foster care

Looked-after children: third report of session 2008-09: volume I: report, together with formal minutes

Presents the findings of the Children, Schools and Families Select Committee which aimed to investigate the performance of the care system in England, consider whether the Governments proposals for reform were soundly based, and to find out whether the Care Matters programme would be effective in helping looked after children.

Edinburgh’s Children : Summary Report : The Edinburgh Inquiry into Abuse and Protection of Children in Care

This is a selective summary report of the Inquiry set up following the conviction of two former care workers on 4th of December 1997 by the City of Edinburgh Council’s Policy and Resources Committee to investigate matters arising from these trials. This report summarises the findings of the Inquiry. It includes investigation and review of historical procedures and allegations; review of current procedures, practice and guidelines in operation in the City of Edinburgh; and recommendations to assure that every measure is in place to minimise child abuse.

Edinburgh’s Children : The Report of the Edinburgh Inquiry into Abuse and Protection of Children in Care

Following the conviction of two former care workers on 4th of December, 1997, the City of Edinburgh Council’s Policy and Resources Committee agreed to hold an Inquiry into matters arising from these trials. This is the report of the findings of the Inquiry. It includes investigation and review of historical procedures and allegations; review of current procedures, practice and guidelines in operation in the City of Edinburgh; and recommendations to assure that every measure is in place to minimise child abuse.

Reducing High Placement Costs (Solihull) Department for Children, Schools and Families, 2008

This case study describes how Solihull's high unit costs for placements for children in care were reduced; increasing resources available to improve the quality of care and delivering outcomes that better met the needs of children. It sets out the steps that Solihull took to address the situation and achieve 11% savings on the placements budget. These improvements were achieved through a combination of developing the authority's foster care service, redefining the commissioning and contracting team into a professional procurement service, and improving management of the external market.

National care standards: foster care and family placement

These standards were developed to improve the quality of care and service for those in foster care. The standards cover the following activities: recruiting, selecting, approving, training and supporting foster carers; matching children and young people with foster carers; supporting and monitoring foster carers; and the work of agency fostering panels and other approval panels. The standards do not apply to the services provided directly by foster carers themselves.