Changes in Foster Carer Circumstances

Foster Carers are required to notify the Fostering Agency of any planned changes in circumstances as soon as these are known. Where unexpected changes in circumstances occur, the Fostering Agency should be notified immediately by the Foster Carers.

The following list is some of the changes the Fostering Agency considers to be significant:

• Any intended change of add Please can you let us know if you change the address at any time in the future, this will help to ensure that the records we hold are up to date and accurate;
• Any change in their personal circumstances likely to affect their capacity to care for any Child or Young Person placed in the household; specifically:
• Separation in partnership;
• Change in employment/working hours;
• Financial difficulties;
• Difficulties associated with own Children in the family;
• Changes in the household composition;
• New partners/household members;
• Any new pets/animals;
• Serious/long-term sickness;
• Criminal convictions of themselves or members of their household;
• Any application for a Child Arrangement, Special Guardianship, or Adoption Order in respect of any Child or Young Person in their household;
• Any application to register as a childminder, or to provide daycare.

This list is not exhaustive and if there are other changes or events you think are important to share, or if in any doubt, you should contact and discuss these with your Supervising Social Worker, or the Senior Practitioner/Team Manager of the Support Team in the Supervising Social Worker's absence.

The Supervising Social Worker will usually visit you when notified of a change in circumstances, dependent on the nature of the change, and will discuss this change in circumstances and its impact with you. This will then be discussed with the Support Team Manager.

Where an action plan or further monitoring of the situation, resulting from the change in circumstances, is required in relation to the potential impact on Children or Young People in placement this will be clearly communicated to you by the Supervising Social Worker/Fostering Agency. The Supervising Social Worker will provide appropriate support, guidance, and advice to Foster Carers experiencing distressing changes in circumstances.

In some situations, further assessment and/or the bringing forward of the Foster Carers annual review might be required to review continued suitability to foster as a result of the change in circumstances and also to consider current terms of approval. This will be fully discussed with you by the Supervising Social Worker.