Can I pause or withdraw my foster care application?

You can usually pause or withdraw a foster care application at any stage before approval. A pause keeps open the possibility of continuing later, while withdrawing ends the current application. Tell your fostering service as soon as you can so the team can explain the effect on your particular application and record your decision accurately.

Pausing your application

Pausing may be appropriate if your circumstances have changed temporarily or you need more time to decide. For example, you may be managing a change in employment, a house move, family responsibilities or another commitment that affects your ability to complete the assessment.

When you ask to pause, discuss:

• which stage your application has reached;
• whether any outstanding checks, references or medical information may need updating later;
• whether training already completed will still be relevant when you resume;
• how long the application can remain paused under the fostering service’s procedures; and
• what you need to do to restart the process.

A pause does not mean that your application has been approved or that the assessment will continue automatically. When you are ready to resume, the fostering service will review your circumstances and confirm the next steps. If enough time has passed, some parts of the assessment may need to be repeated or refreshed so that the information remains current.

Withdrawing your application

You can choose to withdraw if fostering is no longer right for you, if your circumstances have changed permanently or if you have decided not to continue. You do not have to proceed simply because you made an initial enquiry or submitted an application.

Ask the fostering service to confirm:

• that your current application has been closed or withdrawn;
• which stage the process had reached;
• whether any assessment activity, checks or training will stop; and
• how information from the application will be handled under the service’s privacy and record-keeping procedures.

Withdrawing an application is different from being declined as a foster carer. It means you have decided not to continue at that time; it is not, by itself, a finding that you are unsuitable to foster. If you apply again in the future, the fostering service will consider your circumstances under the requirements and procedures that apply then. You may need to provide updated information and complete relevant checks or assessment stages again.

If you are unsure

You do not need to choose between continuing and withdrawing without first discussing your situation. Ask the fostering team whether a pause, a short review or withdrawal is the most suitable option. You can also ask what would happen if you resumed later and whether any deadlines or changes to your circumstances could affect the assessment.

Keep a written note of your decision and any agreed next steps. If you later decide to continue, contact the fostering service and explain what has changed since the application was paused or withdrawn. The team can then confirm whether you can pick up from an existing stage or need to begin parts of the process again.