Fostering

Welcome to the Department of Health Social Services and Public Safety web-site on fostering. This is intended for anyone involved in or interested in fostering in Northern Ireland. The laws governing fostering in Northern Ireland are similar to those in England and Wales and Scotland and may also be of interest to you. The UK National Joint Standards for Foster Care are replicated within the Consultation document on Fostering Services - National Minimum Standards on the UK Government web-site at: www.doh.gov.uk./ncsc/fostering.htm

The 11 Community HSS Trusts in Northern Ireland are responsible for providing fostering services. Telephone Contact Numbers are contained in the business section of the Phone Book for Northern Ireland under "Health Trusts" and are reproduced on the contacts section of this website.

Information on Out of Hours Duty contacts and support for carers when allegations are made or complaints are being investigated is available from Community HSS Trusts.

There are also a number of private and voluntary Agencies that provide fostering services, for example, Barnardo's and Kindercare.  Details of some Agencies are reproduced on the Fostering Links section of this website.