Cross Authority DPV Children's Independent Fostering Agencies (IFAs)

Contracting Authorities seek to commission good quality foster care Placements that meet the needs of the Children, through the DPV for registered IFA’s. The IFA’s will offer a variety of high-quality foster care homes that provide stability, effective safeguarding and meet the individual Children and young people’s needs and outcomes which will be identified in the Child’s Care Plan/Pathway Plan.<br/><br/>Foster care homes for our Children and young people will be required for all areas across London and the Home counties with the aim of keeping Children close to their communities.<br/><br/>All Placements and Services provided shall comply with all relevant Laws, Regulations and subsequent changes, which form the regulatory framework for fostering services. As a minimum this includes:<br/><br/>- Children’s Act 1989<br/>- Fostering Services (England) Regulations 2011<br/>- Care Planning and Fostering (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2015<br/>- the Care Standards Act 2000 (CSA) for the conduct of fostering services.<br/>- Statutory guidance on children who run away or go missing form care – January 2014.<br/>- National Minimum Standards (NMS) for Fostering Services (2011).<br/>- The Care Matters initiative, the Children and Young Persons Act 2008, the Care Leavers<br/>- Staying Put: arrangements for Care Leavers aged 18 and above to stay on with their former Foster Carers.<br/><br/>We seek stable and high-quality foster care homes for Children that value, support and encourage them to grow and develop as individuals. In addition to promoting their health and general well-being the Provider needs to be committed to ensuring that their Foster Carers recognise the importance of the educational achievement of Children in Care and work with Contracting Authorities in raising their academic attainment.<br/><br/>The commissioning of this DPV seeks to achieve the following service objectives:<br/><br/>a) Improved Placement stability supported by effective and appropriate matching of Children and Foster Carers, ensuring that risks are clearly identified, enabling fostered Children to have a secure continuous family base which promotes family time, feel loved and able to enjoy their lives.<br/>b) To have access to a wide range of Foster Carer homes from registered, good quality IFA’s enabling our sufficiency requirements to be met<br/>c) To improve collaboration and partnership working with relevant stakeholders so that the Child, their needs, and outcomes are at the centre of the work.<br/>d) The voice of the Child is heard and listened to ensuring appropriate consultation and participation in decision making where appropriate.<br/>e) Effective and efficient communication to support finding loving homes for our Children.