What safeguarding checks are needed before foster care approval?

Safeguarding checks before foster care approval are a series of identity, criminal-record, household and suitability enquiries designed to establish whether fostering can be carried out safely. They consider the applicant’s circumstances as a whole, rather than treating one individual check as the sole basis for a decision.

Checks commonly consider the following areas:

• Identity and address history: The fostering service verifies who you are, where you have lived and whether the information in your application is consistent. You may need to provide original identity documents and explain periods that are difficult to verify.
• Criminal-record information: The required Disclosure and Barring Service check helps identify convictions, cautions, reprimands or other relevant information. A record does not automatically mean that you cannot foster. The fostering service will consider the nature of the offence, how long ago it happened, the circumstances and any evidence of changed behaviour. Certain offences, particularly those involving harm to children, may prevent approval.
• Household members and regular visitors: Checks are not limited to the person applying. Adults and other relevant people who live in, or regularly spend time in, the household may also need to provide information. This helps the service understand who a child could come into contact with and whether everyone can follow safeguarding expectations.
• Previous involvement with services: If you have previously fostered, adopted, cared for children through another service or been subject to relevant safeguarding concerns, the fostering service may seek further information. Being open about previous applications or caring roles is important, because unexplained omissions can create more concern than the original issue.
• Employment and childcare history: Where relevant, enquiries may be made with employers or organisations connected with work involving children or vulnerable people. These enquiries help confirm your experience, conduct and suitability for the responsibilities involved.
• Household safety: The assessment considers practical risks in the home, including sleeping arrangements, fire safety, storage of medicines and harmful substances, smoking, pets, outdoor areas and any other hazards. The aim is to identify what needs to be changed before a child is placed, rather than to expect every home to be perfect at the start.

Where an applicant has lived or worked overseas, additional evidence may be needed. This can include police or good-conduct certificates, depending on the country, the time spent there and what records are available. If a certificate cannot be obtained, the fostering service will normally discuss alternative evidence and assess the circumstances. Overseas history should be declared fully, even where documentation is difficult to obtain.

The process also looks at safeguarding within family relationships. Everyone in the household needs to understand that a child’s information must be handled carefully and that allegations or concerns must be reported through the correct procedure. The fostering service may explore family dynamics, boundaries, use of social media, contact with birth relatives and how disagreements or difficult behaviour would be managed. Children already living in the household are usually included in age-appropriate discussions, because their views and wellbeing are relevant to the assessment.

Information is gathered with the necessary consent and handled under relevant data-protection and safeguarding requirements. You should be told why information is needed and given the opportunity to explain anything that may require context. If a check raises a concern, the service may ask for further documents, clarification or a meeting. It may also consider whether safeguards, training or changes at home could reduce a risk. Approval cannot proceed while important checks remain incomplete or significant concerns have not been properly assessed.

Honesty is one of the most important parts of the process. Disclosing a conviction, debt, previous assessment or safeguarding issue does not by itself determine the outcome, but failing to disclose relevant information can affect confidence in your suitability. Tell your assessing social worker about anything you think may appear on a check, including information that is spent, historic or connected with another household member. They can explain what evidence is required and how the matter will be considered.

Most checks are completed during the fostering assessment, alongside preparation training and discussions about your ability to care for children. The results are brought together into the assessment information used to decide whether the household can provide safe and suitable care. If circumstances change before approval—such as a new relationship, a move of home, a new adult joining the household, or a police or safeguarding matter—you should report this promptly so that the assessment remains accurate.