How to foster

As soon as you’re ready to begin the process, you’re invited to get in touch with us and we can start the process with you. Once we’ve got some initial information from you, we will give you the next steps and make sure you’re in the loop.

This is also the time when we will carry out some initial checks and references. We do this as it is essential for us to ensure that all foster carers are safer and suitable to care for vulnerable children. But don’t worry, we will talk to you about the checks and references we undertake and you’ll have lot’s of opportunities to ask us any questions you have.

During this stage, our assigned Social worker will visit you at home so they can really get to know you, your family and the people close to you. Your social worker is there to support you and make sure you have all of the information you need.

During this phase, we will also arrange for you to attend your initial Skills to Foster Training which is training that covers a wide range of topics to make sure you have the skills to provide confident care.

A Form F is a report that your Social Worker writes which provides all of the information gathered in the process so far. It will also make a recommendation about your suitability to foster and the age and number of children you could look after. You will be included during this process, so there will be no surprises. To sign it off, you’ll be asked to have a read-through and provide any further comments.

This is the final step in the process where you will be invited to attend the Fostering Panel who will discuss your application and make the final recommendation on if you have been approved to foster. The fostering panel is made up of people with different life experiences who have a deep understanding and interest in fostering and ensuring children are safe. This meeting can sound daunting, but your Social Worker will be there to support you, and it’s not as scary as it sounds!

Once you have been approved at the panel, work starts behind the scenes to match you with a child or young person. The length of this process can vary, but we will keep you updated along the way.

Once we have a child or young person who we think is a good match for you and your family, we will come to you and talk to you about them and their needs. You are always welcome to tell us if you feel that a placement wouldn’t work for you. But, if you are happy with the placement opportunity, your fostering journey will begin and we will be there to support you along the way.

In total, the entire process can take between 4-6 months, depending on your personal circumstances. We appreciate that this might sound like a lengthy process, but it’s carried out so that we can gather a full understanding on your situation and build a profile on you. This means that once you’re approved, we can match you with a child or young person.

At any part of the process, if you feel that fostering isn’t for you or for your family, you are able to withdraw your application and the process will stop.