Support care national network FAQs
Will providing a Support Care service reduce the numbers of children in the Looked After system?
Will children and young people need be accommodated under section 20?
Where should the service be positioned? As part of fostering services or within family support services?
Should support carers be fully approved foster carers, and do all the fostering regulations and standards apply?
Most support carers are fully approved foster carers, though training and competencies may vary slightly from those needed by full-time foster carers. It's important to understand that while full-time foster carers are in the position of substituting for parental care, support carers are not taking parental responsibility, but rather working alongside parents – their role, though temporary, is more like that of an extended family member.
Fostering regulations and standards do apply, but as with the Section 20/17 debate they are not always fully appropriate for part-time foster carers. Another ongoing exercise in adaptation to make fit for purpose. There is understanding within the inspection services that adjustments and reasonable compromises need to be made – further guidance will be based on practice currently being piloted around the country.
Support Care may also be undertaken by childminding services, in which case different approval and regulatory processes apply.
