Highland Council Fostering Service
Recorded Key Question grade range: 3–5 — Adequate View on Care Inspectorate
Key Question scores
Requirements & recommendations
1. By 30 September 2025, the provider must ensure that all caregivers are correctly approved, and assessments of the exceptional placing of over three unrelated young people are robustly assessed. To do this the provider must, at a minimum, ensure: all caregiver approvals do not exceed regulations which provides that foster carers should not care for more than three children at one time. the assessment and placing of over three young people in a household is only in exceptional circumstances (not exceeding 28 days). best practice should be followed for out with approval agreements and subsequent review at panel. This is to comply with Regulation 4(1)(a) of The Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland (Requirements for Care Services) Regulations 2011(SSI 2011/210).
This is to ensure that care and support is consistent with the Health and Social Care Standard which states: ‘My care and support meets my needs and is right for me’ (HSCS 1.19) and ‘I experienc
1. To support positive outcomes for children and young people the service should ensure that there is sufficient focus given to the timely recruitment and assessment of care givers and that guidance regarding assessment timescales are adhered to. This is to ensure that practice is consistent with the Health and Social Care Standards which state: "I experience high quality care and support based on relevant evidence, guidance and best practice" (HSCS 4.11).
2. For children, young people and their foster carers to be best supported, the service should ensure to undertake regular reviews with clear recommendations for foster carer registration. To do this the provider should, at a minimum, ensure: Undertake annual reviews of all caregiver families. Ensure that all applicants and caregivers attend panel’s and that this adheres to fostering regulation timescales. This is to ensure that care and support is consistent with the Health and Social Care Standard which states "I experience high quality care and support based on relevant evidence, guidance and best practice" (HSCS 4.11).
1. The service should ensure that panel members are provided with regular opportunities for support and that annual appraisals are undertaken. This is to ensure that practice is consistent with the Health and Social Care Standards which state: ‘I have confidence in people because they are trained, competent and skilled, are able to reflect on their practice and follow their professional and organisational codes.’ (HSCS 3.14).