Family Rights Group | Kinship carers’ Forum

Hi all,
I'm after a little bit of guidance. Both my partner and I have been family and friends foster carers for around a year now. We recently tried to get my great nephews siblings placed with us too. All of a bit of a long story with the LA covering up a fair few mistakes in their procedures. Anyway on the back of this my partner has decided that she can no longer work with the LA because they didn't give us a great write up. We're due at panel in the next couple of months and although my partner wishes to resign as a foster carer. I'm not going to as I have my relative in placement any advice would be greatly received thanks in advance.

Dear Breadline bound

Thank you for your further post and I am sorry that you are only now receiving a response to your post.

Both your partner and you have been kinship foster carer, as I recall, to your great nephew for a year now and have been, it appears, negatively assessed to have his sibling placed with you. If there are ongoing proceedings then you could challenge the negative assessment if you and your partner believe it is unfair or incorrect and ask to be independently assessed.

However, you say your partner no longer wishes to be a foster carer and intends to resign. You wish to continue caring for your relative. It may be that if you were assessed jointly to care for the child, then children’s services will have to consider you as a sole carer. Does your partner still wish to support you caring for your great nephew? These are issues that the panel will need to consider.

It is not clear what you mean by a bad write up, perhaps you could speak to your own social worker about the concerns that your partner has, to see if things can be discussed and resolved.

As you may need more specialist advice on the fostering aspect, I think you may find it helpful to speak with the Fostering Network on 020 7620 6400

If you wish to speak to an adviser, you can telephone our advice line on 0808 801 0366. The advice line is open from 9.30am to 3pm Monday to Friday (except Bank Holidays).

Best wishes

Suzie