If the word ‘assessment’ gives you nightmare flashbacks to your time at school, you’ll be pleased to know we’re not going to give you a test that you can pass or fail.
However, we have a responsibility to ensure that every foster child is safe and well cared for.
So, if you’d like to become a foster carer, we will get to know you, help prepare you for what could be in store, and see if it’ll be a good match for you and your family.
how can I prepare for a fostering assessment?
There’s no need to study, prepare answers, or panic-clean your house in advance.
The best thing you can do is be open and honest.
Your social worker won’t be some scary character with a clipboard – they’re actually quite nice. Yours will guide you through each stage of the assessment and answer any questions you have along the way.
the fostering assessment process
Here’s what happens during foster care assessments:
1. firstly, let’s have a chat
If you’ve just applied, you probably have lots of questions. So, to start things off, we’ll have a good chat. In most cases, we’ll come out and visit you at home because we can explain things better face-to-face.
2. fill in forms
If you’re keen to continue with the process, the next step is to officially start your application by completing some forms so we can run some checks. This will include:
Medical assessment – We’ll ask about current health and your medical history, as well as some lifestyle questions- such as whether you smoke or drink. Plus, a GP check-up will be requested.
References – We’ll ask you to provide some referees who know you well, so our team can learn more about you and what you could be like as a foster carer. These referees will usually be your employer (if you have one), and someone who is local, knows you well, and has been in your home. Referees cannot be relatives.
DBS checks – We run a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check on every foster carer. This will flag any convictions you may have, or any other reasons why you may not be able to work with vulnerable people. While a DBS application is relatively quick, it can take a few months to process. So, we like to do these sooner rather than later to avoid any delays.
3. training
Right at the start, or while we wait for your DBS check to progress, we’ll invite you to a training session. This can be an eye-opener and let you know more about what to expect.
4. we’ll get to know you better
Once you pass the initial stage of a foster carer assessment, you will be allocated your own dedicated assessing social worker. They will book regular appointments with you to visit your home over the next four to six months. Visits may be with just you or together with your partner, and they may also talk to any children you have (including adults).
Together, you will explore:
Your life story – Discussing your childhood, relationships, family background, attitudes, and personal history to highlight your unique strengths and experiences.
What brought you to this point- your motivations for wanting to foster and why you think now is the right time
Knowledge/Experience- What your job, family circumstances and life journey has taught you and what skills, knowledge and experience you can transfer into the fostering role
Therapeutic parenting – Learning how to care for a child who has experienced trauma and understanding how parenting a foster child might differ from how you were raised or how you’ve parented your own children.
The care system – Walking you through the practicalities, legalities, and daily procedures of the foster care system.
Throughout this, they’ll help you answer fostering assessment questions for your ‘form f’ or assessment report, which will go to a panel for review.
Don’t worry, these conversations are designed to understand your strengths, not to catch you out. You’ll get to read through this document first to make sure you are completely happy with how your story has been documented, before it’s submitted.
5. the fostering panel and final decisions
This is the part you will have been waiting the last few months for.
It’s the final step of the process, and you might feel it’s the most nerve-wracking, but it’s quite straightforward.
Here’s what happens:
The panel meeting – You’ll be invited to attend a local panel meeting where your assessment report is presented. While the panel will make their recommendation on the day, the final decision isn’t set in stone just yet (which can feel like a bit of an anti-climax after months of hard work!).
The decision maker – The panel’s recommendation is then passed to a senior member of the local authority’s children’s services who makes the official decision on whether you become foster carers.
The verdict – Once agreed, you will receive an official letter welcoming you to the fostering community.
We’re unlikely to submit you to the panel if we think the answer will be “no”. So, if the panel doesn’t say “yes”, it is likely because the assessor needs to look deeper into something specific to satisfy the panel. So, a “no” today might be a “yes” further down the line.
No matter the outcome, we offer support every step of the way.
Read more: 5 common reasons that can disqualify you from becoming a foster carer
how long does a foster carer assessment take?
Fostering assessments can take up to six months between the initial enquiry to panel response. While DBS checks take a few months to process, this time is less about the red tape and more about building a deeper relationship and trust for both you and the social workers.
Where you might be dealing with tricky family situations, it’s important that you feel prepared and supported the entire time, which is why the assessment is such an essential step.
As newcomers to fostering often don’t know what to ask or expect, this time gives you breathing room to think about those questions and to see if this is the right route for you and your family to go down.
Read more: How long does it take to become a foster carer?
“It shows commitment from both the carers and the authority – investing in time to get everything right and accurate. Keeping fostering relevant for them for 6-9 months to make sure they really want to do it.”
Social worker.
ready to start your journey?
Together we can make a difference. So, if you’ve explored all the information on this site and are ready to reach out, please don’t hesitate to contact your local authority team today.
We look forward to meeting you very soon.
