Support, Training and Payment to Kinship Foster Carers

S30 of the Fostering National Minimum Standards 2011 (FNMS 2011) requires that there should be an equality of support to Kinship Foster Carers even if the support is delivered differently. S30 sets out that both mainstream and specialist training should be available to Kinship Carers as well as support groups with other Kinship Carers.

The support provided to Kinship Foster Carers should recognise and support the family with the change in the status of the relationship between the carer and the child (S30 FNMS 2011).

S30 FNMS 2011 also sets out an obligation on the part of the placing authority to work with other agencies (e.g. Housing to mitigate against the carer's accommodation limitations) to look after the child/young person.

The support and training needs of Kinship Foster Carers must be assessed and met in the same way as for other carers. Kinship Foster Carers will complete the Training, Support and Development (TSD) Standards within 18 months of approval.

Kinship Foster Carers who complete the bespoke Kinship skills to foster training can progress from Foundation to Standard Foster Carers and receive the renumeration payment for skills.

Kinship Foster Carers who are approved as foster carers will receive the fostering allowance including the holiday/clothing allowance.

Where there are exceptional needs, which will impact on the child's best interests, consideration must be given to making an exceptional payment.

Kinship Foster Carers must receive training, support and information that is relevant to their needs and enables them to provide safe and appropriate care for the child.

On completion of mandatory training and evidencing their skills via the TSD workbook, Kinship Foster Carers can return to panel to seek approval at Standard Level which will lead to an additional skills payment.

The Kinship Foster Carers Team must allocate a Supervising Social Worker who will visit the carers regularly. Contact with the team may vary depending on other care planning factors any change to this standard must be recorded with the reasons why. All Kinship Foster Carers will have a minimum of one contact per calendar month and a minimum of 6 formal supervision visits, plus at least 1 unannounced visits per year. It is important to note that this is a minimum and that most Kinship Foster Carers in Hertfordshire will receive 2 unannounced visits and monthly supervision or more as may be required in accordance with need.

Carers must be reviewed annually, the first review and every subsequent third review being presented to fostering panel. Other reviews must be presented to the manager of the Kinship Foster Care Team for approval.

Following an investigation where there has been an allegation or serious complaint against a carer, the review must be presented to Fostering Panel for a recommendation to the agency decision maker on re-approval (please see the Hertfordshire Safeguarding Children Partnership Procedures, Managing Allegations Against Adults Who Work With Children and Young People Procedure).