Summary
It is intended to introduce new Minimum Standards for Fostering Services in Northern Ireland, which will apply to all fostering service providers, in both the statutory and independent sectors. The Minimum Standards, together with The Foster Placement and Fostering Agencies Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025 (when made), will form the basis of the new assessment framework for the conduct of fostering services. The Minimum Standards have been developed to align with (but not duplicate) the requirements of the new 2025 regulations and are the minimum provisions below which no provider is
Documents
- Fostering Services Minimum Standards - Consultation Document
- Fostering Services Minimum Standards Consultation Document – Young Person’s Version
- Fostering Services Minimum Standards - Consultation Questionnaire
- Draft Northern Ireland Fostering Services Minimum Standards
- Draft – Child Rights Impact Assessment – Fostering Services Minimum Standards
- Draft – Regulatory Impact Assessment – Fostering Services Minimum Standards
- Draft – Rural Needs Impact Assessment – Fostering Services Minimum Standards
- Draft – Data Protection Impact Assessment – Fostering Services Minimum Standards
- Draft – Equality Screening Impact Assessment – Fostering Services Minimum Standards
- Draft – The Foster Placement and Fostering Agency Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025
- Fostering Services Minimum Standards Consultation - Privacy Notice
Consultation description
The consultation invites views on the proposed new Minimum Standards applicable to the provision of fostering services in Northern Ireland. It invites views on each of the 11 standards, its key areas and its supporting indicators.
Extensive consultation has already taken place in the development of the new Minimum Standards. A working group was created to work collaboratively in the development of the new Minimum Standards and the Department also undertook engagement with wider groups of foster parents and foster children.
Online information seminars to provide further information about the standards will be held on Tuesday 17th June 2025 at 10 a.m. and Thursday 19th June 2025 at 7 p.m. If you would like to avail of either of these information seminars, please register your interest by emailing the Department at the following email address:
lookedafterchildren@health-ni.gov.uk
Please note that the 2025 Regulations are included in the associated papers with this consultation. This will allow respondents to identify elements which are specified in the 2025 Regulations and are therefore not included in the Minimum Standards. Respondents should note that consultation on the 2025 Regulations has already been carried out, and further comments on them are not being sought. Feedback provided should solely be on the draft Minimum Standards.
The consultation is also seeking views on a number of draft assessments on the impact of the new Minimum Standards.
Respondents are strongly encouraged to submit their responses on-line using the link below. Where this is not possible, views can instead be provided on the consultation questionnaire and emailed to lookedafterchildren@health-ni.gov.uk.
All responses must be submitted by 7th September 2025.
If you require any assistance, please email lookedafterchildren@health-ni.gov.uk or telephone 02890 520521.