Significant Events and Emergencies

Chapter Contents

Introduction

National Minimum Standards (NMS) Standard 29 requires the agency to notify the relevant authorities of certain significant events that impact the health and/or safeguarding of children. These events are specified in Schedule 7 of the Fostering Services (England) Regulations 2011. We call these ‘Notifiable Events’. We also maintain records of additional incidents and concerns that do not meet the ‘notifiable’ threshold as ‘Monitoring Events’ to ensure that:

  • They receive a prompt and effective response;
  • We can inform everyone in the network who needs to know;
  • We safeguard our children and families;
  • We support our foster parents;
  • We can avoid future incidents;
  • We can review policies and procedures where necessary.

What is a Significant Event?

Significant events are those that impact the health, safety and wellbeing of our children and families. We refer to both ‘notifiable’ and ‘monitoring’ events as ‘significant events’.

We report the following incidents to Ofsted:
  • The death of a child;
  • A serious illness or serious accident of a child;
  • The outbreak in your home of any infectious disease which your GP considers to be sufficiently serious to be notified;
  • An allegation that a child has committed a serious criminal offence;
  • Any concern that a child is being sexually exploited;
  • The police have been called to your home as a result of a serious incident relating to a child;
  • A child is missing and their whereabouts are unknown
In addition, these are the significant events that we monitor:
  • Damage to the foster home;
  • Assault from a child;
  • Significantly challenging behaviour;
  • Use of control/discipline or the physical restraint of a child;
  • Unauthorised absence from home (not missing);
  • Allegations and complaints;
  • Self harm;
  • Suicidal thoughts;
  • Bullying;
  • Child’s inappropriate use of social media;
  • Accidents, injuries and illness
  • Medication

Reporting and Recording

For all significant events except minor illness/injury or medication, please take any necessary emergency action to safeguard all parties and report the incident to ISP without further delay. ISP will make the necessary records and inform the child’s local authority (and Ofsted if necessary).

You are able to record minor accidents, illnesses and medication on the child’s Charms record. Please see these documents for details of how to do so:

Accidents and Incidents – Essential information for foster parentsDownload
Medicines in the Foster Home – Essential information for foster parentsDownload

Read about record keeping as a foster parent in Part 1 of the Foster Parent Handbook.

Responding to Emergencies

In any situation where there is an immediate risk of harm to a child or other person, you should call 999 for the relevant emergency service/s and follow instructions given.

Report the incident to ISP as soon as emergency assistance has arrived and you are able to safely do so (regional centre or Out of Hours Service).  We will notify the child’s social worker and take any other necessary action.

Our Accidents, Illnesses, Medication and First Aid Policy provides further information about managing medical emergencies:

Accidents, illnesses, Medication and First Aid policyDownload