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Foster care is a partnership. Participators are carers, social workers, the placing agency and, if possible and desirable, the child and his natural parents.

Respect must be afforded to cultural, racial and religious identities of both cared-for and carers in choice of placement and subsequent support.

Effort must be made to establish continuity in child's life so that his identity may be maintained, his well-being promoted and potential realised.

The real cost of supporting a foster child must be met and, in addition carers should be able to receive a fee for specialized skills.

Opportunities for initial and on-going training must be made available, and where necessary funded by the relevant authority, in respect of foster parent social workers and other professions involved in this branch of child-care.

All who are working within the fostering situation must be able to feel that support from the authority may be begged as needed.

The responsibilities shouldered by the authority in direct respect of the foster parents (purposes and goals of each placement) must be stated in writing. Likewise the responsibilities of foster parents in respect of the authority.

Important decisions relating to a child in care should, where truly practicable / possible, be made after consultation with the child himself, the natural parents, the foster parents and the social workers.

Foster parents , children and their natural parents should have the opportunity to challenge decisions made independently by the fostering authority and be made aware of procedures open to them.

It shall be recognized that young people leaving care at sixteen or seventeen have a right to expect further support into adulthood.