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The consultation document Care Matters in Northern Ireland – A Bridge to a Better Future (March 2007) set out a wide range of proposals for improving the outcomes of children in care. Amongst them were proposals re Kinship Care, Autonomy for Foster Carers, Recruitment of Foster Carers and Allowances. The Fostering Network has been commissioned by the DHSSPSNI to take forward work on these and the project has a completion date of 31 July 2009.

Initially we will be concentrating on the proposals set out by the DHSSPSNI in 2007 re Kinship Care and Autonomy for foster carers, specifically:

  • Introduce separate approval processes and standards for kinship foster carers reflecting the value of the close bond children may already enjoy with kinship carers, whilst retaining the key safeguarding elements of the approval process such as vetting.
  • Undertake the necessary changes to guidance and legislation to provide a greater degree of autonomy in-terms of the taking of everyday decisions to those family and friends who foster a child and to stranger foster carers looking after a child in medium or long-term care. These changes would be based on approval of the carer to undertake specific tasks and an assessment of the child when they are placed with that carer. The presumption however should be in favour of enabling foster carers to have this autonomy.

The government is keen to seek the views of foster carers and fostering services so please take a few minutes to complete the questionnaires below or email your comments to phyllis.elwood@fostering.net.