Southwark fostering service statement of purpose 2024 to 25

National minimum standards for fostering services 2011, section 16, requires that Southwark fostering service has a clear statement of purpose which is available to, and understood by, foster carers, staff and children. It must be focused on how the service will meet outcomes for children and must also be available to any parent or person with parental responsibility. 

All reference to ‘foster carer’ throughout this guide includes all Southwark registered foster carers and temporarily approved foster carers. 

This fostering statement of purpose details: 

• our vision, aims and objectives
• the way we recruit, approve, train, support and work collaboratively with foster carers
• the diversity of our foster care service
• services that support fostering and foster carers 
• the structure of the fostering service

All of which underpin the provision of a service that meet the needs of Southwark children in care. 

This document is intended to provide information to:

• children’s social care staff who are involved in providing services to looked after children and young people
• foster carers and people who are being assessed as foster carers
• Speaker Box (Southwark’s children in care council)
• independent and voluntary sector organisations providing services to foster carers and to looked after children in Southwark
• partner agencies who support children in our care
• any parent or person with parental responsibility 

Alongside this document, guides for children and young people have been produced to provide looked after young people with information about their rights, how to access information and advice and how to make a complaint, should they wish.