The terms of reference of the committee were to develop national standards on policies, practices and procedures in consultation with key stakeholders of the service which should apply to foster care, in line with the recommendations of the report and focusing in particular on the need to improve the quality and consistency of services for children and young people in foster care, standards and practices related to foster carers and providing guidance to health boards on how they can effectively meet their statutory obligations. The national standards for foster care, therefore, comprise three sections dealing with standards relating to the children and young persons in foster care, the foster carers, and the health boards respectively.