How are foster carer references assessed?

Foster carer references are a structured source of evidence used during the fostering assessment. The assessing social worker normally contacts the people you nominate, asks questions about your background and circumstances, and records the information for consideration alongside interviews, household checks and other assessment material.

Who may be asked to provide a reference?

Referees are usually people who have known you for a meaningful period and have enough insight to give specific examples. Depending on your circumstances, they may include friends, relatives, colleagues, employers, previous partners or people who have seen you care for children. The fostering service will explain its requirements and may ask for more than one type of referee so that it can understand different parts of your life.

A referee should be able to answer independently rather than simply confirm that they support your application. Someone who knows you only casually, or who has been selected because they are unlikely to raise difficult issues, may not provide a useful assessment. You should obtain the person’s agreement before giving their details and check that their contact information is correct.

What does the assessment usually cover?

• Your history, including important changes, relationships and living arrangements.
• How you respond to pressure, disagreement, boundaries and responsibility.
• Your approach to children’s behaviour, routines, supervision and discipline.
• How you communicate with professionals and work with other adults.
• Your reasons for fostering and whether your expectations appear realistic.
• Any circumstances the referee believes could affect a child placed in your home.

The assessor may ask for examples rather than general descriptions. For instance, a referee might be asked how you handled a difficult situation, supported someone who was vulnerable, or responded when plans changed. Specific, balanced answers are generally more useful than unqualified praise.

References can be completed in writing, by telephone, in an interview or through a combination of these methods. The social worker may ask follow-up questions if an answer is unclear, if information differs from your account, or if the referee identifies something requiring further consideration. A reference is normally written up as part of your assessment record, and the fostering service should explain how information is used and stored.

How are concerns or differences handled?

A concern in a reference does not automatically mean that your application will be refused. The assessor should consider what the information means, how recent it is, whether it can be verified and whether you have provided relevant context. They may discuss the issue with you, seek clarification from the referee or consider whether further checks are needed.

It is important not to conceal a difficult history or nominate only people who are likely to give favourable answers. Information that emerges unexpectedly can raise more questions about openness than the original issue. If a referee gives an inaccurate account, explain your concerns calmly and provide any supporting information you hold. The agency must still assess the information fairly, while protecting the confidentiality of the person who supplied it where appropriate.

Some references may be unsuitable or incomplete. A referee might not respond, may not know you well enough, or may be unable to comment meaningfully on your circumstances. In that situation, the fostering service may ask you to nominate another person. If a former partner or someone connected with your household has relevant information, the assessor may also consider whether their perspective is needed, even if you would not have chosen them as a referee.

How can you prepare?

• Choose people who have known you well and can give honest, detailed answers.
• Tell referees that they may be asked about your relationships, responsibilities and suitability to care for children.
• Give them accurate contact details and let them know that the conversation may take some time.
• Discuss any significant changes in your circumstances so that their account is not based on outdated information.
• Do not coach them or suggest answers. Their independent view is what makes the reference useful.
• Inform your assessing social worker if a referee becomes unavailable or if your relationship with them changes.

The reference is only one part of the overall assessment. The fostering service considers it with the information gathered from interviews, statutory checks, medical information, training and the wider assessment of your household. The final recommendation should therefore reflect the complete evidence, not a single comment taken in isolation.

Before references are requested, ask your fostering service which people it needs, how the information will be collected and what opportunity you will have to comment on factual inaccuracies. Keeping your referee list up to date and being open about relevant circumstances can help the process proceed on a clear and properly informed basis.