As a Foster care agency, we are of course familiar with the route by which children come into care and this is something that is always high on the list of questions our applicants have. Very simply, if a child is taken into care because a care order has been placed, the local authority will share the responsibility for making most of the key decisions about a child’s upbringing. These will include:

• where the child is to live;
• who will look after them;
• how they are to be educated.

When the parents of a child agree to their child becoming ‘looked after’ and a care order has not been placed, they will continue to have parental responsibility for them. In either situation, the local authority will be responsible for ensuring that:

• an appropriate standard of care is provided for a child;
• only suitable people are employed to provide care for a child;
• providing proper training and support for local authority foster carers;
• listening to the views of a child – and the views of its parent(s) relating to the care arrangements being put in place. This will also take into account the race, culture, religion and background of the child;
• ensuring that a child has somebody who is independent  that they can talk to;
• ensuring that a child understands how they can complain.

Options including foster care

When a child becomes ‘looked after’, he/she may be placed with either;

• another relative;
• within a children’s home;
• a foster carer.

A care order will be given by a court. Once placed, it permits a local authority to take a child into care. A local authority can make an application for a care order under the 1989 Children Act. It will do this if it believes that a child is suffering or maybe at risk of suffering significant harm or neglect. A child or young person can only be taken into care if they are under the age of eighteen.

A care order is given by a court. It allows a council to take a child into care. Under the 1989 Children Act a council can apply for a care order, if it believes a child is suffering, or is at risk of suffering significant harm.

Do you have what it takes to foster with Rainbow?

Do you have a caring nature, a sense of humour, an optimistic and enthusiastic manner – with the ability to be flexible when the need arises? If yes, then fostering could be for you. Providing foster care for a child can be rewarding in so many ways. If you decide to foster, first you must have a spare bedroom for the exclusive use of a child or young person. You should also be prepared to foster children of all ages. It is important that you have the desire and commitment to make a positive difference in the life of a child or young person.

You can enquire further online, or feel free to call us on 020 8427 3355 or our national foster line number 0330 311 2845.

Foster care news stories can be read at –

https://bit.ly/2MjkBNc

The post Foster care and the process of becoming a ‘looked after’ child? appeared first on Rainbow.