The Children (Private Arrangements for Fostering) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996

General welfare of children

2.—(1) In carrying out functions under Article 108 of the Order, as to the welfare of children who are privately fostered within its area, an authority (including any officer of the authority making a visit under regulation 3) shall satisfy itself as to such of the matters specified in paragraph (2) as are relevant in the particular circumstances.

(2) The matters referred to in paragraph (1) are—

(a) the purpose and intended duration of the fostering arrangement;

(b) the child’s physical, intellectual, emotional, social and behavioural development;

(c) whether the child’s needs arising from his religious persuasion, racial origin and cultural and linguistic background are being met;

(d) the financial arrangements for the care and maintenance of the child;

(e) the suitability of the accommodation;

(f) the arrangements for the child’s medical and dental care and treatment and, in particular, that the child is included on the list of a general medical practitioner who provides general medical services under Part VI of the Health and Personal Social Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1972(1);

(g) the arrangements for the child’s education and, in particular, that the education and library board within whose area the foster parent lives has been informed of the fostering arrangement;

(h) the standard of care which the child is being given;

(i) the suitability of the foster parent to look after the child and the suitability of the foster parent’s household;

(j) whether the foster parent is being given any necessary advice;

(k) whether the contact between the child and his parents, or any other person with whom contact has been arranged, is satisfactory;

(l) whether the child’s parents, or any other person, are exercising parental responsibility for the child; and

(m) the ascertainable wishes and feelings of the child regarding the fostering arrangements.

(1)

S.I. 1972/1265 (N.I. 14)