Fostering Statement of Purpose

This Statement of Purpose relates to the Fostering Service provided by the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and is a requirement under The Fostering Services Regulations 2002. The Statement of Purpose is formally approved by elected members. Furthermore, it should be reviewed, updated and modified, where necessary, at least annually.

Download the Fostering Statement of Purpose here(pdf, 68KB)

Aims and objectives

The London Borough of Richmond upon Thames Fostering Service aims to provide a range of fostering services, which are consistent with best practise, national standards and fostering regulations.

The primary aim of the service is to provide a range of high quality foster placements suitable for meeting the diverse needs of looked after children and young people. The ethnic origin, cultural background, religion and language of looked after children and young people and the particular needs of disabled children will be fully recognised and positively valued and promoted when placement decisions are made.

The secondary aim is to provide consistently high quality services and support to Richmond foster carers by employing sufficiently experienced and qualified staff.

To achieve these aims the Fostering Service has the following objectives:

• To have in place a recruitment strategy, which focuses on the recruitment of local carers who are able to meet the diverse, needs of looked after children in the borough.
• To provide training courses according to a yearly training plan and based on foster carers needs so that foster carers are trained in the skills required to provide high quality care and meet the needs of each child/young person placed in their care.
• To maintain a wide range of support services to ensure that approved foster carers feel valued as part of the Fostering Service and their services as carers are retained.
• To achieve an annual net increase in the number of approved foster carers.
• To increase the number of specialist fostering carers, to provide placements for young people in need of specialist care.
• To promote the educational achievement of looked after children and young people by ensuring that foster carers are supported and are able to opportunities for children to achieve.
• To promote positive emotional and physical health of looked after children and young people by ensuring that foster carers help children and young people placed with them maintain good health and are encouraged to make use of leisure time.
• To ensure that foster carers have access to a multi-disciplinary team in the fields of education, health and mental health for advice and support in managing the particular needs of looked after children and young people in their care.
• To maintain a competitive, annually reviewed fostering fees and allowance structure, based on nationally recommended rates, ensuring all payments are paid on time.
• To ensure that staff employed by the Borough have the necessary skills, knowledge and experience to carry out their duties. Each member of staff has a personal development plan, which supports opportunities for training, and developing their skills and staff are regularly supervised, monitored and appraised.

Contact details

Please contact the Fostering Team

Telephone: 0800 085 7072
Email fostering.info@richmond.gov.uk