What statutory checks are carried out for foster carers?

Statutory checks are formal safeguarding enquiries completed by the fostering service as part of your assessment. They help establish your identity, background, health, household circumstances and ability to provide safe care. Checks apply to applicants and, where relevant, other people living in or regularly connected with the fostering household.

The exact checks required depend on your circumstances, including your household, work history, previous addresses and time spent living outside the UK. The main checks are as follows:

• Enhanced DBS checks: An enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check is normally completed for each applicant. Checks may also be required for household members aged 16 or over and other adults whose involvement with the household means their suitability must be considered. Where appropriate, the relevant barred-list information is included. The purpose is to identify convictions, cautions or other police information that may affect the safety of children in the home.
• Local authority checks: The fostering service contacts local authorities connected with you, usually because you have lived in their area or have previously been known to social care services. These enquiries can identify relevant information about child protection, social care involvement or previous fostering and adoption applications.
• Health assessment: You will usually need to complete a health assessment with your GP or another registered medical professional. The medical adviser considers whether your physical and mental health would allow you to meet the practical and emotional demands of fostering. This is not intended to require perfect health. Relevant conditions are considered alongside treatment, management, prognosis and the particular needs of children who may be placed with you.
• Employment and self-employment checks: The fostering service may verify your employment, role, dates of employment and other information relevant to your assessment. If you are self-employed, alternative evidence may be requested. These enquiries help establish your circumstances, work commitments and the practical arrangements available for caring for a child.
• Personal references: Independent referees are asked about your character, relationships, experience of caring for children and ability to manage pressure. Referees should generally know you well enough to provide meaningful information rather than simply confirming your identity. The fostering service may speak to referees directly and ask follow-up questions.
• Identity and address information: You will be asked for documents and details that confirm who you are and where you have lived. This information allows the fostering service to make the other enquiries accurately and to identify the correct police and local authority records.

The assessment can also involve checks relating to other adults in the household, children living at home and regular visitors where their circumstances could affect fostering. The service needs to understand the household as a whole, including relationships, routines, support networks and any factors that could influence a child’s safety or wellbeing.

If you have lived abroad, the fostering service may need to seek information from the relevant overseas authorities. The available evidence will depend on the country concerned and the records it keeps. Time spent overseas does not automatically prevent someone from fostering, but it can affect which enquiries are possible and what supporting information is needed.

You should give complete and accurate information about previous addresses, employment, relationships, health, convictions and household members. Trying to conceal information can create greater concern than the information itself, particularly if it is later identified through another check. If something in your history needs explaining, the assessing social worker will normally discuss it with you and record the explanation as part of the assessment.

A check does not usually operate as an automatic pass-or-fail decision. Information is considered in context, including its seriousness, relevance to caring for children, how long ago it occurred, your age at the time, any pattern of behaviour and the evidence of subsequent change. Some information may mean that fostering cannot proceed, while other matters may require further discussion, additional safeguards or a more detailed assessment.

Checks are made with your knowledge and normally require the necessary consent and documents. Delays can occur when information is incomplete, records need to be obtained from more than one authority or an overseas enquiry is required. It is therefore helpful to provide accurate details at the beginning and respond promptly when the fostering service requests clarification.

The results are brought together with interviews, training, references, household discussions and the wider assessment evidence. The fostering service then considers whether you can provide suitable care for the types of children you may be asked to foster and whether any identified needs can be managed safely. You should have an opportunity to discuss relevant findings and provide further information before the assessment is concluded.