Fostering Glossary
The fostering world has its own language. Here's a plain-English guide to every term you might encounter.
Allegation
A claim or accusation made against a foster carer. All allegations are taken seriously and investigated by the local authority, regardless of whether they are substantiated.
Attachment
The emotional bond between a child and their primary caregiver. Many children in care have insecure attachment patterns due to early trauma or neglect.
BAAF
British Association for Adoption and Fostering — now CoramBAAF. The organisation that developed the Form F assessment framework.
Care Order
A court order that places a child in the care of the local authority. The local authority shares parental responsibility with the birth parents.
Care Plan
The document that sets out the arrangements for a child's care, including placement, education, health, and contact with birth family.
Connected Persons (Kinship)
A foster carer who is a family member or friend of the child. Also known as kinship carers.
Contact
Arranged meetings between a foster child and their birth family. Contact may be supervised or unsupervised, direct or indirect.
DBS Check
Disclosure and Barring Service check — an enhanced criminal record check required for all foster carer applicants and adult household members.
Form F
The comprehensive assessment document completed as part of the fostering approval process. Covers personal history, relationships, health, and parenting capacity.
IFA
Independent Fostering Agency — a privately or charitably run organisation that recruits, assesses, trains, and supports foster carers. There are 318 IFAs in England.
IRO
Independent Reviewing Officer — the professional who chairs a child's statutory review and ensures the care plan is appropriate.
LAC
Looked After Child — the legal term for a child in the care of the local authority, whether through a care order or voluntary arrangement.
Matching
The process of pairing a foster carer with a child whose needs align with the carer's skills, experience, and home environment.
NMS
National Minimum Standards — the minimum standards that all fostering services in England must meet, as set by the Department for Education.
Ofsted
The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills. All fostering agencies in England are inspected and rated by Ofsted.
Panel
The fostering panel — an independent group that considers foster carer applications and recommends approval or deferral.
PEP
Personal Education Plan — a statutory plan for every looked-after child that sets out educational targets and support.
Placement Plan
The plan agreed before a child moves in with a foster carer, covering daily routines, contact arrangements, medication, and delegation of authority.
Respite
A short break for a foster carer, during which the child stays with another approved carer. Respite is planned and agreed in advance.
SDQ
Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire — a standardised tool used to assess a child's emotional and behavioural wellbeing.
Section 20
A voluntary care arrangement where parents ask the local authority to accommodate their child. Unlike a Care Order, the parents retain full parental responsibility.
Skills to Foster
The standard pre-approval training programme for prospective foster carers, covering attachment, safeguarding, managing behaviour, and working with birth families.
Staying Put
An arrangement where a young person stays with their foster carer beyond their 18th birthday, up to age 21, to support their transition to independence.
UASC
Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Child — a child who arrives in the UK without a parent or responsible adult and claims asylum.