Can my existing experience support the type of fostering I’m considering?

Existing experience can help identify fostering approaches and placement needs that may suit you, but it does not automatically determine the type of foster placement you can accept. The fostering service will look at how your experience relates to the needs of children, how recently you used those skills, what you learned from it and whether further preparation is needed.

Experience is most useful when you can explain what you did and how it would inform your care. For example, you may have experience of:

• supporting children or teenagers with routines, learning, communication or emotional regulation;
• caring for a child with additional needs, a disability or a health condition;
• working with young people affected by trauma, loss, neglect or changes in behaviour;
• helping families through difficult circumstances;
• setting appropriate boundaries while maintaining a trusting relationship; or
• working with other professionals and sharing information appropriately.

The relevance of this experience may vary according to the placement being considered. Someone who has cared for older teenagers, for instance, may already understand some of the practical issues involved in promoting independence, education and preparation for adulthood. Experience with younger children may be relevant to placements where attachment, routines and developmental needs are central. Knowledge of disability, communication needs or health care may be helpful when considering a child who requires more specialised support.

However, previous experience should not be treated as a direct match or guarantee of approval for a particular placement. A child’s needs are individual, and two placements described in similar terms may require different levels of supervision, advocacy, medical understanding or partnership working. Matching decisions also need to take account of your household, available space, support network, other children or adults living at home, pets, employment arrangements and the effect a placement may have on everyone in the household.

The assessment will usually examine the quality of your experience, not just its title. It may be helpful to prepare examples showing:

• the responsibilities you held and the age or needs of the people you supported;
• how you responded when behaviour became difficult or a situation changed;
• how you maintained safety and followed safeguarding or confidentiality procedures;
• how you worked with parents, schools, social workers, health professionals or other agencies;
• what boundaries you maintained and how you managed your own responses; and
• what you would do differently now as a result of reflection or feedback.

Paid employment is not the only experience that can be considered. Parenting, caring for relatives, volunteering, community involvement and responsibilities within your family may all provide relevant evidence. The important point is to describe the skills involved accurately. For example, caring for a relative may demonstrate patience, organisation and advocacy, while volunteering with young people may show communication skills and an understanding of safeguarding. It is still necessary to distinguish personal experience from professional responsibility and to identify any areas where formal training would be useful.

Experience can also be relevant when considering whether you are prepared for a placement involving more complex needs. This does not mean that you must already have dealt with every situation a child might present. Fostering training and ongoing support are intended to help carers develop their understanding. You should be open about the situations you have and have not encountered, rather than presenting your experience as broader than it is.

During the application and assessment process, the fostering service may ask about your employment history, caring responsibilities, references and any checks needed to verify your experience. It may discuss potential placement types with you and identify training before approval or additional preparation before a particular child is placed. Your assessment should therefore result in a realistic understanding of the placements that may be appropriate, the support required and any limits that need to be observed.

The strongest evidence is usually specific and reflective. Instead of saying that you are good with challenging behaviour, explain the situation, the action you took, how you kept people safe, what the outcome was and what you learned. This helps the assessing team understand how your existing skills could transfer to fostering and where further development may be needed.

In practice, your experience is one part of a wider decision. Your capacity to offer consistent care, willingness to learn, understanding of safeguarding, household circumstances and ability to work with the fostering network are equally important. A discussion with the fostering service can help you compare your experience with different placement profiles without assuming that one previous role or qualification will decide the outcome.