Definition
This procedure applies to rescues who run entirely with a network of foster homes (‘foster-based’), and also for the use of indoor foster carers by rescues who also use their own premises.
Foster homes which have external cat pens or kennels have almost the same applicability as standards which apply to owned or leased centres. The differences lie in how the rescue overall ensures that the qualities and procedures are followed by their fosterers, and the monitoring that takes place. The below guidance may therefore still be useful.
How to carry out the self-assessment
- When filling out the self-assessment form, the assessing person should select that they use foster homes, either indoor or outdoor:
- Where the rescue runs with indoor foster homes only, this will ensure that any Standards that only relate to animal rescue centres, kennels, pens and/or commercial boarding facilities are not shown, and not scoreable. The remaining standards should all be assessed against
- Where the rescue runs with outdoor foster homes (e.g. kennels and cat pens on domestic premises), there will be some additional standards to the below which apply, relating to those facilities. The below guidance will still be helpful in determining how to apply standards to the foster network rescue.
- The person completing the self-assessment should be able to consider the rescue’s operations against all relevant Minimum Welfare and Operational Standards, with help from colleagues where needed.
- If the lead person filling out the assessment form is also a fosterer, it is important that they consider the support provided to other fosterers who aren’t so involved in the core of the rescue’s day to day running.
- It is useful to speak with another fosterer or two and use the opportunity to check that the rescue’s own procedures for fosterers, especially where geographical distance is a consideration, are working well.