Which household members need foster care checks?

The purpose of household checks is to establish whether everyone who may be part of a fostered child’s day-to-day environment can contribute to a safe, stable and suitable home. The checks are considered alongside the applicants’ assessment, rather than treated as a separate test of whether another household member is suitable to foster.

Adults who may be checked

As well as the people named on the fostering application, the assessment normally considers any adult whose circumstances could affect the household or a child placed there. This may include:

• a spouse or partner, whether or not they are applying to foster;
• adult sons or daughters living at the address;
• parents, siblings or other relatives in the home;
• lodgers, tenants or other adults sharing the property;
• an adult partner who regularly stays overnight or spends substantial time in the household; and
• someone who provides regular childcare, supervision or practical support.

The assessing social worker will look at the actual living arrangements, not just who is listed on official paperwork. An adult who does not live at the address may still need consideration if they have frequent, unsupervised or significant contact with the children. The level of checking depends on the nature of that involvement and the fostering agency’s safeguarding assessment.

What checks can involve

For relevant adults, the process may include an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check, identity and address verification, and questions about any previous involvement with children’s services or safeguarding agencies. The agency may also need to understand employment, relationships, health or lifestyle matters where these could affect a child’s welfare. A household member may be asked to take part in a discussion so that the social worker can understand their views and role.

These checks are not intended to investigate a person’s private life without reason. Information is requested because it may help assess risks such as violence, neglect, substance misuse, unsafe adults entering the home, serious conflict or difficulties maintaining confidentiality. A concern does not automatically end an application. It should be considered in context, including how recent it is, what has changed since it occurred and whether effective safeguards are available.

Children and young people in the household

Children living in the home are included in the wider fostering assessment even though the formal checking arrangements are different from those for adults. Their age, understanding, wishes, feelings and relationship with the applicants may be explored. The social worker will consider how fostering could affect their privacy, routines, belongings, family relationships and emotional wellbeing.

Birth children may be spoken to in an age-appropriate way, and their views can help identify practical arrangements that need to be addressed before approval. They should not be expected to take responsibility for a fostered child or to disclose private information about placements. The assessment should also consider how the household will manage differences in age, needs, behaviour and supervision.

People who visit or provide support

Ordinary visitors will not usually be treated in the same way as residents. However, regular visitors, overnight guests and people who spend time alone with a fostered child may require further assessment. The same applies to relatives or friends who are expected to help with transport, childcare or supervision.

Applicants should tell their assessing team about these arrangements early. Trying to exclude a frequent visitor from the assessment can create safeguarding concerns, whereas explaining the arrangement allows the agency to decide what information or checks are proportionate. Foster carers must also follow the agreed safer-care plan, including rules about visitors, overnight stays, photography, social media and private conversations.

What household members are expected to do

Everyone in the household should understand that fostering affects the whole home. Household members may be asked to:

• support the household’s safer-care arrangements;
• respect a child’s confidentiality and not share identifying information;
• avoid making promises about how long a child will stay;
• raise concerns with the foster carers or supervising social worker; and
• tell the agency about significant changes in their circumstances or living arrangements.

They do not normally become foster carers simply because they live with an approved carer. The approved applicants remain responsible for meeting fostering standards, following the placement plan and working with the fostering service.

When circumstances change

Checks can need to be repeated or reviewed if someone moves into the home, a relationship changes, a regular visitor becomes more involved, or an adult begins providing childcare. The fostering service should also be told about relevant criminal justice matters, serious safeguarding incidents or other changes that could affect the household’s suitability. Keeping information current is part of maintaining a safe fostering environment after approval, not only during the initial assessment.

Become a Foster Family can explain which checks apply to each person’s role and circumstances, how household members can take part in the assessment and what information they should prepare. Its teams support prospective foster families across the West Midlands, including Birmingham, Worcestershire, Staffordshire, Dudley, Sandwell, Herefordshire, Telford, Wolverhampton, Shropshire, Walsall, Warwickshire, Stoke, Solihull, Coventry and Gloucestershire.