The Fostering Services Regulations 2002

Statement of purpose and children’s guide

3.—(1) The fostering service provider shall compile, in relation to the fostering service, a written statement (in these Regulations referred to as “the statement of purpose”) which shall consist of—

(a) a statement of the aims and objectives of the fostering service; and

(b) a statement as to the services and facilities to be provided by the fostering service.

(2) The fostering service provider shall provide a copy of the statement of purpose to the Commission(1) and shall make it available, upon request, for inspection by—

(a) any person working for the purposes of the fostering service;

(b) any foster parent or prospective foster parent of the fostering service;

(c) any child placed with a foster parent by the fostering service; and

(d) the parent of any such child.

(3) The fostering service provider shall produce a written guide to the fostering service (in these Regulations referred to as “the children’s guide”) which shall include—

(a) a summary of the statement of purpose;

(b) a summary of the procedure established—

(i) in the case of an independent fostering agency, under regulation 18(1);

(ii) in the case of a local authority fostering service, under section 26(3) of the 1989 Act; and

(iii) in the case of a fostering agency falling within section 4(4)(b) of the 2000 Act, under section 59(4)(b) of the 1989 Act(2); and

(c) the address and telephone number of the Commission.

(4) The fostering service provider shall provide a copy of the children’s guide to the Commission, to each foster parent approved by the fostering service provider and (subject to his age and understanding), to each child placed by it.

(5) Subject to paragraph (6) of this regulation the fostering service provider shall ensure that the fostering service is at all times conducted in a manner which is consistent with its statement of purpose.

(6) Nothing in paragraph (5) shall require or authorise the fostering service provider to contravene or not comply with—

(a) any other provision of these Regulations; or

(b) in the case of a fostering agency, any conditions for the time being in force in relation to the registration of the registered person under Part II of the 2000 Act.

(1)

By virtue of section 6(1) of the 2000 Act, the Commission means the National Care Standards Commission established under that Act.

(2)

The current Regulations are the Representations Procedure (Children) Regulations 1991 (S.I. 1991/894, as amended by S.I. 1991/2033, S.I. 1993/3069, and S.I. 2001/2874).