Northern Ireland

Fostering services are inspected in different ways  as defined by the inspection framework governing the service type, whether that's public sector services such as local authorities or health and social care trusts or independent fostering providers. In England the regulatory body, Ofsted, inspects local authority fostering services as part of the Independent Local Authority Children’s Services (ILACS) inspection of the whole of children’s’ services in the authority.

Organisations that want to request AccessNI disclosure on candidates must either become a registered body (this is only suitable for large organisations) or use an umbrella body that is registered with AccessNI. You can see a full list of umbrella bodies on the Department of Justice for Northern Ireland website

Depending on the nature of the work, an employer may ask for a basic, standard or an enhanced disclosure.

Fostering Kinship Support is one of a range of innovative programmes that The Fostering Network runs to improve outcomes for kinship families.

For more information about Fostering Kinship Support telephone The Fostering Network in Northern Ireland on 028 9070 5056 or email Nikki Gregg. 

The information we have provided below is a starting point to the legislation and guidance relating to children and young people in foster care in Northern Ireland, rather than a comprehensive list.

Legislation

The legislative framework for Northern Ireland's child protection system is set out in The Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995. This sets out parental responsibilities and rights and the duties and powers public authorities have to support children.

Northern Ireland Foster Care Awards 2019

The Fostering Network's annual Northern Ireland Foster Care Awards recognise and celebrate the contribution individual foster and kinship carers make towards the lives of children in foster care.

This year's awards ceremony will be held on Saturday 16 November in Titanic Belfast. Nominations for this year's awards are now closed.

2018's awards

2018's ceremony took place in the Hilton Hotel, Belfast on Saturday 12 May 2018.  

About Step Up Step Down

The programme gives parents the support of a foster carer who can ‘step up’ if the family needs additional support and ‘step down’ when parents are in a better place to support their children. 

Fostering the Future is one of several innovative programmes The Fostering Network runs to improve foster care and outcomes for fostered young people and foster and kinship foster carers.

For more information about Fostering the Future phone The Fostering Network in Northern Ireland on 028 9070 5056, or contact Mikhaila Woods. 

Fostering Achievement was one of a range of innovative programmes that The Fostering Network runs to improve foster care and outcomes for fostered young people.

​For media enquiries regarding Fostering Achievement email The Fostering Network's media team or phone 020 7620 6441.