What are the foster care licensing requirements before approval?

In England, foster carers do not receive a personal licence in the same way as a driver or a premises operator. Instead, they must be formally approved by a fostering service under the Fostering Services Regulations 2011. Before approval, the service must establish that you can provide safe, stable and suitable care, and that your household can meet the needs of children who may be placed with you.

The main requirements before approval include:

• being legally able to apply and having the right identity and address documentation;
• demonstrating that your home and household are suitable for fostering;
• showing that your health, personal circumstances and availability are compatible with the role;
• taking part in preparation training and completing the required learning activities;
• providing detailed information for the fostering assessment;
• co-operating with interviews, home visits and enquiries about other members of your household; and
• being assessed as able to work safely with children, their families, social workers and other professionals.

There is no single checklist that guarantees approval. The assessment considers the whole situation, including your motivation, relationships, parenting or caring experience, understanding of safeguarding and ability to reflect on your own practice. Previous experience of fostering is not normally the only way to demonstrate suitability; relevant experience with children, young people, family members, education, care or community activities may also be explored.

Your home and household must be assessed. The fostering service will look at whether the accommodation is safe, clean, adequately maintained and appropriate for the number and ages of children you hope to foster. This can include sleeping arrangements, privacy, storage, fire safety and general household routines. You may need to make changes before approval if the assessment identifies a practical concern.

Everyone who lives in the household can be affected by fostering, so their views and understanding are important. The service may speak with household members separately and consider how they would respond to a child joining the family. Pets, existing caring responsibilities, work patterns and other commitments may also be considered where they affect safety, supervision or your capacity to foster.

Training is part of the approval process. Preparation training usually covers subjects such as safeguarding, safer caring, child development, attachment, trauma, behaviour, identity and working with birth families. It is intended to help you understand the realities of fostering and give you an opportunity to consider whether the role is right for your household. Completing the training does not by itself result in approval; your participation, understanding and ability to apply the learning are considered alongside the wider assessment.

Health information is used to assess whether you can manage the physical and emotional demands of fostering. A health professional may be asked to comment on information supplied by you and your GP. A medical condition or disability does not automatically prevent someone from fostering. The relevant question is whether any health circumstances could affect your ability to care safely and consistently, taking account of appropriate support and practical arrangements.

Your financial position may also be discussed. Fostering allowances are intended to contribute towards the costs of caring for a child, but you should be able to manage your household finances without relying on a placement immediately. The assessment is not simply a test of income. It considers whether your circumstances are stable and whether financial pressure could affect the care you provide.

Any information that could affect suitability should be disclosed honestly, including changes in health, household membership, relationships, employment, accommodation or personal circumstances. A past conviction, child protection concern or difficult life event does not always lead to automatic refusal, but failing to disclose relevant information can undermine the assessment. Some offences are subject to specific legal restrictions, and the fostering service must consider the nature, circumstances and relevance of any information obtained.

Once the assessment is complete, the assessing social worker prepares a report explaining the evidence gathered and making a recommendation about approval. You should have an opportunity to read the report and comment on factual accuracy before it is considered through the fostering service’s approval process. The information will normally set out the type of placements that may be suitable, such as the number of children, age range, and any identified needs or limitations.

Approval is therefore not an unrestricted permission to accept any placement. If approved, it is given on specific terms that define what the fostering service considers appropriate for your household. Those terms may reflect your accommodation, skills, experience, family circumstances and the needs you are currently equipped to meet. They can be reviewed if your circumstances or abilities change.

The requirements are designed to protect children and to ensure that prospective carers understand the responsibilities involved before approval is granted. If you are unsure whether a particular circumstance, household arrangement or piece of history will affect your application, raise it early with the fostering service so it can be considered openly and accurately during the assessment.