Consultation on Introduction of Fostering Services Minimum Standards

Closes 7 Sep 2025

Opened 9 Jun 2025

Contact

02890 520521

lookedafterchildren@health-ni.gov.uk

Overview

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 the requirements of the new 2025 regulations and are the minimum provisions below which no provider is expected to deliver.   

Why your views matter

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.

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. 

Please note that the draft 2025 Regulations are included in the associated papers with this consultation package, however, the Department is not consulting on the 2025 Regulations. Therefore, feedback provided should solely be on the draft Minimum Standards.

Give us your views

Online Survey

Events

  • Morning Online Information Seminar

    From 17 Jun 2025 at 10:00 to 17 Jun 2025 at 11:30

    A morning online information seminar to provide further information about the standards will be held on Tuesday 17 June 2025 at 10am.

    If you would like to avail of this information seminar, please register your interest by emailing the Department at the following email address:
    lookedafterchildren@health-ni.gov.uk

    Add to my Calendar (.ics)

  • Evening Online Information Seminar

    From 19 Jun 2025 at 19:00 to 19 Jun 2025 at 20:30

    An evening online information seminar to provide further information about the standards will be held on Thursday 19 June 2025 at 7pm.

    If you would like to avail of this information seminar, please register your interest by emailing the Department at the following email address:
    lookedafterchildren@health-ni.gov.uk

    Add to my Calendar (.ics)

Audiences

  • Service users/patients
  • Carers
  • General Public
  • Advocate groups
  • Community/Voluntary sector organisations
  • Health and social care providers – statutory
  • Health and social care providers – non-statutory
  • Health professionals
  • Health and social care staff
  • Health and social care regulators
  • Staff representatives/Unions
  • Royal Colleges
  • Political representatives

Interests

  • Health and social care policy
  • Quality and safety
  • Provision of health and social care services
  • Improvement of health and social care services