What physical tests are included in a fostering medical check?

A fostering medical check may include basic observations, targeted checks of your main body systems and further investigations where your medical history or examination makes them appropriate. It is not usually a standard battery of tests for every applicant; the doctor selects the relevant checks to assess whether your health is compatible with fostering responsibilities.

Common parts of the physical assessment can include:

• Vision: you may be asked about your eyesight, whether you use glasses or contact lenses, and whether your vision affects everyday activities such as driving, reading or supervising children.
• Hearing: the doctor may ask about hearing difficulties, tinnitus, hearing aids or previous ear problems. A formal hearing test is generally only considered where there is a relevant concern.
• Heart and circulation: the doctor may listen to your heart, ask about chest pain, palpitations, fainting or breathlessness, and consider any history of high blood pressure, heart disease or circulation problems.
• Lungs and breathing: questions and observations may cover asthma, recurrent chest infections, sleep-related breathing problems and any condition that affects stamina or day-to-day activity. The doctor may listen to your chest where appropriate.
• Movement and mobility: the assessment may consider your joints, muscles, balance, strength and ability to move safely. This is relevant where a health condition, injury or disability could affect lifting, responding to a child or managing ordinary household activities.
• Neurological health: the doctor may ask about conditions such as epilepsy, migraines, blackouts, nerve problems or other symptoms affecting coordination, alertness or consciousness.
• Skin and general physical health: the doctor may discuss ongoing skin conditions, infections, allergies or treatments that could affect your ability to care for a child.

These areas do not necessarily involve a separate test. Some are assessed through questions, observation and a clinical examination. For example, the doctor might review how a condition is managed rather than carry out a specialist investigation during the appointment.

Further investigations are considered individually. Depending on your history, the doctor may request additional information from your GP or another healthcare professional, or recommend tests such as blood tests, an electrocardiogram or breathing investigations. These are not automatic parts of every fostering medical assessment. They should only be requested where they are clinically relevant or needed to clarify information in the assessment.

The purpose is to provide a balanced picture of your current health, not to look for a completely symptom-free medical history. A long-term condition, disability or previous illness does not automatically prevent someone from fostering. The doctor will consider how the condition is controlled, whether it is stable, the practical demands of caring for a child and any support or adjustments that may be relevant.

Bring details of current medication, recent treatment and any significant diagnoses to the appointment. If the doctor needs more evidence, this may mean obtaining reports or test results rather than repeating examinations unnecessarily. The medical assessment is then considered as part of the wider fostering assessment, alongside your circumstances, preparation and ability to meet a child’s needs.