What support is available during the foster care assessment?
During the foster care assessment, you can receive guidance on each stage of the process, preparation through training, and help understanding the checks and information required. Become a Foster Family also provides financial guidance and ongoing support from regional staff throughout your fostering journey.
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Support during a foster care assessment is usually practical, structured and tailored to your household. Your assessing social worker should explain what is required, help you provide clear information, discuss any issues that arise and make sure you understand each stage before your application progresses.
Your assessing social worker
A social worker will normally be your main point of contact throughout the assessment. They will arrange discussions with you and the other members of your household, explain the purpose of the assessment and help you understand how your circumstances relate to fostering. This may include conversations about your motivation, family relationships, health, employment, support network, home life and the types of placements you may be able to consider.
The assessment is not simply a test that you either pass or fail. It is intended to build a balanced picture of your strengths, experience and support needs. Your assessor can help you identify information that is relevant, explain professional terminology and give you the opportunity to correct or add to anything that has been misunderstood.
Help with information and evidence
You may be asked to provide documents, references or other information as part of the assessment. The assessing team can explain what is needed, why it is relevant and how it should be supplied. If obtaining a document takes longer than expected, or if you are unsure whether something is suitable, raise this with your assessor rather than guessing.
Where your circumstances need further discussion, the assessor should explain what information is missing and what may help to clarify the position. This could relate to a previous relationship, a health condition, employment arrangements, household members, pets or your home. Being asked for more detail does not necessarily mean there is a problem; it often allows the assessment to consider your situation accurately.
Support to reflect on your readiness
Assessment discussions can help you think through the practical realities of fostering, including how a placement might affect your household, how you would work with professionals and how you would respond to a child’s behaviour or experiences. You should be able to ask direct questions and discuss concerns openly.
It is important to be honest if your circumstances change or if you become uncertain about applying. The assessment team can explain the possible implications and whether further information or consideration is needed. You do not have to present your family as perfect; openness gives the assessor a more reliable basis for assessing your suitability and identifying any support that may be required.
Preparing for a fostering panel
At the end of the assessment, your social worker will usually explain how the recommendation is made and what happens before a fostering panel considers your application. You should be told what information will be included in the assessment report and have an opportunity to discuss factual inaccuracies or provide relevant comments.
The assessor can explain the panel’s role, the likely format and who may attend. They should also help you understand the recommendation without suggesting that a particular outcome is guaranteed. If the panel asks for further information or makes recommendations, these should be explained to you clearly.
Local and continuing contact
Become a Foster Family has offices in Droitwich and Stoke, with staff located across the West Midlands. This means assessment support is provided through a regional team with knowledge of local communities. The same team can also explain how support continues after assessment if you are approved, so you understand who to contact as you move into fostering.
If you are unsure what support you should be receiving, ask your assessing social worker to set out the next step, any outstanding information and who is responsible for it. Keeping your own notes and raising questions promptly can make the assessment easier to follow and helps ensure that your views are properly considered.
Training helps you prepare for fostering as well as meeting part of the assessment process. It gives you space to consider the responsibilities of caring for a child or young person, including safeguarding, behaviour, relationships with professionals and the impact of fostering on your household.
Training is also an opportunity to identify areas where you would benefit from further guidance. You can raise questions about the subjects covered, discuss how they relate to your circumstances and use what you learn when considering the types of placements you may be able to accept. Your assessing team should explain which preparation is required and how it fits into the wider assessment.
Talk to us about your foster care assessment
If you would like to discuss what the foster care assessment involves for your household, contact Become a Foster Family to ask questions and explore your next step.