Can I become a foster carer with a criminal record?

The key issue is not simply whether an offence appears on your record, but what it indicates about safeguarding and your ability to care for a child. Fostering services consider the nature of the offence, the age at which it happened, the sentence or disposal, the time that has passed, and any evidence of changed circumstances.

Some offences can prevent a person from fostering because they indicate a serious risk to children or other vulnerable people. These may include certain sexual, violent or child-related offences. There are also legal restrictions relating to particular convictions, so an agency must establish whether an offence creates an absolute bar or whether the circumstances can be assessed further. A previous conviction for another type of offence will usually require careful consideration rather than resulting in an automatic refusal.

Your assessment will normally include an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. The check may show convictions, cautions and other information that is legally disclosable. Not every old conviction will appear: some records are filtered under DBS rules, while others remain disclosable because of their type or seriousness. A spent conviction can still be relevant to fostering if it is disclosed through the appropriate safeguarding checks.

Checks are not limited to the prospective foster carer. The fostering service will usually need to consider adults who live in the household and may check people who have regular or significant contact with the home. Other safeguarding enquiries can include local authority checks, references, health information and an assessment of the household environment.

If your record contains an offence, the assessing social worker is likely to ask for details such as:

• what happened and the circumstances surrounding it;
• your age and personal circumstances at the time;
• the offence, sentence, caution or other disposal;
• how long ago the incident occurred and whether there have been any further offences;
• what you have done since then to address the behaviour or circumstances involved; and
• how the history could affect your ability to safeguard and support a child.

Relevant evidence may include court documents, probation information, completion of rehabilitation work, professional references or an explanation of changes in your circumstances. The purpose is not to require a perfect personal history; it is to establish whether children would be safe and whether you can provide reliable, appropriate care.

It is important to disclose a criminal record at the earliest appropriate stage and to answer application questions accurately. Trying to conceal an offence can create a separate concern about honesty and safeguarding, particularly if it is later identified through DBS or other checks. If you are unsure whether a conviction is spent, filtered or disclosable, you should ask the fostering service for guidance rather than leaving it out.

A criminal record may affect the outcome of an application, the age or needs of children considered suitable for your household, or the support and safeguards required. The final decision is made through the fostering assessment and approval process, taking account of all available information rather than the record in isolation. If approval is not recommended, the reasons should be explained and you should be told about any relevant review or representation process.

Become A Foster Family can explain how the assessment works and what information may be needed from you. Its teams support applicants across Birmingham, Worcestershire, Staffordshire, Dudley, Sandwell, Herefordshire, Telford, Wolverhampton, Shropshire, Walsall, Warwickshire, Stoke, Solihull, Coventry and Gloucestershire, with offices in Droitwich and Stoke and staff located throughout the region.