What documents are needed for a fostering assessment?

The paperwork for a fostering assessment is used to verify your identity, circumstances, health, relationships and suitability to foster. The exact checklist is individual to each household, so your assessing social worker will confirm which documents are required, whether copies are acceptable and how any missing records should be dealt with.

Identity and immigration documents may include a passport, birth certificate, driving licence or other recognised identification. Where relevant, you may also need documents confirming a change of name, marriage or civil partnership, divorce, settled status, leave to remain or the right to live in the UK. The assessing team may need to establish your identity history, particularly where you have used more than one name.

Address and accommodation records help confirm where you live and who has responsibility for the property. Depending on your circumstances, these could include a council tax statement, utility bill, tenancy agreement, mortgage statement or other official correspondence. If you rent, the assessment may also require your landlord’s permission to foster. If you live in a leasehold property or shared accommodation, the relevant owner, management company or housing provider may need to confirm that fostering is permitted.

Information about the household is needed for every person who lives in, regularly stays in or has a significant role in the household. This can include birth dates, relationship details and evidence of any previous names or addresses. Children and young people in the home may be included in age-appropriate discussions, and the assessing social worker may ask for information about schools, childcare arrangements or other regular commitments where these affect fostering.

Financial records are considered to establish that the household can manage its existing commitments and the practical costs of family life. You may be asked for documents such as bank statements, payslips, benefit statements, pension information, mortgage or rent details and evidence of loans or other regular outgoings. This is not generally about having a particular level of income; it is about understanding your financial position and identifying any pressure that could affect your capacity to foster.

Employment information can include an employer’s name and contact details, your role, working pattern, contract details and permission to contact the employer. The assessment needs to consider how fostering would fit around work, school runs, appointments, training and the needs of a child placed with you. Self-employed applicants may need to provide different evidence, such as business details or accounts.

Health information is normally gathered through a medical assessment or report completed by your GP or another appropriate health professional. You may be asked to provide consent and details of your GP, current medication, relevant treatment and medical history. The purpose is to consider whether your health could affect the demands of fostering and whether any support or adjustments may be appropriate. A health condition does not automatically prevent someone from fostering; it is considered in context.

Personal references are usually requested from people who know you well and can comment on your relationships, reliability, experience with children and ability to manage difficult situations. Referees may need to provide their contact details and confirm how long they have known you. The assessing social worker will explain who is suitable to act as a referee. References from relatives may not be sufficient on their own, and additional references may be needed where a household has particular circumstances.

Consent for statutory and safeguarding checks is a key part of the assessment. Adults in the household, and sometimes other relevant adults, will normally need to consent to criminal record checks and checks with local authorities or other agencies. The information needed may include previous addresses, former names, nationality and details of time spent living abroad. If you have lived outside the UK, overseas police or safeguarding information may also be requested where it is available and relevant.

Further documents may be needed where they relate to your history or household circumstances. Examples include:

• details of previous fostering, adoption or child-care applications;
• court orders or relevant information about children from previous relationships;
• evidence concerning previous convictions, cautions or investigations, with the assessment team considering the circumstances rather than relying only on a document;
• professional reports or supporting information where there has been significant treatment, bereavement, domestic abuse, substance misuse or another event relevant to fostering; and
• documents relating to pets, vehicles, home safety or sleeping arrangements where these are relevant to the household assessment.

Some information is obtained directly by the fostering service rather than supplied by you. For example, the service may contact referees, request checks from other organisations and arrange the medical assessment. You should not assume that you need to obtain every record yourself. Ask before paying for certificates or reports, as the fostering service will tell you what is required and whether it will arrange the request.

It is sensible to gather documents in a clear folder, keep copies of anything submitted and tell your assessing social worker if a document is unavailable, damaged or difficult to obtain. A change of address, job, relationship, household member or health circumstance should also be disclosed during the assessment. Missing paperwork may require follow-up, but it does not by itself determine the outcome. The important point is that the assessment record is accurate, complete and based on information that can be checked.

Your assessing social worker should explain how documents will be shared and stored, who needs to see them and whether originals need to be shown. If you are unsure why a particular document has been requested, ask for an explanation. Understanding the purpose of each request can make it easier to provide accurate information and identify any issues early in the fostering assessment.