Team Fostering has been working with BAAF to develop new forms to be used in a foster carer's annual review.

Once approved, a foster carer attends an annual review where they have a chance to consider any training and development needs, to ensure their approval category is still appropriate and to appraise their previous year as a foster carer.

Last year our Yorkshire and East Midlands region was involved with the British Association of Adoption and Fostering (BAAF), along with five other fostering agencies, in piloting new forms (Form FR) to be used in the foster carers' annual review process. Prior to this pilot there had been no national approach to gathering and recording the necessary information for a robust and thorough foster carer review. As part of the pilot, staff in our Yorkshire and East Midlands region used these documents over a six month period and provided invaluable feedback about the strengths and weaknesses of the paperwork, leading to further changes and developments.

BAAF's book outlining the requirements of a review and explaining how to use Form FR acknowledges the contributions of the fostering services involved, including Team Fostering.

These forms are now available across England and Wales on a licensed basis and Team Fostering are using them across the agency, enhancing the foster carer review process to support them in improving outcomes for children.

Source:
http://www.teamfostering.co.uk/feeds/news/developing-practice.aspx

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