Allegations in Foster Care Toolkit: The 5 Ps Model

The aim of this toolkit is to provide a guide for professionals involved in the field of investigating allegations in foster care and supporting everyone involved in the process. 

This toolkit will:

  • Introduce the 5 Ps Model of allegations practice. 
  • Explore opportunities to reframe how we view allegations and improve preparation of prospective and approved foster carers.
  • Provide advice and practice guidance to improve professional risk assessment and responses following an allegation.
  • Improve clarity around what constitutes an allegation, concern or complaint.
  • Improve clarity around terminology and outcomes.
  • Offer guidance on how to improve placement stability as safely as possible and reduce the likelihood of children being removed from their home.
  • Offer guidance to reduce the likelihood of foster carers resigning due to their experiences through developing improved understanding of the processes and outlining options for support

The Allegations in Foster Care Toolkit: The 5 Ps Model is intended to provide best practice guidance to support all those involved across the spectrum of the fostering journey, from recruitment onwards.

It provides templates and tools for practitioners and will focus on the aspects of allegations practice where foster carers and practitioners have shared that there is the greatest need for improvement.

This toolkit is part of a programme of work to provide better support for the fostering sector in managing allegations in an effort to provide better outcomes for children and foster carers. It is best read alongside its companion Allegations, concerns, and complaints: information for foster carers and those who support them and The Fostering Network’s publication on Protective Care for fostering families.

Please contact [email protected] if you have any questions regarding the toolkit.