FFI Placement Terms & Conditions

  1. Placing LHO areas and/or their appointed representatives will be deemed to have accepted the following Terms and Conditions upon reserving or effecting a placement.
     
  2. Fostering First Ireland’s carers and staff are committed to working through problems with children and young persons, but in the event that a child has to move, Fostering First Ireland will attempt to give 28 days' notice to ensure that such a move be carried out in a planned manner.
     
  3. In the event of an emergency Fostering First Ireland reserves the right to place a child with respite carers.  The placing HSE area will be informed at the earliest opportunity.  However, if we are unable to make contact with the placing HSE area out of hours the notification may be after the event.  We do expect to provide the best possible substitute in the unlikely event of an unplanned move from a foster home.
     
  4. Charges are normally reviewed on 1st April annually.  Any changes will be notified in advance.
     
  5. All placements will be invoiced 4 weeks in advance from the date the placement commences (1st January for February Fees) and are expected to paid within 30 days.
     
  6. In the event of an emergency placement, placing HSE areas will be invoiced in arrears.  As soon as is practicable this will be amended to our normal payment conditions specified in Section 5.
     
  7. Fostering First Ireland reserves the right to charge interest on any account which remains outstanding for a period exceeding 60 days of the invoice date.  This will be at the prevailing bank base interest rate plus 5%.
     
  8. Any overpayment by the HSE will normally be credited within 14 days.
     
  9. Fostering First Ireland reserves the right to request payment of 75% of our normal weekly charge from the date a placement is reserved (This applies when a placement is planned and the HSE wish to ‘hold’ a placement for a child/young person).
     
  10. 28 days’ notice of termination of placement is required in writing.
     
  11. Our basic placement charge includes the following:
    a) Allowance to carers
    b) Weekly clothing allowance, to maintain clothing at an adequate & reasonable level
    c) Child/young persons pocket money
    d) Supervised contact (1 Session)
    e) Carer mileage
    f) Birthday and Festival Allowances
    g) Supportive Respite (up to 21 nights per year).
    h) Fostering First Ireland organised activities and trips
    i) Support and Training of carers and staff
    j) Therapeutic assessment of child/young person and support to carers
    k) Emergency/Initial clothing allowance.  An initial level of suitable clothing is expected on placement
    l) School Uniform initial allowance
     
  12. Fostering First Ireland will enable any child/young person to access advice, information or advocacy from an independent person (e.g. IAYPIC or the Ombudsman for Children) in accordance with current guidance and regulation.  Fostering First Ireland will also give full access to the HSE information in relation to its foster carer/s.
     
  13. Nothing in this individual agreement whether implicit, implied or explicit bestows upon FFI duties, functions and responsibilities as a ‘Statutory Authority’ in the placement of children in accordance with the Child Care (Placement of Children in Foster Care) Regulations 1995 and the Child Care Act 1991.  The placing HSE area remains responsible in its statutory duties and functions towards the child or young person placed with FFI Foster carers including its duty to supervise and visit the child/young person and arrange for the reviewing of the care plan.
     
  14. FFI will provide regular updated written reports to the placing HSE area in relation to placement progress.  FFI will also ensure the reporting of any incidents, including child protection concerns, both verbally and in writing.
     
  15. The provision of Form F Assessments, the sharing of the information about foster carers and the resulting foster placements are made in good faith.  Any direct approach to a foster carer by a HSE area and any transfer of carer to the HSE with children/young people in placement will incur a fee equal to the annual placement charge for each placement.
     
  16. Prior to placement, or at the point of admission in the case of any emergency, the HSE area will provide FFI with relevant documentation and a full history of the child/young person, including challenging and offending behaviours and previous incidents of child abuse, both in respect of that individual being a victim or perpetrator.  In the event that such documentation is not provided in accordance with this clause the HSE area will indemnify FFI against all liabilities, damages, costs, losses, claims, expenses, demands and proceedings whatsoever, however arising, in relation to the foster placement and affected third parties.
     
  17. All documentation relating to a child or young person placed with FFI foster carer/s will be returned to the placing HSE area within 56 days of the placement ending.
     
  18. FFI and its foster carer/s will, at all times, deal with all information relating to children & young people in a confidential and respectful manner.
     
  19. Fostering First Ireland will at ALL times ensure adherence to the Legislation, Regulations (and associated directions) and the National Standards in Foster Care 2003. Fostering First Ireland recognises its obligations under the Freedom of Information Act 1997 with particular regard to Section 6(9) of this legislation.
     
  20. These terms and conditions should be read in conjunction with our list of placement charges and supersede any earlier documents.


Content © Fostering First Ireland 2012