9.1.5 Family and Friends Referral and Viability Assessment

Foster Placements and Assessments for Court

Referral form may be used as child's background history for Panel approval so please ensure it gives an adequate of picture of the child and case planning

Referrer & Practice Manager:

Team & telephone number:

Child's details

Child's Name:

DOB/Gender/Ethnicity:

Carefirst Number:

Current Legal Status/Is Child Subject to a Child Protection Plan?

Address:

School/Nursery:

Siblings/DOB/Legal Status:

Genogram: (please attach)

Brief Description of the Child:
(brief account of any special needs/developmental delay, emotional or behavioural problems or any matching needs)

Birth Family

Mothers Name & DOB:

Address:

Ethnic Origin:

Father's Name & DOB:

Ethnic Origin:

Does father have parental responsibility?
(If yes, father's address)

Details of Family/Friends Requiring Assessment

Name(s) & DOB(s):

Address/telephone number:

Gender/Ethnic Origin:

Marital/Partnership Status/Duration of?

Relationship to child(ren):

Details of other children and adults living in this household/DOB/relationship to proposed carer:

Reason for Proposed Placement / Date of placement if child already placed / Is this a Short Term Foster Placement or potential Permanent Placement / what is the Care Plan for the child?

How has carer been identified/Has FGC been held (please give details)

Legal timescales:

(Please note: a full assessment for Court takes 3-4 months from the time we receive letter of instruction).

Please identify important reports/documents on the shared drive that will inform the assessment.

What do you want from the Family & Friends Team?
(highlight as appropriate)

a) A Court Report in Care Proceedings
(Please note: a letter of instruction will be needed, addressing specific issues for this child/placement)

b) A Full Assessment for Panel
(Please note: Fieldwork retain responsibility for emergency placements up to 1st interim approval. This referral form and viability assessment should be sent to the Fostering Panel Adviser as well as the Family and Friends Team and will form the basis of your report for interim approval. Interim approval is given for a maximum of 3 months and the F and F Team need to have this information as soon as possible to be able to allocate a supervising social worker, in accordance with fostering regulations.

c) Both the above

We are aware that plans can change over time and that the original referral request may be added to.

Viability Assessment
(This must be completed for all referrals)

The carers need to be aware that a full assessment will be undertaken in addition to the brief viability assessment. They must agree to the necessary checks being carried out for every adult living in the home. These include formal checks with the Criminal Records Bureau and the List of Children with a Child Protection Plan. The prospective carers will need to have a full medical with their G.P. They will need to nominate three referees who will be CPR checked and who will need to provide a written reference and be prepared to be interviewed. These checks do not have to be undertaken by fieldwork if the Family and Friends Team are undertaking the full assessment.

a) Accommodation
(It will be necessary to visit the home and consider the suitability of the accommodation for the current and future needs of the child. Will there be adequate space now and in the future? Will the child need to share a bedroom? Is the home council accommodation, privately rented or owner occupied?)

b) Financial situation/Employment
(All foster carers are paid a basic allowance. An allowance can also be paid when an RO or SGO is made but this is means tested. In view of this have the family considered the financial implications of caring long term for the child? Will anyone need to give up work to care for the child? Do the family have existing debts or rent arrears?)

c) Previous Family Court Proceedings/Assessments
(Has the family been involved in any previous court proceedings, including private law proceedings, or assessments as carers. Ask for details and outcomes)

d) Parenting experience/impact on own children
(Do the prospective carers have experience of caring for their own or other children? Have they considered the impact of another child/children becoming part of the family on their own children? What is their relationship to the child being placed? What has been the extent of their contact with the child? For teenagers how do prospective carers view the pursuance of FE, training & employment?

e) Areas of concern

(Is the family aware of the reasons for this child needing to be 'looked after'? What is their understanding of the CYPT's concerns and do they accept the issues of child protection? Are they able to work openly with professionals?)

f) Contact

(Do the prospective carers envisage any difficulties in being able to supervise and support contact for the child with other members of the birth family, current/long-term?)

g) Health

(A full medical will be part of the full assessment but prospective carers should be asked at this stage about their state of health and any previous problems.)

h) Support networks

(Do the prospective carers have adequate support networks? What support will be needed, now or in the future?)

i) Conclusions

(Is this a viable placement for this child/children? What areas/concerns regarding the viability of this placement require further assessment/investigation?)

Date referral completed:

End