partner, applicants able to consider sibling groups and children with a high level of needs.
Criminal Record	Applicants must be made aware that any criminal conviction or caution, whether in the UK or elsewhere must be disclosed and its circumstances fully and openly discussed. Any current or recent criminal activity involving anyone closely connected with the household e.g. adult children will also need to be considered. Only a few types of offences - those against children, sexual offences and those of serious violence would in themselves debar an applicant from fostering. More important is honesty in acknowledging responsibility and evidence of having moved since the offence. As a general rule at least two years must have elapsed since any type of conviction; five years since any offence which attracted a Community Service Order, Probation or suspended prison sentence and ten years since an actual prison sentence. Applicants should be made aware at the initial stages that checks will apply to all household members of sixteen years or more and to overnight visitors and anyone who may have charge of a fostered child.
Immigration status	Applicants must be able to provide proof of their right to live and work in the UK
Personal qualities	Although this is considered in detail as part of the assessment it is important that applicants are aware that the fostering role involves both caring for children and working together with professionals and with children's parents. A level of personal maturity is essential to the fostering task - applicants must be 21 and should normally be at least 25 years of age. Applicants therefore need to be aware that ability to relate well to people from a wide range of backgrounds is essential. Applicants who are apt to hold strongly judgemental views of others, associate only within a very limited social circle, are fearful and anxious in unfamiliar circumstances, are quick to take offence or who are not confident in themselves are unlikely to progress successfully through an assessment.

Framework Actions for Fostering Application & Initial Assessments The returned Fostering Application Form is scrutinised by the Team Manager against the Fostering Eligibility Criteria, for the appropriateness for the case to be allocated to a Social Worker; Within 10-days of the scrutiny of the Fostering Application Pack the case is allocated by the Team Manager to the Recruitment & Assessment Team Social Worker to commence & complete the Initial Assessment - Framework Episode Outcome > Fostering Receive Enquiry Application; Once the Allocated Social Worker has completed the Initial Assessment of the prospective  Foster Carer, this is sent to the Team Manager via - Framework Episode Outcome > Receive & Process Application; The Initial Assessment is quality assured by the Team Manager, and a decision is made by the Team Manager whether the case should proceed to the next stage of the Fostering process where the Prospective Foster Carer will be requested to attend the Skills to Foster Preparation Groups (Please read Skills to Foster 3-day Preparation Groups Section; The Skills to Foster Preparation Groups Performa is completed by the Social Worker this is sent to the Team Manager via - Framework Episode Outcome > Receive & Process Application; If the case is to proceed the - Framework Episode Outcome > Assessment - Short/Long-Term Fostering, for the case to be allocated in the Fostering Assessment Team to commence the Form F Assessment; If the case is not to proceed to the next stage of the Fostering process the - Framework Episode Outcome > Close to the Department NFA.

4. Statutory Checks

Statutory checks are required on all applicants who wish to foster or adopt children. Checks must also be carried out all persons over the age of 16 years who reside with the applicants, and on those people who may have sole care of the child or a significant role in the child's life. A 'Statutory Check Pack' containing all the necessary checks should be taken by the assessing Social Worker at the time of the initial home visit. The Social Worker should assist the applicants with the checks, and where possible, complete all the checks on the day. The Social Worker must only pass the checks to the Statutory Compliance Officer as a completed pack, incomplete packs will not be accepted.

Applicants must supply details of all names they have used or may have used during their adult life. This includes female applicants' former married names, even if they did not use these.

1. Criminal Records Bureau Disclosure
   
   Criminal Records vetting applies to applicant, partner, members of their household and other visitors or family members who will have substantial or unsupervised access to fostered children.  Lambeth has to operate under Vetting & Barring Systems (12.10.2009) which states clearly that anyone who has activities with children must be checked via CRB if they are over the age of 16-years of age. Therefore Criminal Record Checks should also be undertaken in respect of all members of the household over sixteen years, of any regular overnight visitors and any other visitors who may have sole or unsupervised charge of children who may be placed there. Applicants must be asked to disclose any criminal offence or caution, whether in the UK or abroad, at the Initial Assessment Home Visit. If an Fostering Applicant refuses or denies a disclosure will result in the Fostering Application being ceased and not proceeding.
   
   The assessing Social Worker must ensure he/she has sight of the original documents which provide proof of identity (please see b. Proof of Identity).  These checks will be repeated every two years.  Where the CRB check indicates that the applicant or an adult member of the household has a caution or conviction relating to having caused harm to a child the applicant must be notified in writing as soon as possible, specifying the caution/conviction and informing them that the application cannot proceed. Under the Vetting & Barring System, from 1st November 2010, it will be mandatory for Lambeth Fostering Services to apply to the Independent Safeguarding Authority to discuss the appropriateness of a Fostering Applicant. Therefore if there are concerns regarding  a Prospective Foster Carers CRB or Local Authority Checks, Lambeth Fostering Services would have a duty to report the Application to the Independent Safeguarding Authority who would assess the risks posed by the Prospective Foster Carer who wished to be assessed and work in a regulated activity with children and young people.
   
   Where an applicant or a household member discloses a criminal conviction they should have the opportunity to discuss the circumstances and background of this with the assessing Social Worker. The Social Worker should discuss this in supervision with their Team Manager and make a recommendation to the Head of Service as to whether the application should proceed in the light of: the seriousness of the offence, its relevance to the fostering task, the applicant's age at the time it was committed and any other extenuating factors.
   
   Where a conviction comes to light through a CRB check that has not been disclosed by the applicant this should be discussed with them as a matter of urgency. If they dispute the accuracy of the information they should have the opportunity to clarify this with the Criminal Records Bureau. Any further assessment work should be suspended until such time as this clarification is received. An undisclosed conviction should normally lead to termination of the assessment unless there are exceptional extenuating circumstances, as agreed in writing by the Head of Service.
   
   Where an applicant has lived outside of the UK during their adult life a criminal record check should be undertaken in the country of residence. Where applicants are in possession of documentation regarding this, original documents must always be seen and their validity verified with the originating agency. Where no overseas check is possible the reasons for this must be notified to the Head of Service.
2. Proof of Identity
   
   The assessing Social Worker must ensure that photocopies of the proof of identity requested in the application form are placed on the applicant's file.  Other checks will fail if accurate proof of identity has not been obtained, e.g. if a name is spelt incorrectly or the date of birth is erroneously entered on the Police check form or CRB Applications.
   
   Identify checks should aim to establish the current name and identity, the name at birth and history of changes of name and reasons for this.  Any gaps should be noted and commented on.
   
   Applicants are asked in the application form for their National Insurance Number and whether they have the following documents:
   • Change of Name by Deed Poll
   • Adoption Certificate
   • Driving Licence
   • Divorce Papers
   • Previous Marriage Certificates
   • Marriage Certificate
   • Passport
   • Birth certificate
   All original documents should be seen as a matter of course and photocopies placed securely in a lockable filing cabinet as in conjunction with Data Protection Procedures, including any additional papers that relate to the applicant's history such as naturalisation documents and evidence of permanent residency.  It is important to ensure there is consistency between the details supplied in all documents and to clarify any discrepancy.
   
   Photographic evidence is also advisable as evidence that the applicant is who they say they are. The page of a passport with their photo is useful evidence of this.
3. Local Authority Checks
   
   Local authority checks should always be carried out on all members of the household.  This should include Social Services, Education (where applicants have children in school), Health Services, Probation, NSPCC and Housing. Where applicants live outside Lambeth a letter must be sent to the local Council with Social Services Responsibility for their area, requesting a search of Education, Social Care, Housing and Health Authority records.
4. Health Checks
   
   Applicants should be provided with a BAAF Form AH to be completed by their GP.  The forms must be supported with a covering letter to the applicants advising them to make an appointment with their GP for a medical. Applicants should be advised that they must proceed with this as quickly as possible to prevent delays in obtaining medical advice for the Fostering Panel.
   
   Completed forms should be returned in a pre-paid envelope to the Team Administrator who will arrange for the GP to be paid the appropriate fee. The completed medical forms must be forwarded to the Medical Adviser, who will add his/her, comments for presentation to the Panel.
5. Housing and Utilities
   
   Additionally, practice within Lambeth is to see proof of regular payment of rent or mortgage and of gas and electricity supplies. This is in the interests of ensuring that fostered children do not have their lives disrupted due to threat of eviction or disconnection, however it is important that these enquiries are handled sensitively.

Framework Actions for Statutory Episode Recruitment & Assessment Team receive Fostering Application - Framework Outcome >Fostering Receive Application and Statutory Episode is requested; Initial Assessment completed - Positive recommendation: no criminal offences declared - send to TM to agree work and action> continue with Statutory Checks episode; Initial Assessment completed - Positive recommendation: criminal offences declared > complete Head of Services consent to progress assessment form and send to SM via TM .> continue with Statutory Checks episode. Negative recommendation - complete Recommendation not to progress the applicant through the Fostering Assessment process form and send to TM> TM agreement > send letter to applicant> that the case will be CLOSED for - NFA

5. Skills to Foster 2 - day Preparation Groups

All applicants, including both partners of a couple, are required to attend the Skills to Foster 3 -day Preparation Training.  Other family members and supporters who will be involved in caring for children can also be invited. 

A formal assessment takes place during the Skills to Foster Preparation Groups, as these are linked to the CWDC (Children's Workforce Development Council) Pre-approval Training in terms of the first 5-Competencies. The formal assessment and observations are therefore made by the Facilitators and the Prospective Foster Carers are expected to complete home-work tasks - the Prospective Foster Carer is made aware that this is part of the Fostering Assessment process, and all information will be utilised within the Form F Assessment.

If the Preparation Groups Facilitator has concerns about an applicant's continued assessment, they should discuss this with them promptly and confidentially. A full entry must always be made in the case record and on the Skills to Foster Observation Proforma regarding the nature of any concerns, the applicant's response and explanation, and the worker's assessment as to the seriousness of the issue. If concerns as to the likely suitability of the applicant remain this should be discussed with the Team Manager as above.  Where any concern arises as to safeguarding issues, attitudes, or language this should be discussed with the applicant immediately following the group or at the first reasonable opportunity in order to determine the nature of the issue and whether any further work or discussion is necessary.

End