PART 4 Conduct of Fostering Services

18 Independent fostering agencies – representations and complaints
1 Subject to paragraph (7), the registered person in respect of an independent fostering agency must establish a written procedure for considering complaints made by or on behalf of children placed by the agency, and by foster parents approved by the agency.
2 The procedure must, in particular, provide—
(a) for an opportunity for informal resolution of the complaint at an early stage,
(b) that no person who is the subject of a complaint takes part in its consideration other than, if the registered person considers it appropriate, at the informal resolution stage only,
(c) for dealing with complaints about the registered person,
(d) for complaints to be made by a person acting on behalf of a child,
(e) for the procedure to be made known to—
(i) children placed by the agency (subject to their age and understanding),
(ii) the parents of those children,
(iii) persons working for the purposes of the independent fostering agency,
and for a copy of the procedure to be supplied to any of those persons on request.
3 The copy of the procedure supplied under paragraph (2)(e) must include—
(a) the name, address (including email address), and telephone number of the Chief Inspector, and
(b) details of the procedure (if any) which has been notified to the registered person by the Chief Inspector for the making of complaints to the Chief Inspector relating to independent fostering agencies.
4 The registered person must ensure that a written record is made of any complaint or representation, the action taken in response to it, and the outcome of the investigation.
5 The registered person must ensure that—
(a) children are enabled to make a complaint or representation, and
(b) no child is subject to any reprisal for making a complaint or representation.
6 The registered person must, on request, supply the Chief Inspector with a statement containing a summary of any complaints made during the preceding 12 months and the action taken in response.
7 This regulation (apart from paragraph (4)) does not apply in relation to any matter to which the Children Act 1989 Representations Procedure (England) Regulations 2006 applies .
S.I. 2006/1738.