Change in Composition of Foster Carer Households

The Foster Carer Agreement and undertaking requires all foster carers to notify the fostering service in writing without delay of any change in the composition of their household.

If the supervising social worker discovers that there has been a change in the foster carer's household without prior notice, the manager must be informed and an immediate review of the foster carer's approval must be convened - see Foster Carer Reviews Procedure

In these circumstances, a suspension of the foster carer's approval may have to be considered at the review.

Where a foster carer proposes that any person will join the household, notice must be given before this occurs in sufficient time to enable a Disclosure and Barring Service enhanced check to be carried out on the relevant person and an assessment at the appropriate level to be undertaken before the change in household composition occurs. The required detail of the assessment will depend on the extent to which the new member of the household will undertake a caring role in relation to any child placed. Where the new member of the household will play a part in caring for the child in the placement, consideration will be given to the need for a full Assessment as for any new partner of the foster carer (see New Partners of Approved and Prospective Foster Carers Procedure). Otherwise, the assessment will be considered at a Foster Carer Review which should be convened to consider the change in the foster carer's circumstances - see Foster Carer Reviews Procedure

This will determine whether any change to the foster carer's terms of approval is required and if so, a report to the Fostering Panel will be prepared.

For Exemptions to the usual limit of three children and Alterations or other Extensions to Approval, see Exemptions and Variations of Approval Procedure

Any new household members over the age of 18 years must undertake an enhanced DBS disclosure immediately.