If you are a prospective or an existing foster carer who has recently received a qualifying determination with which you don't agree, you have three options:

1. you may accept the proposal
2. you can make written representations to your fostering service provider within 28 calendar days of the date of the provider's letter, in which case the provider is required to refer the case back to their fostering panel for a review of that proposal or
3. you can apply in writing to the IRM Cymru 28 calendar days of the provider's letter for a review of the fostering service provider's qualifying determination

However, you can not do both 2 and 3. The cost of having your case reviewed is met by your provider.

What the IRM Cymru can do for you

The IRM Cymru is a review process conducted by a Review Panel which is independent of fostering service providers.

If you choose to use the IRM Cymru the review panel will, where appropriate:

• review your suitability as a prospective foster carer(s) to foster a child,
• review any proposed changes to your terms of approval,
• make a fresh recommendation to your agency on your suitability to foster a child and the terms of your approval, including approval for a specific child.

Things the IRM Cymru doesn't do

• It does not make a decision about your case which is done by your fostering service provider. The reason is because the IRM Cymru is not a higher appeals authority.
• It does not consider the suitability of the care plan for a child e.g. whether they should be long-term fostered.
• It does not handle complaints against the fostering service provider. Complaints should be dealt with through the fostering service provider's complaints procedure.

How the Review Panel works

The Review Panel considers the following information to make its recommendation:

• all information presented to the original fostering panel;
• any relevant information received by the fostering service provider after the papers were sent to the fostering panel; and
• the provider's qualifying determination and reasons and the recommendation of the provider's fostering panel
• your reasons for requesting a review.
• Any additional information submitted by you

If the Review Panel needs further information, this will be requested from your fostering service provider before the panel meeting, unless it would be more appropriate to ask you directly.

You will be invited to attend the meeting and a separate waiting room will be made available to you and the representatives from your fostering service provider. The Review Panel will meet with yourself and the representatives from your provider to ask for clarification of information contained in the reports. They may need to meet separately with your fostering provider during the meeting to clarify any third party confidential information that you are not entitled to see. The panel will also obtain legal advice and medical advice, should it wish to do so.

Results and outcomes

The Review Panel makes its recommendation and will provide you with a copy of both its recommendation and reasons . A copy of the panel's recommendation and reasons and a full set of minutes will be sent to your fostering service provider to assist them in their decision making.

The foster service provider must take the review panel's recommendation into account as well as the recommendation of the fostering panel when making its final decision on your suitability to foster a child.

Glossary

A "qualifying determination" is a determination made by the fostering service provider that they:

• Propose not to approve you as suitable to foster;
• Are no longer satisfied that you continue to be suitable to foster; or
• Propose to change the terms of your existing approval