Can I apply to become an emergency foster carer?

Emergency fostering is generally undertaken by foster carers who have been assessed and approved to care for children at short notice when an immediate placement is needed. You can express an interest in this type of fostering during your application, although approval is still required before a child can be placed with you.

There is not usually a completely separate application route for emergency fostering. The fostering service will assess whether you can provide a secure, well-organised home and respond appropriately when a child arrives with limited preparation. Your assessment will consider your motivation, experience, household circumstances, health, accommodation and ability to meet the needs of children who may be distressed, frightened or uncertain about what is happening.

Common requirements include:

• being at least 21 years old;
• having suitable accommodation, normally including a spare bedroom for a foster child;
• having the legal right to live and work in the UK;
• being physically and emotionally able to foster;
• being able to provide a safe home without avoidable safeguarding concerns;
• having the agreement of everyone in your household; and
• being able to work openly with the fostering service, social workers, schools, health professionals and the child’s family where appropriate.

These are general requirements rather than an automatic checklist for approval. For example, a disability or health condition does not necessarily prevent someone from fostering, but the assessing team will need to understand how it affects day-to-day care. Your home, employment, relationships, finances, support network, pets and any other relevant household circumstances may also be discussed.

The application process normally starts with an initial conversation and information gathering. If you decide to proceed, the fostering service will arrange a home visit, provide an application form and begin the formal assessment. Checks commonly include an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check for relevant adults, local authority and social care checks, employment and personal references, identity and residence checks, and a medical assessment. Previous fostering, adoption or social care experience may be explored, but it is not always essential because preparation and training form part of the process.

You will need to complete fostering training before approval. This usually covers safeguarding, child development, trauma and attachment, managing behaviour, safer caring, recording information, working with other professionals and understanding the impact of separation on children. Emergency carers also need to think practically about how they would manage an arrival with little notice, including sleeping arrangements, essential clothing, medication, school information and contact with the child’s social worker. Training does not mean you are expected to know everything immediately; it provides a foundation for safe decision-making and identifies areas where further support may be useful.

During assessment, be honest about what you can and cannot manage. Emergency fostering may involve children of different ages and backgrounds, but approval will set out the types of placements, ages, numbers and circumstances considered suitable for your household. You should not accept a placement that falls outside your approval terms or that your household cannot safely manage. The fostering service should discuss a proposed placement with you and provide the information available about the child and the circumstances leading to the placement.

Approval is decided through the fostering service’s formal process, which normally includes consideration by an independent fostering panel or an equivalent decision-making arrangement. If approved, you will receive terms of approval and ongoing supervision, training and support. These terms can be reviewed if your circumstances, experience or skills change. You may also decide that emergency placements are not right for you, or that another type of fostering better matches your household.

Applicants in the West Midlands can receive local guidance from teams based across the region, with offices in Droitwich and Stoke. Support is available across Birmingham, Worcestershire, Staffordshire, Dudley, Sandwell, Herefordshire, Telford, Wolverhampton, Shropshire, Walsall, Warwickshire, Stoke, Solihull, Coventry and Gloucestershire. A sensible first step is to discuss your household, accommodation and interest in emergency placements with the fostering team so they can explain the requirements that apply to your circumstances.