What checks are included in a foster care assessment?

The checks in a foster care assessment are safeguarding and suitability enquiries designed to establish whether fostering would be safe and appropriate for everyone in the household. They look at an applicant’s history, health, relationships, home life and ability to manage the responsibilities of fostering, rather than relying on one individual check.

Criminal record and safeguarding checks: Applicants normally need an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Checks may also be required for adults aged 16 or over who live in the household or regularly stay there, depending on the circumstances. Information from a DBS check is considered alongside the wider assessment. A conviction does not automatically prevent someone from fostering, but offences involving children, violence, sexual harm, exploitation or serious dishonesty will be examined particularly carefully.

Where an applicant has lived outside the UK, the fostering service may seek equivalent overseas criminal record information. The availability and format of these checks varies between countries. If records cannot be obtained, the assessing social worker will consider other evidence and the risks involved. Previous names, addresses and periods spent abroad should be disclosed accurately, as incomplete information can delay the assessment and raise concerns about openness.

Local authority safeguarding enquiries: The fostering service may contact local authorities to establish whether there has been relevant involvement with children’s services. This can include child protection concerns, previous referrals, care proceedings or information about children who have lived in the household. These enquiries are not limited to the applicant; information about other household members may also be relevant to safeguarding.

References and background information: Referees are usually asked about the applicant’s character, reliability, relationships, experience of caring for children and ability to manage pressure. The service may also seek information from previous employers, former partners or other people who can provide relevant evidence. The exact references required depend on the applicant’s circumstances. A reference is considered as part of the overall evidence rather than as a standalone pass or fail.

Identity and personal history: Documents are checked to confirm identity and help build an accurate chronology of addresses, education, employment and significant relationships. The assessing social worker may ask about name changes, gaps in employment, previous applications to foster or adopt, and any period when a child lived with the applicant. These questions help identify information that should be understood before a recommendation is made.

Health information: A medical adviser considers information supplied by the applicant’s GP or another appropriate healthcare professional. The focus is on whether the applicant can meet the practical and emotional demands of fostering, including the needs of a particular child. A health condition or disability is not automatically a reason to reject an application. The relevant issue is how it may affect daily care, safety, stamina and the ability to respond to a child’s needs.

Financial circumstances: Applicants are asked for enough information to show that the household can manage its existing commitments and that fostering is not being considered as a solution to immediate financial difficulty. This may involve discussing income, regular expenditure, debts, benefits and housing costs. The assessment is not a test of wealth, but significant financial pressure may need to be understood and addressed because it can affect household stability.

Household and relationship checks: The assessment considers how household members feel about fostering, how decisions are made and how disagreements are handled. Partners and other adults may be interviewed separately as well as together. The service will want to know how existing children may be affected, whether everyone understands privacy and safeguarding boundaries, and whether the household can provide consistent care without placing unreasonable pressure on any individual.

Practical safeguarding checks: The home assessment includes consideration of sleeping arrangements, privacy, visitors, pets, smoking, transport, medicines, alcohol, firearms or other hazardous items, and arrangements for emergencies. The assessor is looking at whether risks can be managed through clear household rules and a safer caring plan. A home does not have to be perfect, but required changes must be completed before a child is placed if they relate to safety.

Applicants should provide consent for the required enquiries, supply documents promptly and be open about anything that could appear in a check. If information is missing, old or potentially concerning, the assessing social worker should explain what it means and what further evidence may be needed. Deliberately withholding relevant information is usually more concerning than the information itself because fostering depends on honesty and safe professional working.

Checks can be repeated or updated if the assessment continues for a long period, if circumstances change or before approval and placement. A new household member, change of address, serious illness, police involvement or major relationship change should be reported to the fostering service. The precise documents and enquiries vary according to the agency, the applicant’s history and the needs of children who may be placed, but every check should contribute to a clear evidence-based assessment of safety and suitability.