Cap. 491 Art. 17Functions of accredited agencies.

An accredited agency shall be responsible to:

(a) provide a service according to the standards, criteria and procedures established by the central authority;

(b) receive and process applications from persons who apply to be registered as foster carers;

(d) match foster carers with children who are to be placed in foster care;

(e) make all reasonable attempts to place siblings with the same foster carer if this is in the best interest of the siblings;

(f) make all reasonable attempts to place a minor parent and his or her child with the same foster carer;

(g) ensure that any foster care placement will be in the best interest of the child;

(h) monitor all foster care placements arranged by it and provide support to foster carers during the foster care placement arranged by it;

(i) review and propose amendments, if necessary, to foster care agreements;

(j) investigate complaints against any foster carer in accordance with the manual or procedures specified in article 18 and draw up a report and forward it to the Fostering Board for any necessary action;

(k) investigate any allegations of abuse in any foster care placement, in accordance with the manual or procedures mentioned in article 18, and report as necessary to the competent authority;

(l) grant the central authority access to any records and documentation dealing with the foster care procedure of any child and to reports on any foster carer or prospective foster carer;

(m) grant the central authority access to its financial accounts and audits;

(n) report to the central authority at the end of every calendar year on the performance of its functions;

(o) comply with any other duties and obligations as specified by the central authority.