foster care

Guidance on responding to allegations against foster or kinship carers that reflects the National Guidance and covers situations where the concerns relate to situations where significant harm means that a child protection response is required, as well as situations where the concerns are about the general well being of the child but where no significant harm has been identified.

Study that provides information on existing models of practice that would be useful to other councils considering adopting a similar approach in their own fostering or adoption services.

The study focuses on three key areas:
• the benefits and challenges of approaches
• how models of working might be refined in the future
• any actual or future impacts expected through the new models of working

Literature review that aims to identify the existing evidence in relation to children and young people’s views of the processes, and to identify any gaps. At the time of publication, the Government has released the Adoption Action Plan (DfE, 2012) with measures designed to reduce delays in the adoption process.

The views and experiences of children already in the care system will be vital in helping to ensure that changes to current systems meet their individual needs and improve their life chances.

Study that evaluated the effectiveness of Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care for Adolescents (MTFCA), an innovative, evidence-based form of fostering for looked after children (age 11-16 years) with complex needs.

MTFC-A was implemented by 18 English local authorities, using pump-priming money from the former Department for Children, Schools and Families and supported by an implementation team at the Institute of Psychiatry.

Report that puts forward recommendations for how the foster care system should be reformed. It argues that people must be realistic but ambitious about what the care system can offer.

While it is extremely difficult to exactly replicate the support and care that a loving family brings, research published in May 2011 revealed the significant benefits that can flow from stable long-term foster placements.

Workbook to be used in conjunction with the Training, Support and Development Standards: guidance. It provides a single place to capture evidence against the standards.

The training, support and development (TSD) standards for foster care were developed by CWDC with input from a reference group including practitioners, foster carers, young people, Ofsted, the Fostering Network and BAAF. They were introduced in May 2007 and apply to all approved foster carers in England.

Official statistics release that reports on the numbers and profile of foster carers and children, in both local authority and independent services covering the period between 1 April 2010 and 31 March 2011.

It also gives data relating to types of foster care, registrations and de-registrations, and a range of other subjects.

Website authored by local authorities in the North West to encourage more people living in the region to think about becoming foster carers and to provide them with information on the subject.

This guide aims to help foster care practitioners provide positive experiences through fostering for more children and young people by enabling people to think creatively about their work. The guide is designed for foster care practitioners, carers, teams and services and anyone with an interest in good practice in fostering, including foster carers and fostered children and young people.