This page has information on the current policy, and the relevant frameworks and guidance relating to the Foster Care Practice Guide.
The Children’s Social Care National Framework brings together in one place the purpose, principles and enablers of good practice in children’s social care, and the outcomes that should be achieved. It helps everyone supporting children, young people and families to understand what is expected of their work. Practice Guides should be used to secure the strongest chance of achieving the outcomes of the National Framework.
‘Working Together’ is the multi-agency statutory guidance for every organisation, individual, and agency who is involved in helping and supporting families and protecting children.
In February 2026, the government set out its vision and action plan to address the sharp decline in foster carers and reform the foster care system in the Renewing Fostering policy paper. The plan focuses on five areas: expanding fostering nationally; enhancing regional collaboration; scaling innovation to improve children’s outcomes; strengthening support around foster families; and creating a simpler rulebook for fostering that puts trusted relationships first.
The Families First Partnership (FFP) Programme guide aims to support statutory safeguarding partners to implement Family Help and multi-agency child protection reforms and increase support for family networks. The FFP Guide highlights foster care as a key component of a whole-family approach within the system of help, support, and protection for children who are unable to be with their birth families. It also states that ‘local authorities should ensure that fostering services are closely aligned with Family Help, Family Group Decision Making and wider multi-agency support. This includes enabling foster carers to contribute to assessment and planning and involving them in early whole-family discussions where appropriate.’
The Practice Guide should be read in conjunction with:
Rated 1: Set up and delivery is low cost, equivalent to an estimated unit cost of less than £100.
Rated 2: Set up and delivery is medium-low cost, equivalent to an estimated unit cost of £100–£499.
Rated 3: Set up and delivery is medium cost, equivalent to an estimated unit cost of £500–£999.
Rated 4: Set up and delivery is medium-high cost, equivalent to an estimated unit cost of £1,000–£2,000.
Rating 5: Set up and delivery is high cost. Equivalent to an estimated unit cost of more than £2,000.
Set up and delivery cost is not applicable, not available, or has not been calculated.
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Supporting children’s mental health and wellbeing: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient.
Preventing child maltreatment: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient.
Enhancing school achievement & employment: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient.
Preventing crime, violence and antisocial behaviour: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient.
Preventing substance abuse: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient.
Preventing risky sexual behaviour & teen pregnancy: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient.
Preventing obesity and promoting healthy physical development: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient.
Rated 2: Has preliminary evidence of improving a child outcome from a quantitative impact study, but there is not yet evidence of causal impact.
Rated 2+: Meets the level 2 rating and the best available evidence is based on a study which is more rigorous than a level 2 standard but does not meet the level 3 standard.
Rated 3: Has evidence of a short-term positive impact from at least one rigorous study.
Rated 3+: Meets the level 3 rating and has evidence from other studies with a comparison group at level 2 or higher.
Rated 4: Has evidence of a long-term positive impact through at least two rigorous studies.
Rated 4+: Meets the level 4 rating and has at least a third study contributing to the Level 4 rating, with at least one of the studies conducted independently of the intervention provider.
Rating has a *: The evidence base includes mixed findings i.e., studies suggesting positive impact alongside studies, which on balance, indicate no effect or negative impact.
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