Contract for foster providers under way

By Sarah Cooper Wednesday, 16 April 2008

Work has started on a contract setting out standards for the care of children placed with independent fostering providers.

Children in boarding school. Credit: Malcolm Case-Green

The contract is the last in a suite of three, which has already seen such agreements devised for placements in independent special schools and residential children's homes.

A group, which has already met a couple of times, has been formed to draw up the contract. Members of the group include local authority commissioners, the Fostering Network, independent fostering providers and the Department for Children, Schools and Families.

Philip Sutton, the Fostering Network's independent fostering provider development worker, said: "The aim is to provide consistency. We have a situation at the moment where each local authority either has their own contract or they have none at all and use providers' contracts. There are also a number of regional commissioning contracts. What this means is different contracts around the country add up to different things. The idea is to have one that's acceptable to everybody."

The contract, which would be used by independent fostering providers and local authorities, will cover what services will be provided and set out a framework that concentrates on outcomes for children in care and what they should achieve, based on the five Every Child Matters outcomes.

Sutton added: "The outcomes focus of the contract is great because for the first time people will know what we mean by outcomes. At the moment everyone has their own definitions and is doing different things. The important thing is: What are the outcomes for children? And are we all measuring the same outcomes?"

Use of the contract will be voluntary, but Sutton said it was hoped most independent fostering providers would use it.

There will be four consultation events on the contract at: Haydock Park Racecourse, Merseyside on 23 April; Birmingham City Football Club on 24 April; Cedar Court Hotel in Wakefield on 30 April; and the Royal College of Surgeons in London on 1 May. A discussion forum has also been formed.

It is expected the contract will be ready in the autumn.