Allegations

Managing allegations and concerns about standards of care is an important part of working with foster carers. We have worked over many years on the subject of allegations, looking at fostering services' policies, the effect that allegations have on foster carers and producing guidance for fostering services on how they should manage allegations.

The legal framework for managing allegations varies according to where you are in the UK and it is important that you are aware of the relevant legislation, guidance and standards for where you are.

We provide a range of resources and publications to help fostering services with the issues around allegations. Staff at organisations that are members of the Fostering Network should log in to access exclusive members-only resources.

View our resources on Allegations

Good practice guidance

Managing allegations and serious concerns (2006)

Guidance for fostering services on managing allegations and serious concerns about foster carers' practice or standards of care.

Download Managing allegations and serious concerns
Managing allegations and serious concerns: appendix (2006)

The appendix to the report 'Managing allegations and serious concerns...' provides a model procedure for fostering service providers on offering independent support to foster carers.

Download Managing allegations and serious concerns: appendix
Protecting children, supporting foster carers (2009)

Guidance for foster carers about allegations. Produced by the Fostering Network on behalf of the Department for Children, Schools and Families, including what happens in the event of an allegation.

View Protecting children, supporting foster carers online
Responding to allegations against foster carers (2010)

This interim guidance issued by the Scottish Government and developed by the Fostering Network, lays out how local authorities in Scotland should deal with allegations made against foster carers.

www.scotland.gov.uk

Publications

Allegations against foster carers (2009)

Divided into three sections, this Signpost booklet contains suggestions about promoting safer caring, advice about what a carer should do if an allegation is made against them or a member of their family and addresses what might happen after an allegation has been investigated.

Members of the Fostering Network can log in to download this publication.

Order Allegations against foster carers online

Allegations against foster carers (download pdf)

Reports

Allegations against foster carers: pay and policies during an investigation (2011)

During November and December 2010 the Fostering Network carried out a mapping exercise with fostering services in England to ascertain the current level of allegations against foster carers. This report brings together our findings and gives recommendations for future practice.

Download Allegations against foster carers: pay and policies during an investigation
Allegations in foster care: foster carers' experiences (2006)

This is the report of a survey undertaken by the Fostering Network. It is a study of the number of foster carers who have been affected by allegations and how foster carers who had been subject to an allegation were treated.

Download Allegations in foster care: foster carers' experiences
Maltreatment and allegations of maltreatment in foster care: a review of the evidence (2010)

A review of research into allegations of maltreatment in foster care, undertaken by the University of York Social Policy Research Unit and the Fostering Network, with funding from the Nuffield Foundation.

A summary of the research is also available to download at www.york.ac.uk.

Download Maltreatment and allegations of maltreatment in foster care: a review of the evidence

The Fostering Network's position

Responding to allegations against foster carers (2008)

The Fostering Network's protocol for consultation on the handling of allegations in Scotland. The Scottish Government document Getting it Right for Every Child in Kinship and Foster Care acknowledged a need for a national protocol to ensure that allegations against foster carers were handled sensitively and efficiently.The Fostering Network was commissioned to develop this.

Download Responding to allegations against foster carers

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Allegations

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Reports

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Guidance for fostering providers

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