Can I join a foster carer support group before becoming approved?

Approval is not always required to attend a foster carer support group. Some groups include people who are researching fostering or have started an application, while others are reserved for approved foster carers because of their purpose, membership rules or the nature of the discussions. The organiser or fostering service can confirm whether prospective carers may take part.

Check what type of group it is

Before attending, find out whether the group is:

• an open peer-support meeting for anyone considering or undertaking fostering;
• a group run by a fostering agency for its approved carers;
• a local community group with its own membership criteria; or
• a meeting focused on specific experiences, such as caring for teenagers, supporting children with additional needs or fostering as a kinship carer.

An agency-run support group may only be available to carers approved by that agency. An independent group may welcome prospective carers, but still ask you to contact the organiser beforehand. Ask whether you need to register, whether you can attend as an observer and whether there are any subjects or confidentiality arrangements you should understand in advance.

What you may learn before applying

Meeting experienced foster carers can help you understand the practical responsibilities that are not always clear from general information. You may be able to ask about:

• how fostering affects household routines, relationships and personal time;
• the types of training and preparation provided before approval;
• recording information about a child’s care and attending meetings;
• working with social workers, schools, health professionals and birth families;
• how carers receive advice when a placement presents difficulties;
• the difference between fostering allowances and ordinary household income; and
• how carers maintain boundaries while offering consistent care.

These conversations can help you decide whether fostering is suitable for your household and identify questions to raise during an initial enquiry. Personal experiences will differ, so treat them as useful perspectives rather than a prediction of what your own fostering experience will be like.

Attendance does not replace the formal process

Joining a peer group is normally an opportunity to listen and ask questions. It does not usually count as the formal preparation or training required for assessment, and it does not replace checks, references, interviews, a household assessment or the approval decision. The fostering service handling your application will explain the actual stages and requirements.

Likewise, a support group should not be treated as a source of formal decisions about your eligibility. Whether you can foster depends on your circumstances and the assessment of your suitability, including factors such as your health, home, household relationships, employment arrangements and ability to meet a child’s needs. A group member can describe their own experience, but cannot assess your application.

Protecting privacy and confidentiality

Foster carers may discuss general experiences, but responsible groups should avoid identifying children or sharing private details about placements. You should not ask for names, addresses, photographs or information that could identify a child. Follow the organiser’s confidentiality guidance and avoid discussing your own sensitive personal information until you understand who is present and how information is managed.

If you attend a meeting connected to an agency, ask how questions about your circumstances will be handled. Issues relating to your application, a child’s safety or a potential placement should be taken directly to the appropriate fostering professional rather than discussed in a general peer setting.

If the group only accepts approved carers

A refusal to attend does not mean you cannot find out more about fostering. Ask the fostering service whether it offers a prospective-carer information session, introductory training, a conversation with an experienced carer or another suitable way to learn about day-to-day fostering. You can also prepare a list of questions for your initial enquiry and assessment meetings.

When contacting a group or fostering service, explain where you are in your research or application and ask what form of contact is appropriate. This makes it easier to direct you to a meeting that is suitable for people who have not yet been approved, while respecting the privacy of approved carers and the children they support.