Fostering

Training foster carers - legislation

Law and standards

The Law and Standards sections apply to England only.

A brief indication of how the law changed upon full implementation (September 2004 and September 2005) of the Adoption and Children Act 2002 is inserted in italics.

Compliance with statute and regulations is mandatory; compliance with standards is taken into account by the CSCI when registering and inspecting fostering service providers.

Fostering Service Regulations 2002 - Regulation 17: support, training and information for foster parents

• The fostering service provider shall provide foster parents with such training, advice, information and support, including support outside office hours, as appears necessary in the interests of children placed with them.

• The fostering service provider shall take all reasonable steps to ensure that foster parents are familiar with, and act in accordance with the policies established in accordance with regulations 12 (1) and 13 (1) and (3).

• The fostering service provider shall ensure that, in relation to any child placed or to be placed with a foster parent, that person is given such information, which is kept up to date, as to enable him to provide appropriate care for the child, and in particular that each foster parent is provided with appropriate information regarding:
  • the state of health and health needs of any child placed or to be placed with him; and
  • the arrangements for giving consent to the child's medical or dental examination or treatment.

National Minimum Fostering Standard 23

The fostering service must ensure that foster carers are trained in the skills required to provide high quality care and meet the needs of each child/young person placed in their care.

All training must fit within a framework of equal opportunities and anti- discriminatory practice, and must be organised to encourage and facilitate attendance by foster carers.