Fostering – How does it happen, how long does it take?

If you are interested in finding out more about becoming a foster carer, you can contact us at any time using our fostering enquiry form.

Information pack

When you contact us we will send you an information pack. One of our team will then phone you to answer any questions you might have. If you wish to apply we will explain all the stages to becoming a foster carer and take some details from you.

If it seems the right time to go ahead we’ll arrange for one of our fostering social workers to visit you and your family at home.

Home visit

The home visit is the opportunity for you and your family to discuss fully with an experienced fostering social worker what it would be like to care for a child or children in your home.

When we come to visit you we will expect to have a look around your house and garden to see if it is suitable for fostering. We may also ask you to provide some personal references and complete medical and police forms.

‘Skills to foster’ course

After the home visit, if you and we decide to continue, the next stage is to come on our ‘Skills to Foster’ preparation course. On this course we look in more depth at what fostering involves emotionally, legally and practically.

There are a number of sessions which generally run on two Saturdays and two evenings. If you are married or have a partner, both of you must attend all the sessions.

By the end of the course we hope you will wish to continue with us. If so you will be introduced to a fostering social worker to start the final stage – the assessment.

Home Assessment and Fostering Panel

At this point you’ve had the home visit and attended the course with opportunities to discuss fostering and what it might be like for you and your family. You will have talked with other possible foster carers, experienced foster carers, young people who have been fostered and workers from the fostering team.

As part of the assessment, the social worker will visit you at home, sometimes as a couple, sometimes as a family and sometimes to talk with family members individually.

Your social worker will also visit some of your referees. They are trying to build a picture of you the applicants which will make up a report that eventually goes to the Fostering Panel.

Whilst this is being done, you will be asked to put together a portfolio of evidence to support your application – it is very similar to the NVQ.

This all takes time, usually about six months. Sometimes the assessment may be delayed according to our priorities.