• contents
• keywords & contacts
• quick guide
• forms library
• values
• contact us
• search

Contents

1. Aims of Remand Fostering
2. Referral for Remand Fostering
3. Process of Placement
4. Foster Carer Payments
5. Role of Remand Foster Carers

1. Aims of Remand Fostering

Remand fostering aims to keep young people charged with criminal offences within the community wherever possible and to give them a caring and constructive placement. Foster carers who offer remand fostering are recruited and trained, and together with social workers can work with young offenders to:

• Provide short term, focused intervention in a safe family environment.
• Assist the young person through the criminal justice system and help them to look at their offending behaviour.
• Help the young person prepare for the decisions of the court i.e. custody, return to parent/guardian or independent living.

2. Referral for Remand Fostering

Referral for a remand foster placement is most likely to be initiated by the Youth Offending Team worker coming into contact with a young person in court. Remand foster placements are offered as an alternative to a secure or custodial remand.

The Youth Offending worker will initiate contact with the Referral and Assessment Team or allocated worker to pass on details of the need for accommodation. The R&A Duty worker will undertake an Initial Assessment. Subject to the terms of the court's decision it is sometimes possible and appropriate to return the young person home. If appropriate the subsequently make a referral to the Fostering Brokerage Team for a remand foster placement.

All children 'remanded' into the care of the local authority are not necessarily placed with Remand Foster Carers.

3. Process of Placement

The social worker responsible for the child (allocated or duty) must fill in the ICS Placement Information Record and conduct a risk assessment if the young person has any record of violence, self-harm, drug or alcohol abuse, fire setting, inappropriate sexual conduct or any other behaviour or predisposition which may affect the fostering household.

All ICS Looked After Children Procedures apply: See Looked After Children Procedure.

4. Foster Carer Payments

The Information Support Assistant in the Team responsible for the young person will initiate payments at the current Lambeth remand fostering rate.

The rate of foster payment may be enhanced in cases where there are stringent conditions applied by the court or the young person presents a very high level of risk, necessitating an exceptional level of input from the foster carer.

5. Role of Remand Foster Carers

Remand foster carers have particular responsibility for :

1. Escorting the young person to their solicitors and to court appearances
2. Stabilising the young person's behaviour, promoting attendance at school or other constructive day time activity and discouraging inappropriate associations.
3. Managing as far as possible any curfew requirements;
4. Managing contact with relatives and friends
5. Working with Lambeth Youth Offending Scheme projects and other borough services.

Remand foster carers must be well supported through consistent contact and visits, to assist them in making a success of the placement and the avoidance of a custodial sentence. 

Within the first week of placement a contract meeting will be held to set out the placement out programme. This is to include:

• Young person
• Parent/guardian
• Remand foster carer
• Child's Social Worker
• Supervising Social Worker for the carer
• Any requirements of the court must be included in a Placement Information Record

No remand placement is to last beyond the period of the child's remand by the court. Should the young person continue to remain looked after placement planning should take place within the LAC review process.

End