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Contents

1. Partner Assessment
2. Assessment Requirements and Expectations
3. The Assessment Report

1. Partner Assessment

Preferably the partner assessment should take place prior to the carer’s partner moving into the foster home. However on occasions the assessment will have to take place when the partner is already living in the foster home. In this instance the assessment should be completed and presented to the Fostering Panel at the earliest opportunity.

2. Assessment Requirements and Expectations

1. The foster Carer’s partner should attend the ‘Skills to Foster’ course prior to the assessment starting;
2. The Practice Manager and Supervising Social Worker should arrange an initial set-up meeting with the applicant and foster carer to outline the components of the assessment and establish the line management responsibilities;
3. The carer’s original assessment report (not the supporting evidence), including references and Second Opinion Report along with the most recent Foster Care Annual Review, will need to be submitted along with the partner assessment to the Panel. The recommendation to Panel will be for a variation in approval;
4. Both the foster carer and the new applicant will be expected to attend the Fostering Panel;
5. A minimum of 2 non-relative references will need to be taken up. It is advised that one of these will know the foster carer and the applicant as a couple and other will know the applicant in their own right. These referees would need to be checked against the register for a Child Subject to a Child Protection Plan;
6. As per JAS recommendations if there is an ex-partner where childcare has been involved the ex-partner should be contacted and where possible interviewed and a report prepared;
7. Statutory checks will need to be completed as follows:
   1. An enhanced CRB check;
   2. The register for a Child Subject to a Child Protection Plan;
   3. Medical;
   4. Probation;
   5. Employers reference;
   6. Document/key information checklist completed.
8. A chronology of the applicant to be compiled (as per JAS recommendations);
9. If the applicant has children they need to be interviewed. Also the Carers’ own children and any looked after children in placement should be interviewed;
10. The applicant should be observed with the children in the foster Carers’ household;
11. One interview with the applicant should take place out of his/her Home/the foster Carers’ Home;
12. The views of the field Social Workers of the children in placement should be sought.

These checks should be recorded, including the date when the checks were made.

3. The Assessment Report

A. The Front Sheet

A front sheet should be produced including the following information:-

• Name;
• Date of Birth;
• Address;
• Ethnicity;
• Tel no;
• E-mail;
• Employment Details;
• Employers Address;
• Hours worked;
• Interests;
• Income;
• Checks completed;
• Check Date Comments;
• Evidence Collected For Assessment:
  • E.g. interviews;
  • References.

B. The Descriptive Report

The descriptive report should be compiled based on interviews and observations. Wherever possible statements should be evidenced and verified. In the writing of the report assessors can include what is relevant. It is not expected that the report will be as full as the assessment of the original Carer. When completing the descriptive report the assessor should bear in mind the four main competence's in the Fostering Network Competency based assessment as follows:

• Caring for children;
• Providing a safe and caring environment;
• Working as part of a team;
• Own development.

Suggested headings for the descriptive report of a foster Carer’s partner are:

A. Individual Profile:

1. Background;
2. Education;
3. Employment;
4. Interests;
5. Personality;
6. Support Networks;
7. Previous Relationships;
8. Parenting Experiences and Skills;
9. Understanding of the Fostering Task.

B. Assessments of the potential of the couple as Carers:

• Areas to look at:
• Respective roles of the couple in the fostering household;
• Impact on children in household, both the Carers’ own children and looked after children in placement;
• Areas to be addressed regarding training and support:
  • Strengths;
  • Areas of Potential Concern (and action plan to address them);
  • Matching Issues;
  • Recommendation.
• Also a Second Opinion Report should be compiled by the relevant Practice Manager.

End