- To Become a Foster Carer: 0800 023 4561
- Other Enquiries: 0800 085 2225
The Placement Process
All placements must be negotiated through the child or young person's care authority (the Local Authority/Health & Social Care Trust) either through an individual placement contract or as part of a wider contract of service provision commissioned by the care authority.
FCA has specifically designated 'Placements Managers' who are the first point of contact for enquiries about placement choices and 'spot purchasing'. On receiving a referral, the Placements Team will identify any possible match based on the young person's needs and carer vacancies. The Placements Team will keep you up to date as the referral progresses and will endeavour to get back to you within your requested timescales.
Placement Regulation
All placements of children and young people with FCA foster carers are made and monitored in accordance with the Fostering Services Regulations (these vary slightly across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland)
This ensures that:
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All foster carers are properly approved, reviewed and have signed a 'Foster Care Agreement'
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All children's placements are made using individual 'Foster Placement Agreements' which are prepared either before or at the point of placement and which include essential information sharing and care plans.
- Wherever possible, pre-placements planning is undertaken, including introductions between foster carers and child(ren). For emergency placements, immediate care and placement planning is given very rapid attention.
