Apply to be a foster carer - how the process works
1. Overview
Introduction
After you have registered your interest in becoming a foster carer with us, we work with you through our assessment process which takes 4 to 6 months. We understand that during this process you may decide that it’s not for you, or not for you at the moment. We can arrange to get back in touch with you in a few month's time after our initial conversations if you need more time before progressing.
Assessment is thorough because we must be sure that a child will be safe in your care and that you're confident in taking on a fostering role.
A fostering application is a 2-stage process after your initial enquiry.
Stage 1
- Q&A call
- Initial visit
- Undertaking checks and references
Stage 2 – Your assessment
If your application is progressing, the assessment can start and stages 1 and 2 can run at the same time.
- Assessment
- 'Becoming a fostering family' pre-approval training
Register your interest
The first step is to complete the enquiry form and register your interest in fostering, or attend one of our virtual information sessions online.
Read more about becoming a foster carer.
Enquiry
We will then:
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contact you to answer any questions you have
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take some initial details from you
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complete an expression of interest.
Q&A call
During the call, we will give you more information about fostering. We can answer any questions you have and talk to you about:
- Your factual information. For example, name, address, date of birth, ethnicity, religion and current relationship status
- Your household members and their basic information
- Your children, their basic information and details of contact and relationships
- Any previous partners: names and details of previous relationships
- Your accommodation and suitability for fostering
- Your current employment (if you are working) and availability/flexibility to foster
- The information that we will need to complete our checks and references
- Any previous involvement you or wider family members have had with the police, children's or adults' services
- Your health
- Your lifestyle: beliefs, day to day lifestyle, impact of fostering and changes you may need to make
- Your experience of parenting or caring for children
- All the types of fostering and what you're interested in
Initial visit
A member of the team will come and visit you at home to discuss your fostering application in more depth:
- skills and experience
- finances
- knowledge and understanding of fostering
- your reasons for wanting to become a foster carer.
We will look around your home and discuss with you any issues around your to suitability to foster. After this visit, we will send you some documents to complete. This is to enable us to complete your Stage 1 checks and references. We will send you the report template used for assessments. This is so you can review and consider the information which we will talk through with you.
Becoming a Fostering Family training
The next stage is to begin our 'Becoming a Fostering Family' training course. This looks at the emotional, legal and practical aspects of fostering.
You have the chance to discuss what fostering might be like, for you and your family, and your assessing social worker will support you every step of the way.
Becoming a Fostering Family training takes place across eight sessions - six which are online two of which are face-to-face sessions where you'll meet our trainers.
For joint applications, both of you must complete and all sessions.
Throughout the course, we will meet to discuss your application and support you through the whole course.
Your assessment and Fostering Panel
During the assessment, the social worker will visit you at home. They will meet with you and any other household members, both individually and as a group.
Your social worker will also visit some of your referees. They are trying to build a picture of you to report to the Fostering Panel.
The assessment process requires your full participation. We ask all applicants to be honest and open throughout.