(Created 08/01/2025)
This escalation policy explains how to obtain local authority social worker feedback for foster carer reviews and how to address late or missing child documentation from the local authority.
Purpose of Document – Escalation Policy
Fostering services must ensure foster carers receive all information they need about the child so they can provide nurturing, appropriate care, and that this information stays current. This information always includes the child’s current care plan provided under regulation 6(3)(d) of the 2010 Regulations, and the placement plan, including details about consent for medical treatment (Children Act 1989 vol 4 Fostering Services 3.6).
Before each placement, foster carers must receive all information the fostering service holds that they need to carry out their role well. This information is given in clear, comprehensive writing and outlines the support available to the foster carer. The fostering service follows up with the responsible authority on any information gaps about the child or their family that could make it harder for the foster carer to build a safe, nurturing environment that meets the child’s needs and keeps the child, other children in the household, and the foster carer themselves safe (Fostering Services National Minimum Standard 15.2).
The Fostering Services Regulations 2011, Regulation 28.—(1) The fostering service provider must review the approval of each foster carer in accordance with this regulation (3) When undertaking a review, the fostering service provider must (a) make such enquiries and obtain such information as they consider necessary in order to review whether the foster carer continues to be suitable to be a foster carer and the foster carer’s household continues to be suitable, and (b) seek and take into account the views of—….. (iii) any placing authority which has, within the preceding year, placed a child with the foster carer (The Fostering Services (England) Regulations 2011, Regulation 28).
Under the Children Act 1989 and the Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England) Regulations 2010, the responsible local authority must provide these documents so the child’s placement is well supported and their needs are fully met. Fostering service providers must also support the child’s education, emotional wellbeing, and health as required under Regulations 9 and 7 of the Care Planning Regulations. In addition, fostering service providers must meet our responsibilities to children and young people under the NMS for Fostering Services (2011), specifically Standard 31, which highlights the importance of effective partnership working between fostering services and local authorities.
The Registered Person must ensure the manager routinely reviews all service records and, in particular, uses this escalation policy to obtain children-in-care documentation and local authority social worker feedback for foster carer reviews (Fostering Services National Minimum Standard 25.2).
Process of requesting Local Authority Feedback for Foster carers reviews
- Positive Aspirations Support staff send feedback forms to LASWs and foster carers eight weeks before the foster carer’s Annual Review Date and after each young person’s placement ends.
- Support Services will send feedback requests at least twice. They will request this fortnightly.
- If support services are then having to request a third time, they will copy in the SSW so that they know to follow-up (this is for both LASW and carer feedback).
- If, three weeks before the review date, the feedback forms have not been received from the LASW and three requests have already been sent, evidence of those request dates must be forwarded to the Team Manager/Registered Manager so they can escalate.
- The Registered Manager/Team Manager then works with the SSW to oversee the process.
- The RM/TM considers the following actions:
• Ask the SSW to call the LASW to gather feedback verbally, then write it up and send it back to the LASW to confirm it reflects their views.
• Include the feedback form in the body of the email to make it easier for the LASW to complete.
• Seek additional feedback from other relevant professionals, such as the IRO or school staff.
• Send an escalation email to the LASW requesting the information, copying in the Local Authority Team Manager and Independent Reviewing Officer. The email may refer to the above NMS, Fostering Regulations, and associated guidance.
Feedback Request Process for LA Documentation
- SSWs receive a monthly email that sets out the status of all required LA documentation for each child and young person. The relevant TM and RM are copied into this email.
- SSWs must follow up on the request for this documentation three times, leaving one week between each request to the LASW.
- If three requests have been sent without any response, evidence of these emails must be forwarded to the Team Manager/Registered Manager so they can escalate.
- The Registered Manager/Team Manager then sends an escalation email requesting the information, copying in the Local Authority Team Manager and Independent Reviewing Officer. The email may refer to the above NMS, Fostering Regulations, and associated guidance.
Draft Email Template for LA Documentation
Dear ………… (LASW)
1.
Re: young person >>>>>
Despite three previous requests, we have not yet received the following documentation relating to the above-named young person:
• Document 1
• Document 2
• Document 3
As you know, foster carers and our fostering agency need to work in partnership and receive complete information so the young person can achieve positive outcomes. Regulation 17 of the Fostering Services Regulations (2011) states:
“17(3) The fostering service provider must ensure that, in relation to any child placed or to be placed with a foster parent, the foster parent is given such information, which is kept up to date, as to enable him to provide appropriate care for the child, and in particular that each foster parent is provided with a copy of the most recent version of the child’s care plan provided to the fostering service provider under regulation 6(3)(d) of the Care Planning Regulations.”
This also applies to updated information during the placement so the foster carer can respond to any changes in the Care Plan. The National Minimum Standards for Fostering (2011) Standard 15 states:
“The fostering service follows up with the responsible authority any gaps in the information provided to them on the child or the child’s family, which may hinder the foster carer in providing a safe caring environment that meets the child’s needs and enables them to keep the child, other children in the fostering household and the foster carer him/herself safe.”
Please send all future documentation to us as soon as it becomes available so we can avoid further repeat requests.
Thank you in advance for your help with this matter.
Kind regards,
