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4.9.3 Limit on the Number of Children in Foster Homes

Contents

  1. Usual Limit 
  2. Applications for Exemption/Extension 
  3. Planned Exemptions/Extensions
  4. Emergency Placements


1. Usual Limit

There is a usual limit of three children in each foster home.

Under Regulation 38 of the Fostering Services Regulations 2002, a child may be placed with foster carers for up to 24 hours without affecting this limit.  In all other circumstances, foster carers may only exceed this number if an exemption has been agreed.


2. Applications for Exemptions/Extensions

1.  Exemptions

All applications for exemption for local authority foster carers living in Bradford (whether approved by Bradford or not) must be made in writing, supported by reasons, to the Fostering Panel. The recommendation of the Fostering Panel will then be presented to the Designated Manager (Foster Placement - Exemption to Exceed Usual Limit) for approval.

Applications will usually be made because of the following circumstances:

  1. The child concerned was previously placed with the foster carers and his or her placement elsewhere has disrupted
  2. The foster carers have special skills which are not available elsewhere
  3. The placement of the child over the limit is the most appropriate way of meeting the child’s needs arising from disability, race, religion, language and/or culture
  4. The placement is required to keep siblings together

Applications can only be made with the agreement of the foster carers concerned.

The factors to be taken into account in considering whether to grant an exemption are as follows:

  1. The number, ages and circumstances of the children concerned
  2. The arrangements proposed for the care and accommodation of the children concerned
  3. The relationship between the foster carers and the children concerned
  4. The period of time over which the placement is likely to last
  5. The likely effect on the children concerned and any other children living in the household
  6. The foster carers’ capacity to provide sufficient care for all the children in the placement.

Applications for exemption in relation to foster carers living outside the borough must be made to the manager of the fostering service for the local authority in whose area the foster carer lives.

2.  Extensions

All applications for temporary extensions of the approved category(ies) for Bradford-approved foster carers (whether living within or outside the borough) must be made in writing, supported by reasons, to the Fostering Panel. The recommendation of the Fostering Panel will then be presented to the Designated Manager (Foster Placement - Exemption to Exceed Usual Limit) for approval.


3. Planned Exemptions/Extensions

Decisions whether or not to grant an exemption or extension in relation to foster carers will be made by the Designated Manager (Foster Placement - Exemption to Exceed Usual Limit) upon the recommendation of the Fostering Panel and will be recorded in writing, together with reasons. Any exemption/extension will be specific to a child or children and can be subject to conditions. The Panel Administrator will ensure that the foster carer and any other relevant local authority are notified in writing of the decision.

Upon the granting of an exemption or extension, a time limit will be specified and an exemption can only extend beyond that date if the Designated Manager (Foster Placement - Exemption to Exceed Usual Limit) authorises it.


4. Emergency Placements

A child should not be placed in a foster home above the usual limit or outside the foster carer’s approved category without specific authority to exempt the foster home from the limit/extend the foster carer’s approved category.

In an emergency placement made by Bradford, a request for the exemption/extension should be made to the Fostering Manager at the same time that approval of the emergency placement is sought. An application for such exemption/extension must be made to the Designated Manager (Foster Placement - Exemption to Exceed Usual Limit) as soon as practicable thereafter and then presented to the next available Fostering Panel. Applications for emergency exemptions in relation to foster carers living outside the borough must be made to the local authority in whose area the foster carer lives.

Any requests made by other local authorities for exemptions in relation to foster carers living in Bradford should be presented to the on-call Fostering Manager and as soon as practicable thereafter to the Agency Decision-Maker.  An interim decision will usually be necessary on an emergency basis pending full consideration of the exemption by the Fostering Panel.

Any emergency decisions to grant an exemption or extension must be confirmed in writing and copies of the decision, together with the reasons, must be placed on the child’s file and the foster carer’s case record. A copy must also be sent to the foster carer and where another local authority is involved, to that local authority.

Where more than two applications for exemptions are received from a local authority in a 6 months period in relation to the same foster carers living in Bradford, the Fostering Team Manager may request the local authority concerned to prepare a report for the next available Fostering Panel setting out the circumstances in which the repeated applications have been made.

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