As a foster carer in Wales, you can expect to participate in Foster Care Reviews on an annual basis. In this article we explain what Foster Care Reviews are and what you can expect from the process.
What a Review Is and Why It Happens
A foster care review is a formal assessment of the foster care that is being provided to a child and the foster carer’s own needs and skills. Foster care reviews are legally required under the Welsh Government’s foster care policy and exist to try to ensure that children are kept safe in their foster care and that the placement remains to be as suitable as possible for the child. As part of the review process, the child’s progress and the foster carer’s skills are assessed to try to ensure the best possible care and to identify any problems and to address them as soon as possible.
Who Attends the Meeting
An Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO) chairs the meeting. The Supervising Social Worker and the child’s Social Worker also attend. Children and young people are expected to attend where possible and participate in the review. The report produced by the IRO is then sent to the fostering panel following the review meeting. Foster Care Wales services are also expected to attend and this may include a representative from the fostering agency or service.
What Gets Assessed
During the review the child’s progress will be discussed in terms of school, health and emotional well-being. Your skills as a carer will also be discussed in terms of how you have dealt with challenges, supported contact with the child’s natural parents and managed instances of the child’s behaviour that may be seen as challenging. Any issues or concerns that have arisen during the year will be discussed within the meeting.
How to Prepare
If there have been any good comments then write them down in a letter or note before the review – e.g. a good comment from a child’s teacher or a letter from a child’s or young person’s GP or health visitor. Keep a brief record of main events during the past year to ensure you can recall them on the day of the review.
What the Outcomes Can Be
The majority of foster care reviews are confirmations with no changes to the foster carer’s registration, although there may be conditions placed on the confirmation and additional training or support plan may be requested. In serious cases de-registration of the foster carer can be recommended.
If you are looking for Foster Care Wales, see saferfostering.org.uk/foster-care-wales.
Going into your review, knowing how you support the child in your care is key.
