WALSALL COUNCIL

CHILDREN SERVICES

PRIVATE FOSTER CARER ASSESSMENT

The Private Foster Carer Assessment, (PFCA) should be used to record key information following notification and assessment of the child’s need of an actual or proposed private fostering arrangement for a child as specified in the Children Act (Private Arrangement for Fostering) Regulations 2005.

The PFCA should be completed following receipt of the Referral and Information Record of the Integrated Children’s System and a completed PFAAR. The assessment follows the dimensions and domains in the Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families (2000).

Within 42 working days of notification an assessment of the carer and their household should be presented to acceptance panel, or as soon as the outcome of the CRB’s is known, whichever is the sooner.

The local authority may also exercise any of its other functions under the Children Act 1989 where appropriate, e.g. if there are concerns that the child may not e achieving a satisfactory level of health or development without the provision of services. Where this is the case the child’s social worker will utilise the ICS assessments, plans and reviews where the child is a child in need.

CHILD/YOUNG PERSON______PARIS ID: ______

DATE of VISIT to complete Assessment: ______

First Applicant

FORENAME

SURNAME
ANY PREVIOUS NAMES
DATE OF BIRTH
ETHNICITY
EMPLOYMENT
WORKING HOURS

Second Applicant

FORENAME
SURNAME
ANY PREVIOUS NAMES
DATE OF BIRTH
ETHNICITY
EMPLOYMENT
WORKING HOURS

Applicant(s) address and contact numbers

HOME TEL
MOBILE
WORK

Other occupants of the household

NAME / SEX / D.O.B / ETHNICITY / RELATIONSHIP TO APPLICANT / SLEEPING ARRANGEMENTS

Accommodation

Type of accommodation
State sleeping arrangement for the child/young person & state any recommendations made
Play/study arrangements & state any recommendations made.
Date household safety check completed & state any recommendations made.
Include details of pets & state any recommendations made.
SAFEGUARDING CHECKS / NAME OF APPLICANT/HOUSEHOLD MEMBER / DATE RECEIVED /

COMMENTS

CRB enhanced (for all household members over 16)
Social Care Services checks (SOSCIS/PARIS)
NSPCC checks
Health Visitor reference
GP reference
Head Teacher/ School reference from carer’s children’s school (if applicable) and if child placed from their school
Childminding Inspection report seen (if applicable)
Employer, if previously or currently working in a child care related field
References, three references are required. Two of the referees should be subject to follow up interviews

Assessment of Private Foster Carer(s) Parenting Capacity

(using information obtained from the notification, ICS Private Fostering Arrangement Assessment Record and Private Fostering Arrangement Record (Visit Under Regulation 8) reports – please formulate a report under the following headings)

Comment upon the relationships within the private foster carer(s) household & the attitude of members of the household to the privately fostered child (include attitudes of the applicant’s children no longer living in the family home)
Comment upon the family life style, employment, leisure activities of the proposed carer(s) & members of the household where relevant (state who will be responsible for the day to day care of the child/young person).
Comment upon the parenting style & experience of the proposed parents (including attitudes to discipline & understanding of positive approaches in parenting)
Comment upon the carer(s) ability to meet all the developmental needs of the child including the understanding of the impact of a physical or learning disability, the significance of a child’s identity; racial heritage, ethnicity, culture, language & religious practice.
Comment upon the carer (s) ability to work with the child’s parents, children & young people’s service & other agencies (including the ability to take & act upon appropriate advice)
Comment upon the carer (s) neighbourhood, amenities & ethnic diversity
Has the applicant (s) previously notified Walsall Council or another Local Authority of private fostering arrangements? YES/NO (state details)
Has consent to privately fostered ever been refused by Walsall Council or any other Local Authority? YES/NO. (state details)
Has an application to become a registered childminder ever been refused by Ofsted? YES/NO (state details)
Have these applicant (s) had any previous contact with social services? YES/NO (State details)

Details of Child or Young Person who is to be privately fostered

Name
Date of birth
Child/Young person’s ethnicity
Child’s first language
Child’s immigration status
Parent or person with parental responsibility
address & contact number
Placed alone or with siblings (state details)
Would other support or referral to another agency diminish the need for the child to be privately fostered?
Date proposed private fostering arrangement is to start (if arrangement in place state start date)
Intended duration of placement & proposed or actual level of contact
Has placement agreement been completed
YES/NO (attach to assessment)
State the financial arrangements for the placement
Has medical consent form been
completed YES/NO
Is the child/young person registered with a GP
YES/NO State details
Have arrangements been made for dental care?
YES/No State details
Is the child/young person attending school
YES/NO State details
State child’s view of the (proposed arrangement) & whether child seen alone
State what advice has been given to the private foster carer(s)
State what advice has been given to the parent (s) regarding private fostering

CHILD/YOUNG PERSON’S DEVELOPMENTAL NEEDS

Following notification the local authority should assess the capacity of the proposed or actual foster carer to look after the child. This assessment should be undertaken using the dimensions and domains in the Framework of Children in Need and their Families (2000), as it sets out below, in order to ensure that the child/young person’s development needs will be met.

HEALTH
Child’s needs:
Capacity of proposed/actual foster carer to meet these.
EDUCATION
Child’s needs:
Capacity of proposed/actual carer to meet these:
EMOTIONAL AND BEHAVIOURAL DEVELOPMENT
Child’s needs:
Capacity of proposed/actual carer to meet these:
IDENTITY
Child’s needs:
Capacity of proposed/actual foster carer to meet these.
FAMILY AND SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS
Child’s needs:
Capacity of proposed/actual foster carer to meet these.
SOCIAL PRESENTATION
Child’s needs:
Capacity of proposed/actual foster carer to meet these.
CONTACT
Child’s needs:
Capacity of proposed/actual foster carer to meet these
SELFCARE SKILLS
Child’s needs:
Capacity of proposed/actual foster carer to meet these.

FAMILY AND ENVIROMENTAL FACTORS WHICH IMPACT ON THE CHILD AND FAMILY

Please record relevant historical information as well as that relating to the current situation that will assist in the assessment of the private foster carer.

FAMILY HISTORY AND FUNCTIONING
WIDER FAMILY
HOUSING
EMPLOYMENT
INCOME
FAMILY SOCIAL INTEGRATION
COMMUNITY RESOURCES

Recommendation to Acceptance Panel regarding the suitability of applicant(s)

Include in the recommendation an analysis of the key factors from all sections of this report & details contained on the notification & Private Fostering Arrangement Assessment Record. The recommendation needs to include the following;

·  Whether the arrangement is satisfactory for the child

·  Whether the child’s identified needs are being or will be met

·  Whether the child has any need for additional services or support under Section 17

·  Whether any requirements or prohibitions are recommended concerning the private foster carer (Section 69 & Schedule 8 of the Children Act 1989)

DECISIONS

Yes No
1. Is the proposed/actual placement suitable? r r
2. If yes does the local authority intend to impose requirements? r r
Comments
Please indicate the details of any requirements imposed and any advice that will be given to the parent(s), other persons with parental responsibility, actual/proposed private foster carer or other person concerned with the child e.g. what arrangements will be made for the child should the arrangement be prohibited.

Has the private foster carer seen this assessment? YES/NO

Do they agree with the recorded details? YES/NO

Have they been given a copy of this report? YES/NO (if NO why?...... )

Please attach or record here any comments made by the private foster carer regarding the recommendation

Assessment completed by (state name, designation & date)

Team manager signature, date & comment on recommendation

Acceptance Panel recommendations & date

AGENCY DECISION MAKERS DECISION & DATE

PFCA

2007

ELS

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