Process of fostering

Initial enquiry

• Contact us by email or phone if you’re interested in fostering
• We talk you through a series of questions to see if fostering is for you.

Home visit

• A visit takes 3 hours and checks that your environment is suitable
• If you choose to continue, you will be given an application form
• You will give us some basic information so we can start the checks.

Stage one assessment

You will be invited to a three-day training course and will learn about:

• What foster carers do and their experiences
• The children in need of foster care
• Safer caring
• Transitions

Checks will need to be completed, these include:

• Local authority
• Probation
• Finance
• Employment
• Education
• Health checks with your GP
• Criminal record check - on anyone 18+ in the house
• Personal references - if you have a school age child.

Stage two assessment

• An assessing social worker will ask about your background, parenting skills, experiences and fostering qualities
• They will work with you to put together a report for the fostering panel called ‘Form F’
• Midway Review - A visit to check assessment is on track
• Fostering panel - Your Form F is given to a panel of independent social workers, team managers, health visitors and foster carers
• If you are able to foster, the panel will make a recommendation of the type of fostering, age and number of children you would foster.

Placement

• A child will be matched to your family quickly
• A social worker will visit to check how everyone is settling in and talk about ongoing support, training and help.