The government intends to introduce new Minimum Standards for Fostering Services in Northern Ireland, which will apply to all fostering service providers, in both the statutory and independent sectors.

Together with The Foster Placement and Fostering Agencies Regulations (NI) 2025, when made, they will form the basis of the new assessment framework for the conduct of fostering services.

 The Standards have been developed to align with the requirements of the new 2025 regulations and are the minimum provisions below which no provider is expected to deliver.

This paper summarises the findings of an independent consultation with foster carers to hear their views on the draft Minimum Standards, issued by the Department of Health for public consultation in June 2025. Given their size and scope, our consultation was limited to specific areas of the Standards, based on issues frequently raised by members of the Fostering Network.