How are concerns handled during a fostering assessment?

During a fostering assessment, a concern is a piece of information that may affect a household’s suitability to foster, its ability to protect a child, or the support a child would need to live there safely. Concerns are normally dealt with through further assessment and professional discussion rather than treated as an automatic refusal.

The assessing social worker considers the nature of the concern, when it occurred, how significant it was and whether it has been resolved. They may look at patterns over time rather than relying on one isolated event. The assessment also considers the circumstances surrounding the issue, the applicant’s insight into it, any changes made since it occurred and how the experience could affect a child placed in the household.

Concerns can arise from many sources, including:

• information disclosed during interviews or in the application;
• checks with the Disclosure and Barring Service, local authorities or other relevant bodies;
• medical information or advice from a GP or medical adviser;
• personal, employment or professional references;
• information shared by household members or other people who know the applicant well;
• the condition, suitability or stability of the home; or
• observations about relationships, communication, boundaries, conflict or the household’s understanding of children’s needs.

Information from checks is not always self-explanatory. For example, an old conviction, a period of financial difficulty, a previous relationship breakdown or a health condition may require careful consideration without necessarily preventing someone from fostering. The relevant question is how the information relates to safeguarding, parenting capacity, reliability and the requirements of the specific fostering role.

Where more information is needed, the assessing social worker may arrange additional meetings, request documents or seek permission for relevant enquiries. The applicant may be asked to explain events in more detail, describe what has changed or provide evidence that a risk is being managed. This could include evidence of completed treatment, professional advice, changed living arrangements or practical safeguards. The information requested should be relevant to the concern and the assessment should record how it has been considered.

Confidentiality is important, but it has limits. Information is generally shared with the people who need it to complete the assessment and make a safeguarding decision. If a concern indicates that a child or another person may be at risk, safeguarding procedures may take priority over ordinary confidentiality. Applicants should ask the assessing social worker how information will be recorded and who will be able to see it.

The applicant should have a fair opportunity to understand the issue and take part in the assessment process. Useful questions to ask include:

• What specific issue needs further consideration?
• Which fostering requirement or safeguarding risk does it relate to?
• What information or evidence is needed?
• Will another professional need to give an opinion?
• How will the concern be reflected in the assessment report?
• What happens if the concern cannot be resolved before the report is completed?

A concern may lead to additional training, a recommendation for particular support, restrictions on the type of placement considered, or a decision to postpone the assessment while more information is obtained. In other cases, the assessment may conclude that the concern presents an unacceptable risk or that the household cannot currently meet the needs of a looked-after child. Any recommendation should be based on the evidence available and the fostering standards and safeguarding responsibilities that apply.

The completed assessment report should explain the relevant information, the analysis undertaken and the reasons for the recommendation. The fostering panel considers the report and may ask questions before making its recommendation. The agency decision-maker then considers the panel’s recommendation and the wider assessment material before reaching the formal decision. The precise arrangements can vary depending on whether the application is being assessed by a local authority or an independent fostering agency.

If an applicant believes information is inaccurate, incomplete or unfairly interpreted, they should raise this promptly with the assessing social worker or the person supervising the assessment. They can ask for factual errors to be corrected and provide a written response where appropriate. The assessment cannot guarantee that every concern will be removed, but the applicant’s comments should be taken into account and recorded where relevant.

Applicants should not minimise a difficult issue or wait until the end of the process to disclose it. Early, accurate disclosure gives the assessment team a better opportunity to understand the circumstances and identify suitable safeguards. It also helps establish whether the household can work openly with professionals, accept guidance and put a child’s welfare first—qualities that are central to safe fostering.