foster carers

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. The standards provide a national minimum benchmark to set out what all foster carers should know, understand and be able to do within the first 12 months of approval.

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.

Consultation document on proposals for a revised framework for the inspection of local authority fostering services and independent fostering agencies.

Guide to help children and young people have their say on how fostering services should be inspected.

Study that focused on young people’s experiences of being fostered and their foster carers’ assessment of factors that contribute to these experiences. It looked in detail at a range of specific areas covering their health and wellbeing; education and participation outcomes; their involvement in activities; their life skills; and their connections with past and present family and friends.

Review conducted by the University of York, in partnership with The Fostering Network, and funded by The Nuffield Foundation. It draws together the research evidence that exists both on allegations of abuse and confirmed maltreatment and considers the implications of this rather limited body of evidence.

A guidance leaflet on how to prepare for fostering. It is mainly composed of quotation from young people who have experienced fostering.