Five steps to become a foster carer

The process from initial enquiry to approval as a foster carer takes around five months depending on your individual circumstances. We offer the option to fast track or slow down assessments to suit your preference and availability.

We'll be with you every step of the way, making sure you're kept up to speed with progress.

Step 1: Initial enquiry

Give us a call or make an online enquiry. A fostering advisor will be on hand to chat at a time convenient to you. This is a great opportunity for you to have all your questions answered and find out lots more about fostering.

Step 2: Getting to know you

Following an initial chat with you over the phone, if you're happy to go ahead, we will establish if it's the right time to visit you at home. This visit is an excellent opportunity for us to get to know one another a little better. We will answer all your questions and explain what becoming a foster carer involves, the different types of foster care available and the next steps you'll take on your journey.

Step 3: Training

To prepare you for the role you will need to attend our pre-approval training.

The fun and interesting training is an opportunity to help you (and your partner if applicable), to learn about fostering and the differing needs of the children and young people you will be caring for.

The training is also a chance to get to know other prospective carers at a similar stage in the process to you in your local area.

Step 4: Assessment

Your assessment may begin before your training, depending on the training dates and your availability.

Your assessing social worker will visit you several times to get to know you, your family, your home and your experiences to make sure you can offer a child security, stability and safety. We will have to do some checks, like DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) and a medical check (this is an appointment with your own GP to review your health).

The social worker then writes a detailed report covering all the information you have shared, outlining your abilities and attributes.

Step 5: The fostering panel

The detailed application report, written by your assessing social worker, will be presented to the fostering panel. Its members may have a relevant qualification, experience in adoption or fostering, or may have spent time in foster care themselves. You will be encouraged to attend the panel with your assessing social worker (this is a virtual meeting).

The panel decides whether to recommend your approval to the Agency Decision Maker, who then considers the panel's recommendation to reach a decision. You will then receive a letter confirming this.

Welcome to our family

Once you've been approved, we can start the matching process.

We will contact you to discuss a child that is right for you, your family and your circumstances.

You won't be on your own. We will continue to offer ongoing support and guidance. You will also receive support from a buddy carer, if you want one.

We have a full training programme and lots of courses for you to choose from, which will encourage your learning and development as a foster carer with us.