Standards and Regulations
Training, Support and Development Standards for Foster Care:
Fostering Services National Minimum Standards (England) 2011:
Children's Commissioner for England
Sanctuary Buildings
20 Great Smith Street
London
SW1P 3BT
Help at Hand - free, confidential support and advice for Children in Care, living away from home or working with Children's Services.
Tel: 0800 528 0731 (free phone number)
E-mail: help.team@childrenscommissioner.gov.uk
Ofsted
Piccadilly Gate
Store Street
Manchester
M1 2WD
Tel: 0300 123 1231
If you want to make a complaint about the fostering service, see: How Can I Make a Complaint against the Fostering Service.
It is important not to confuse complaints with allegations although there is sometimes an overlap. Any concerns in relation to a child who may be in need of protection, must be dealt with under the Regional Child Protection Procedures for West Midlands.
Your role is to:
Most issues can be sorted out informally and speedily through discussion with either the child’s social worker or your Supervising Social Worker, depending on what the problem is. Sometimes, the fostering service's Manager may be the most appropriate person to speak to about the concerns.
Stage 1 - Local Resolution:
At Stage 1, the complaint should be passed to the Manager with responsibility for the services provided to the child. The Manager will look at the complaint, and provide a response to you and the child, including what will be done to resolve the complaint. The Manager may arrange to visit you and the child to discuss the complaint.
The expectation is that the majority of complaints should be considered and responded to at Stage One.
Stage 2 - Investigation:
If after Stage 1 you and the child are still unhappy, you can ask that the complaint be investigated further by someone who is independent of the fostering service. They will produce a report for the Service with their findings of the investigation and any recommendations on how to sort out the complaint. A Senior Manager within the fostering service will write to you and the child saying what will be done to sort out the complaint.
Stage 3 - Review Panels:
Most complaints are sorted out after Stage 2, but in some cases, if you and the child are still not happy you can ask for the complaint to go to a Review Panel. A Review Panel is comprised of people independent of the fostering service / local authority and makes decisions about the complaint. The panel may make other recommendations for the fostering service to think about. At Stage 3, a Service Manager has to respond to the Review Panel's decision and any recommendations.
If, after Stage 3, you are still not satisfied you have the right to refer the child's complaint to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman.