Developing best practice in assessing foster carers' ex-partners
An online seminar to explore good practice in assessing foster carers' ex-partners
Following on from NAFP's recent assessing partners seminar and good practice guidance, our IFA members raised the complexities in relation to ex-partners of either people who apply to foster, or when foster carers enter new relationships and their new partner is being assessed to be part of the fostering household, and they have ex-partners.
This seminar will explore the assessment challenges this can bring, especially where there are unresolved issues or information that comes to light that could impact on the applicant's application to foster.
- What about where there are children involved?
- What if the applicant is no longer seeing their own children, or the applicant refuses to allow you access to the ex-partner for a discussion?
- What if the ex-partner refuses to engage, or says some terrible things about their ex-partner? Does this mean someone should not continue with the fostering process?
- How can fostering agencies be creative and find evidence to satisfy themselves and the fostering panel, and ensure children have the safest possible opportunities within a fostering family?
In this session, we will offer workshop opportunities to discuss some of the challenges with peers and learn from one another, share good practice and find solutions to assessing people who have had previous significant relationships where things have ended less amicably.
About the trainer
Catherine Lockett has worked within social care for 37 years as a practitioner and manager within various settings, many within the fostering sector. She has experience of being a panel chair, a panel advisor and an Agency Decision Maker. Catherine is an associate for NAFP and takes a lead on practice discussions, including work on assessing new and ex-partners.
(this event will be hosted on Zoom; delegates will be emailed details of how to join a few days beforehand)