How are foster home requirements reviewed after approval?

After approval, foster home requirements are reviewed as part of ongoing supervision, statutory reviews and visits from the fostering service. The purpose is to confirm that the home continues to provide suitable accommodation and a safe environment, while identifying whether any changes, additional support or updated risk assessments are needed.

Annual reviews of foster carer approval

Your approval as a foster carer must be reviewed at least annually. The first review takes place within the first year of approval, with later reviews considering your continuing suitability, fostering experience, training, supervision and the circumstances of any children placed with you.

A review normally considers:

• your performance against the terms of your approval and the fostering service’s expectations;
• feedback from supervising social workers, children’s social workers, children in placement and other relevant professionals;
• your training, learning and development needs;
• records of supervision, visits, incidents, complaints, allegations or significant events;
• the condition and suitability of the household and accommodation; and
• whether your approval terms remain appropriate for the type, age, number or needs of children you care for.

The fostering service may ask you to contribute a written report or prepare information for the review meeting. You should have the opportunity to discuss what is working well, any difficulties, changes in your household and the support you may need.

Visits and supervision between formal reviews

Annual review is only one part of the monitoring process. Your supervising social worker maintains regular supervision with you and the fostering service carries out visits to the foster home. These visits provide an opportunity to discuss the child’s progress, inspect relevant aspects of the home, review records and consider whether the placement remains suitable.

Some visits may be unannounced, in line with the fostering service’s procedures. This is not intended to replace ordinary supervision. It helps the service check that the home continues to meet expected standards in everyday circumstances, including arrangements for privacy, safe storage, sleeping accommodation and household routines.

When an additional review may be needed

A review can be arranged before the usual annual date if there is a significant change or concern. Examples include:

• moving home or making substantial alterations to the property;
• a new adult joining the household, or a household member leaving;
• a change in health, employment, relationships or personal circumstances that could affect fostering;
• concerns about a child’s safety, behaviour, supervision or the suitability of a particular arrangement;
• a serious incident, allegation, complaint or breach of safer-care expectations;
• changes to pets or other animals in the home; or
• a request to change the terms of your approval.

These events do not automatically mean that approval will be removed. They indicate that the fostering service needs to reassess the circumstances, consider any risks and decide whether safeguards or changes are required.

How the home itself is reassessed

Reviewing the home is broader than checking whether the property is clean or well maintained. The service considers whether the accommodation remains appropriate for the child placed, including sleeping arrangements, access to bathroom facilities, fire precautions, heating, repairs, privacy, secure storage and the general layout of the property.

The assessment is also linked to the individual child. A home may be suitable for one placement but require additional planning for a child with mobility needs, a history of going missing, specific health requirements, contact arrangements or behaviours that create particular risks. The fostering service may therefore update the placement plan or risk assessment rather than applying identical requirements to every child.

Possible outcomes of a review

Following a review, the fostering service may confirm that your approval and existing arrangements remain suitable. It may also agree an action plan, recommend further training, introduce additional safety measures, amend the terms of approval or identify a need for more frequent supervision and visits.

If a significant concern cannot be addressed, the service may consider restricting, changing or terminating approval. Where a decision could adversely affect your approval, you should be told the reasons and given information about the relevant procedure, including any opportunity to make representations or use an independent review process where applicable.

How to prepare for an ongoing review

Keep your supervising social worker informed about changes rather than waiting for the annual review. Tell them about changes to the household, property, health, pets, employment or support network, and discuss any new risks before they affect a placement.

It is also useful to keep your training record up to date, follow agreed safer-care arrangements, report significant incidents through the correct process and raise repairs or safety concerns promptly. Ongoing review is intended to be a continuing safeguarding process, not a single inspection, so honest communication helps the fostering service make an accurate assessment of the home and the support required.