Assessing partners in fostering households (FULL)
Exploring good practice in line with forthcoming NAFP practice guidance on assessing foster carers' partners
Fostering agencies are likely to have approved single applicants to become a foster carer. The assessment is based on their ability to foster alone, often with a good support network around them. A thorough fostering assessment will have considered what would happen if the foster carer enters a relationship whilst continuing to foster.
Single foster carers may form new partnerships and significant relationships that could lead to a change within the fostering household. This is likely to include the foster carer spending time with their new partner outside of and eventually in their own home.
It is not for the fostering agency to give permission for this relationship to develop, clearly the foster carer has the right to enter any relationship they feel appropriate, however, it is the responsibility of the foster carer to share information about their relationship if it is likely to lead to them being introduced to children in the care of the foster carer and either eventually for them to be part of the support network or become an assessed foster carer alongside the existing foster carer.
There are lots of things to consider within this process and for the agency to be satisfied that the existing foster carer will continue to prioritise the needs of children in their care, keep children safe and continue to adhere to the expectations of being a foster carer for the agency. Through the development of a relationship there is likely to be differing stages of assessment that should be undertaken.
In this interactive seminar, we will explore together good practice in relation to this process, in line with the launch of NAFP good practice guidance in relation to assessing foster carers partners. The conference will mirror the guidance and be task focused, breaking down each of the stages and associated tasks that needs to be considered to in relation to :
- The early stages of checks and introduction to fostering
- The partner becoming a regular visitor to the home
- Becoming part of a support network
- Becoming a foster carer with an intention to foster together
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. Catherine is an associate for NAFP and takes a lead on practice discussions. The work of assessing partners has been developed as a request from members in an attempt to share good practice and develop some consistency around this complex area. NAFP would like to thank the fostering agencies that shared their existing policies to support this work.