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The Fostering Services National Minimum Standards and Regulations 2002 are applicable to fostering services whether local authority or independent fostering agencies.  Together, these regulations and standards form the basis of the new regulatory framework under the Care Standards Act 2000 (CSA) for the conduct of fostering services.  The Commission for Social Care Inspection is the regulatory body that inspects against these standards and regulations.

The National Minimum Standards for fostering services are issued by the Secretary of State under sections 23 and 49 of the CSA.  They are the minimum standards, rather than best possible practice.  Minimum standards do not mean standardisation of provision.  The standards are designed to be applicable to the wide variety of different types of fostering services providers, and to enable, rather than prevent, individual providers to develop their own particular ethos and approach to care for children with different needs.

• Download national minimum standards and fostering services regulations (PDF, 297K)