Family & Friends (& Connected Persons) Care Policy

Family & Friends (& Connected Persons) Care Policy Claudia Gordon & Kathy Jobber (September 2011)

LEGAL CONTEXT • Fostering Regulations and National Minimum Standards (NMS 30) 2011 • Additional Statutory Guidance Family & Friends Care 2011 • Requirement to have a Policy stating how Local Authorities will promote and support the needs of children brought up by members of their extended families, friends or other people who have a connection with them for a variety of reasons and in a variety of circumstances • Expectation that we shall consult carers & others about this policy

Values & Principles • Child’s welfare & interests are central • Where a child cannot live with immediate family strenuous efforts will be made for them to identify carers within the child’s network • Support will be based on assessed needs of the child & not simply on their legal status

LOCAL AUTHORITY RESPONSIBILITIES • Duty to safeguard & promote the welfare of ‘Children in Need’ living in the area and promote their upbringing by their families – practical, financial or other support • Children in Need live in a variety of formal/informal arrangements • ‘Looked After’ children are those children for whom the LA have a responsibility wherever possible to place with a family member (sec 17 of Children Act 1989)

FINANCIAL SUPPORT • The policy spells out the type of financial support provided to family and friends who are caring for children in the different contexts • Different arrangements/ placements – children living with Family & Friends informally or as looked after children, Adoption, Special Guardianship & Residence Orders • Children In Need - ‘one off’ payments or regular basis under Sec 17 of the Children Act 1989 based on Needs Assessment • Looked After Children – Fostering allowance

TYPES OF PLACEMENTS/ARRANGEMENTS Informal Family & Friends Care • family make their own arrangements for the care of a child in their family network • Dudley Children’s Services (DCS) has no duty to assess – unless services are required to safeguard/promote the welfare of a ‘Child in Need’ • If a child is assessed as being ‘in need’ – plan of support (including financial support if necessary) • DCS will follow principles of the Children Act in determining the needs of the child and the support required

TYPES OF PLACEMENTS/ARRANGEMENTS Private Fostering • Child cared for by someone who is not a close relative • 28 days+ • Not ‘looked after’ • But Dudley has a duty to assess under Private Fostering Regulations 2005 • Child may/may not be assessed as a ‘Child in Need’ • Dudley will draw up a support plan including financial support if assessed as necessary

TYPES OF PLACEMENTS/ARRANGEMENTS 1 Family & Friends Foster Carers – ‘Connected Persons’ • Child meets the ‘threshold’ for being ‘looked after’ • Dudley identifies family member to be approved as a Foster Carer for a ‘named child’ who may be placed • Temporary approval for the placement can be made for up to 16 weeks for assessment to be completed • financial support from the District SW team from point of placement prior to Viability Assessment being presented to Fostering Panel within 8 weeks • Following ‘Approval with Conditions’ by Fostering Panel full level 1 fostering allowance is paid backdated to date of placement • Child’s Placement Plan clarifies specific arrangements • Same assessment process ‘mainstream foster carers’ only time-scales are different – assessment is also for a named child and training requirements are different after approval

TYPES OF PLACEMENTS/ARRANGEMENTS 2 Family & Friends Foster Carers – ‘Connected Persons’ • Access to Fostering Website & other electronic information • If hard copies are required they can be provided • Statement of Purpose – outlines how Family & Friends Carers will be supervised, supported and trained • F&F Training programme CWDC • Supervising Social Worker • Membership of DFCA • Carer’s Support Group • In house mandatory training • Leaving care provisions under Leaving Care Act 2000 • Access to KEEP skills training • Fostering Allowance Level 1

TYPES OF PLACEMENTS/ARRANGEMENTS Residence Order • Legal order gives shared ‘Parental Responsibility’ • Lasts until 18 yrs • Relatives may apply after 1 year caring • Can be a private application • Can be an option to provide permanency for a child with a Family & Friends carer with whom they have been living • Dudley pays an allowance equivalent to level 1 Fostering Allowance to former F&F carers • Private applications are means tested against Adoption Support Allowance Adoption Manager is responsible for decisions

TYPES OF PLACEMENTS/ARRANGEMENTS Special Guardianship Order • Legal order gives ‘Parental Responsibility’ for day-to-day (more rights than in Residence Order) • Lasts until 18 yrs • Relatives may apply after 1 year caring • Can be a private application • Can be an option to provide permanency for a child with a Family & Friends carer with whom they have been living • Dudley has a duty to assess support needs (inc financial) • Key principle – there should be no financial impediment to the making of an order for former ‘looked After’ children • ‘Exceptional needs’ can justify ongoing support beyond 2 years specified in SGO Regulations 2005 • Policy clarifies the criteria to an applicant to qualify for financial support • Assistant Director responsible for decisions re financial support

TYPES OF PLACEMENTS/ARRANGEMENTS Adoption • Total PR & rights conferred on Adoptive parents • Child legally becomes a child of the adoptive family • May be an appropriate permanency outcome for a child with F&F carers • Duty of Dudley to assess need for a range of support services to form part of adoption plan (inc financial) • Details of Adoption Support Scheme & criteria is available • Assistant Director responsible for decisions re financial support under Adoption Regulations

FINANCIAL SUPPORT: GENERAL PRINCIPLES • 3 Types of payment • Subsistence/crisis (one off) payments • Setting up – e.g. clothing, furniture or bedding – financial assessment completed by SW • Weekly living contribution – to carers – not necessarily always ‘looked after’ status – based on assessment and written agreement

CRITERIA FOR PAYMENTS • Purpose – safeguard or promote welfare of the child • Based on Assessment of financial need ‘reasonable requirements in taking care of the child’ • No other legitimate means of financial support • Payments to carers not parents • Payment must not place any person in a fraudulent position

OTHER FORMS OF SUPPORT FROM CHILDREN’S SERVICES • Accommodation – advocacy with Landlords to secure priority for moves to more suitable accommodation • Duty to promote contact with parents - particularly if the child is ‘looked after’ unless it is not practicable or not in the child’s interests – part of care planning • Policy gives details of organisations for support with contact issues • Family Group Conferences – both for CIN or ‘looked after’ children – involve wider family to resolve difficulties – more information is available

COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE Where a Family or Friends carer is not satisfied with the level of support provided to enable them to care for a child then they have access to Dudley’s complaints process. Our aim is to resolve any dissatisfaction without the need for a formal investigation but where an informal resolution is not possible, then a formal investigation will be arranged There are clear timescales about how long matters should take to be resolved – more information is available.

YOUR COMMENTS/FEEDBACK? We would welcome your thoughts on this draft policy

Family & Friends (& Connected Persons) Care Policy