What happens after completing foster carer training?

Completing foster carer training is normally followed by the final stages of your fostering assessment and a formal decision about approval. Training gives you the knowledge to begin fostering, but it is only one part of the approval process. The remaining steps focus on checking that fostering is suitable for your household and agreeing the types of placements you could safely support.

Your assessing social worker will explain which information is still needed and may arrange further meetings with you and other members of your household. These discussions help build a full picture of your circumstances, relationships, health, experience, practical resources and reasons for fostering. You may also discuss how fostering could affect work, family routines, existing children and relationships with the wider family.

The assessment commonly includes:

• identity and background checks, including the relevant criminal record checks
• references from people who know you well and can comment on your suitability
• medical information to consider whether you can meet the demands of fostering
• home visits and checks on safety, space, sleeping arrangements and household routines
• discussions about your finances, employment and ability to manage the practical responsibilities of fostering
• exploration of your understanding of safeguarding, trauma, attachment, behaviour and the impact of children’s previous experiences
• consideration of the ages, needs and circumstances of children you may be able to foster.

Some checks may already have started during training or earlier in the application process. Completing training does not necessarily mean that every assessment task is finished, so it is important to respond to requests for documents, appointments or further information. Delays can occur when references, medical information or other checks are still outstanding.

As the assessment develops, you and your assessing social worker should discuss the kind of fostering that may be appropriate. This could include the age range, number of children, and whether you might be considered for short-term, long-term, emergency, respite or sibling placements. The recommendation should reflect your actual skills, household circumstances and available space rather than simply the type of placement you initially considered.

When the assessment is complete, the assessing social worker prepares a detailed report. You should have an opportunity to read the report and identify factual errors or points that need clarification before it is considered. The report will bring together the information gathered throughout the assessment, your training and the proposed approval terms.

The completed assessment is then presented to a fostering panel, where applicable. The panel considers the evidence and makes a recommendation about whether you should be approved and, if so, the terms of that approval. The final decision is made by the agency decision-maker rather than by the applicant or assessing social worker alone. You should be told the outcome and given information about what it means.

If you are approved, the next practical steps usually include:

• confirming the approval terms, such as the number and age range of children you can foster
• completing the relevant fostering agreement and household arrangements
• reviewing safer caring guidance, recording requirements, safeguarding procedures and contact arrangements
• understanding how placement information will be shared and how potential matches are considered
• continuing to develop your knowledge through required learning and supervision.

Approval does not mean that a child is placed immediately or that every referral will be suitable. A placement should be considered against your approval terms, skills, household circumstances and the child’s needs. You should receive information about a proposed placement so that you can consider whether you can meet those needs safely and appropriately.

After approval, fostering involves more than providing day-to-day care. You will be expected to work with social workers, education and health professionals, birth family members where appropriate, and other people involved in the child’s care. You will also need to keep accurate records, attend meetings, follow safeguarding procedures and take part in ongoing learning. The support available and the exact process can vary according to the fostering service, so ask for a clear explanation of supervision, training, out-of-pocket expenses and any fostering allowance before accepting a placement.

If approval is not recommended or the decision is not the one you hoped for, the fostering service should explain the reasons and tell you what review or representation options apply. Your assessing social worker can also clarify whether further evidence is needed or whether fostering is not considered suitable under the circumstances assessed.