What safeguarding checks apply to a respite foster carer?

A respite foster carer is assessed through the same safeguarding framework as other approved foster carers; respite care is not a route around the usual checks. The purpose is to establish that the applicant, their household and their home can provide safe care for a child who may have complex needs or require carefully managed support.

The fostering service will normally check the applicant’s identity, address history and relevant background. It may also seek information from local authorities where the applicant has lived, worked or previously been known to children’s services. These checks help identify information that may not appear through one source alone.

• Household checks: adults aged 16 or over who live in the home will usually need appropriate safeguarding checks. The service may also consider other adults who have regular or significant contact with the household or the child.
• Overseas history: if an applicant or household member has lived outside the UK, the fostering service may request equivalent police or safeguarding information where this is available. It will consider what evidence can reasonably be obtained.
• References: personal and professional referees may be asked about the applicant’s character, reliability, relationships and ability to care responsibly for children.
• Employment and childcare history: previous work involving children, caring responsibilities and relevant gaps in employment or residence may be explored.
• Health information: a medical assessment helps establish whether the applicant can meet the practical and emotional demands of respite fostering, taking account of any condition or medication in a fair and individual way.

The home assessment is also broader than checking whether the property appears tidy or suitable. The assessor will consider sleeping arrangements, privacy, fire safety, security, pets, smoking, transport and any features that could present a risk. The proposed arrangements should allow the child to be supervised appropriately and to have their belongings and personal information kept secure. Online safety and the way household members use social media may also be discussed.

Safeguarding checks are considered alongside the applicant’s circumstances. The fostering service will want to understand household relationships, how disagreements are managed, who may visit the home and how the applicant would respond if a child disclosed harm or behaved in a way that created a risk. For respite care, this includes considering how the applicant will follow the child’s agreed routines, boundaries, health instructions and safer-care plan.

A previous conviction, a concern in a reference or an issue identified during checks does not necessarily lead to an automatic refusal. The relevance, seriousness, date and circumstances will be considered, together with any evidence of change and the potential impact on a child. Applicants should be open about their history rather than leaving information to be discovered later. Withholding relevant information can create a greater safeguarding concern than the original issue.

Checks are completed as part of the wider fostering assessment before approval. The applicant will usually meet with a supervising social worker, provide documents and information, take part in preparation training and discuss realistic situations they may face. The assessment considers whether they can work safely with the child’s foster family, social workers and other professionals, including sharing information appropriately and reporting concerns without delay.

Safeguarding is not treated as a one-off exercise. Approved carers are expected to notify the fostering service about relevant changes, such as a new household member, a change of address, a significant change in health or an incident affecting safety. Checks and assessments may also be reviewed when circumstances change or when the fostering service considers it necessary.

Before respite begins, the carer should receive the information needed to care safely for that particular child. This may include known risks, contact arrangements, medication instructions, delegated authority, behaviour support and who to contact about a concern. The carer should ask questions if information is unclear and should not agree to care for a child where the proposed arrangements cannot be managed safely.

In practice, the exact evidence requested can vary according to the fostering service, the applicant’s history and the child’s needs. A local fostering team can explain which documents and checks will apply to an individual application and how any concerns will be assessed.