The Foster Placement (Children) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996

Reviews and terminations of approval

4.—(1) Where a foster parent has been approved under regulation 3, the approving authority shall review, at intervals of not more than a year, whether the foster parent and his household continue to be suitable (as mentioned in regulation 3(4)).

(2) When undertaking a review under this regulation, the approving authority shall seek, and take into account, the views of the foster parent and of any responsible authority who has placed a child with the foster parent within the preceding year or who has an earlier placement with the foster parent which has not been terminated.

(3) At the conclusion of the review, the approving authority shall prepare a report and give notice to the foster parent of its decision.

(4) Where on a review the approving authority is no longer satisfied—

(a) that the terms of the approval under regulation 3(6)(a) are appropriate, it shall revise the terms and give notice to the foster parent in accordance with paragraph (3); or

(b) that the foster parent and his household are suitable, it shall terminate the approval from a date to be specified in the notice under paragraph (3).

(5) Where a foster parent notifies the approving authority that he no longer wishes to act as a foster parent, or where the approving authority is otherwise satisfied that that is the case, the approving authority shall terminate the approval from a date to be specified by notice to the foster parent.

(6) A copy of any notice given under paragraph (3) or (5) shall be sent to any other authority or voluntary organisation who has a child placed with the foster parent.