England

Key points to consider

• Foster carers should have access to a variety of support provided by their fostering service, such as formal supervision, peer support, out-of-hours support, respite care services and access to independent support.

This information page provides an overview of work with kinship carers in England, and outlines the five main ways in which arrangements are made and monitored:

Assessment, approval and support 

Family and friends foster carers are approved local authority foster carers who have been assessed in relation to their suitability to care for a named child or named children only, and this should be reflected in the terms of their approval. However the fostering assessment should follow the two stage process outlined in the fostering regulations and statutory guidance Assessment and Approval of foster carers.

What’s the problem?

Young people are missing out on the chance to stay living with their foster families after they turn 18. Although there is now provision in the law for young people to stay until they are 21 across the UK, financial and cultural barriers mean this is not happening often enough.

According to our 2018 State of the Nation survey:

The Alliance webpage is now hosted on NYAS website, which you can find here.

The Fostering Network previously co-chaired the Alliance with NYAS. We are still an active part of the group and work together for children in care and care leavers. 

30 hours free childcare in England

The Government in England is extending 30 hours free childcare for three and four-year-olds to children in foster care. Read more about how and why we campaigned for foster carers to be able to access these hours. Foster carers who work outside of their fostering role will have access to 30 hours free childcare for three-and-four-year-olds from September 2018, giving them the same access to support as other working families.

Legislative background surrounding health

The Children Act 1989 Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England) Regulations 2010 regulation 5 states that every child must have a health plan as part of their overall care plan. Paragraphs 2.49 – 2.64 describe how local authorities should produce and monitor the health assessment and health plan.