Guidance and regulation

Guidance for local authorities on the national minimum standards for providing fostering services.

• From: Department for Education
• Updated: 8 March 2011

Tell Ofsted about a serious incident in an independent fostering agency.

• From: Ofsted
• Updated: 26 October 2023

This guidance outlines 'staying put' arrangements that enable care leavers to remain with their former foster carers after they turn 18.

• From: Department for Education and 2 others
• Updated: 22 May 2013

Statutory guidance for local authorities on the assessment and approval process of foster carers for looked-after children.

• From: Department for Education
• Updated: 15 July 2013

Statutory guidance for local authorities on safeguarding and promoting the welfare of privately fostered children.

• From: Department for Education
• Updated: 25 July 2005

Volume 4: statutory guidance on fostering services for looked-after children.

• From: Department for Education
• Updated: 3 July 2015

Statutory guidance for local authorities on safeguarding and promoting the welfare of privately fostered children.

• From: Department for Education
• Updated: 25 July 2005

A summary of what attending a review panel is like and the documents that you can submit to the Independent Review Mechanism (IRM).

• From: Independent Review Mechanism
• Updated: 19 September 2023

What you need to know about registering with Ofsted if you want to open or manage an independent fostering agency.

• From: Ofsted
• Updated: 22 February 2021

Information for support care providers on using the training, support and development (TSD) standards for foster carers.

• From: Department for Education
• Updated: 28 November 2012

How you can ask for an independent review if you disagree with an adoption agency’s or fostering service provider’s qualifying determination letter.

• From: Independent Review Mechanism
• Updated: 31 July 2020

A guide to help young people living in children’s homes or foster care understand the 'Independent reviewing officers handbook'.

• From: Department for Education
• Updated: 15 March 2011

Letter that Ofsted sends to independent fostering agencies giving notice of inspection and asking for particular information.

• From: Ofsted
• Updated: 17 August 2020

Guidance for local authorities who are aiming to develop or improve their local delegated authority policy.

• From: Department for Education
• Updated: 22 April 2014

Guidance on the registration of an independent fostering agency branch.

• From: Ofsted
• Updated: 23 January 2012

A summary for caseworkers and line managers of what attending an IRM review panel is like, including the documents you’ll need to submit.

• From: Independent Review Mechanism
• Updated: 29 July 2022