Policy Statement
Positive Aspirations recognises that many children and young people in foster care have experienced adversity, trauma or loss, and that foster carers and staff may also be affected by the impact of traumatic events.
In compliance with The Fostering Services (England) Regulations 2011 and all relevant statutory guidance, this policy sets out a clear, trauma-informed approach to identifying, reporting and managing notifiable incidents and significant events. Our aims are to:
- protect the physical and emotional safety of every child and young person;
- promote transparency, accountability and learning throughout the organisation; and
- ensure foster carers receive compassionate support so they can provide stable, nurturing and healing placements.
This policy must be read alongside the Agency’s Safeguarding Policy, Allegations and Complaints Policy, Reporting Incidents Policy and SSW Procedure for Incidents.
Trauma-Informed Principles Underpinning this Policy
- Safety – Immediate actions prioritise the child or young person’s physical and psychological safety.
- Trust & Transparency – Processes are clear, timely and openly communicated to children (in an age-appropriate way), carers and professionals.
- Collaboration & Voice – Wherever appropriate, children, young people and carers are invited to share their views about what has happened and what support they need.
- Empowerment & Choice – Foster carers and staff are provided with the guidance, training and emotional support necessary to respond confidently to incidents.
- Cultural Sensitivity – Responses respect each individual’s cultural background, identity and lived experience.
- Focus on Healing & Learning – Incidents are reviewed to strengthen practice and prevent re-traumatisation, rather than to apportion blame.
The Fostering Services (England) Regulations 2011 outline various incidents that must be reported to the relevant authorities, known as Schedule 7 notifiable incidents. These incidents are critical for ensuring the safety and well-being of children and young people in foster care. However, there are going to be times when there are other significant events that take place that need to be notified. These are any event or situation that impacts, or could impact, a child’s welfare, safety or placement stability, including but not limited to those prescribed in Schedule 7 listed below.
Schedule 7 Notifiable Incidents
- Death of a Child – Any death of a child placed in foster care must be reported.
- Serious Injury to a Child – Any incident where a child suffers serious injury that requires medical attention.
- Child Missing from Care – When a child goes missing from their foster placement.
- Abduction of a Child – If a child is abducted or taken without permission.
- Allegations of Abuse – Any allegation made by or against the foster carer, staff, or others involved in the child’s care that involves harm or abuse of the child.
- Serious Illness of a Child – Incidents where a child experiences serious illness that may require hospitalisation or long-term care.
- Hospitalisation of a Child – Any situation where a child is admitted to hospital for treatment, especially for conditions linked to trauma or abuse.
- Criminal Convictions or Charges Against a Foster Carer or Staff Member – If a foster carer or staff member is charged with a criminal offence, or if there is a conviction that might affect their suitability to care for children.
- Changes to the Circumstances of the Foster Carer – Any significant change in the foster carer’s situation (e.g., changes in health, living arrangements, or financial situation) that could impact their ability to care for children.
- Significant Damage to Property – This may include cases of property damage that could affect the child’s safety or well-being, or any incident that could have a major impact on the fostering service.
- Any Incident of a Child Being Injured by a Foster Carer or a Person Connected to the Foster Placement – If a child is injured in a manner connected to their foster carer’s actions, whether intentional or unintentional.
- Any Incident Where a Child is Placed in Care Without a Care Order – This could include circumstances where a child has been placed in care without the necessary legal documentation or care orders.
Reporting and Follow-Up
Each of these incidents requires immediate notification to the relevant authorities, including the fostering agency, the local authority, and, in some cases, regulatory bodies like Ofsted. The goal of such notifications is to ensure that any incidents are properly investigated and addressed, and that appropriate action is taken to safeguard the child involved.
These regulations ensure that fostering services remain accountable and responsive to situations that could compromise a child’s safety and well-being.
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Any incident specified above must be reported immediately by the foster carer in line with our reporting incidents policy.
Procedures and Responsibilities
| Role | Trauma-Informed Actions & Timeframes |
| Foster Carer | • Ensure everyone is safe; administer first aid or call emergency services if needed. • Contact their Supervising Social Worker (SSW) immediately via phone; provide factual details, feelings and support needs. • Record the incident on the agency incident form (or secure digital portal) within 24 hours. |
| Supervising Social Worker (SSW) | • Offer calm, non-judgemental support; listen to the carer’s account. • Inform Team Manager (TM) and Registered Manager (RM); jointly decide if referral to LADO is required (see Allegations and Complaints Policy). • Where the incident occurs out-of-hours, liaise with the child’s Local Authority Emergency Duty Team (EDT). • Share the completed incident report with the child’s Social Worker or Team Manager as early as possible (within 24 hours). • Arrange a follow-up visit (or virtual meeting) with the carer within 5 working days to review the incident, explore emotional impact and agree any ongoing support. |
| Team Manager / Registered Manager | • Ensure Ofsted is notified within 24 hours of all notifiable incidents (tel:0300 123 1231 if significant media interest). • Check that responsible and area authorities have been informed. • Monitor recording quality; verify that all relevant documents are securely stored on the child’s and carer’s files. |
| Management Oversight | • Audit incident reports at least quarterly to identify patterns, celebrate effective practice and address systemic issues. • Provide regular training and reflective supervision on recognising and reporting incidents, managing stress responses and fostering resilience. • Feedback learning to carers, staff and, where appropriate, children and young people, emphasising a “no-blame” culture and continuous improvement. |
Confidentiality and Information-Sharing
All information must be handled in line with GDPR, the agency’s Confidentiality Policy and Working Together 2023. Only those with a legitimate safeguarding need will receive case-specific details.
Support for Children, Young People and Carers
After an incident the agency will, as appropriate:
- offer debriefing and emotional support to the child or young person, using communication suited to their age and understanding;
- provide foster carers with reflective supervision, peer support, or therapeutic consultation; and
- facilitate multi-agency meetings to update risk assessments and placement plans, ensuring the child or young person’s voice is central to decision-making.
