Non-statutory Foster Care agencies

The Alternative Care Inspection and Monitoring Service is responsible for the monitoring of non-statutory foster care agencies in Ireland.

The monitoring of non-statutory foster care agencies is required by the Department of Health and Children’s “National Standards for Foster Care, 2003”, Standard 24.6 to ensure compliance with the Placement of Children in Foster Care Regulations, 1995 and these standards.  The objective of the monitoring process is to provide assurance about the quality of care, challenge poor performance, promote improvement and safeguard the right of young people in care.

ACIMS Monitoring and Oversight of Non-Statutory Foster Care agencies involves;

1. Processing of application information for the pre- approval recommendations to operations
2. Annual monitoring Audits of non-statutory foster care agencies.  Onsite and remote monitoring audits are conducted by monitoring teams who are inspection and monitoring officers from the ACIMS team.  The inspection and monitoring officers are delegated to carry out this task.
3. Ongoing oversight of serious concerns and allegations of abuse or neglect against foster carers
4. Oversight of quarterly reports, self-audit information, unsolicited information.
5. Risk Management and Escalation

You can download the guidance booklet - Alternative Care Inspection and Monitoring Service (ACIMS) role in the monitoring of non-statutory foster care agencies