Updated regulations to give children and fosterers more say on care
Joe Lepper
Friday, March 11, 2011
Fosterers and children are to be given a greater say in their care, under updated regulations coming into force next month.
Following a consultation on existing fostering regulations, the government is to give fosterers more autonomy over the day-to-day care of children.
The updated regulations also place a greater emphasis on the opinions of the child.
A spokesman for The Fostering Network, which is backing the changes, said: "What the government has tried to do is make the system less bureaucratic and make sure fosterers are allowed to make more decisions surrounding care without having to ask for permission all the time.
"What has been happening is that for a decision around something simple like a school trip or having a haircut, the fosterer had to report back and ask for permission.
"The old regulations were also very focused on processes and not the feelings of the child. Now the emphasis is very much focused on ensuring decisions are in the best interest of the child."
Other changes include relaxing the rules surrounding work fosterers can do for fostering services. Under the old regulations, only five hours' training and mentoring work for a fostering service was allowed. The updated regulations have removed this time restriction.
The changes apply to the Fostering Services Regulations and National Minimum Standards for fostering services in England.
