What happens after a foster care assessment?

After a foster care assessment is completed, the assessment report is submitted to the fostering service’s fostering panel. The panel considers the evidence gathered by the assessing social worker and makes a recommendation about whether you should be approved, and on what terms. The final decision is then made by the agency decision-maker, who must consider the panel’s recommendation before confirming the outcome.

The assessment report is reviewed. The report brings together information from your interviews, references, statutory checks, health assessment, household circumstances, and preparation training. It should explain your experience, strengths, support network, understanding of fostering, and any areas that may need further consideration. You should normally have the opportunity to read the completed report and comment on factual inaccuracies before it is considered.

The report may recommend approval, recommend that you are not approved, or identify that more information is needed before a recommendation can be made. For example, the panel may ask for clarification, additional evidence, or further assessment work. This is sometimes called an adjournment. It does not automatically mean that your application will be refused; it means the decision-making process needs more information.

The fostering panel considers your suitability. The panel is made up of people with relevant fostering, social care, education, health or care experience, alongside independent members. It considers whether you can provide safe, consistent and appropriate care, how fostering may affect everyone in your household, and whether the proposed approval terms reflect your circumstances and abilities.

The panel may consider terms such as:

• the number of children or young people you may care for;
• the age range and needs you may be approved to support;
• whether approval is for emergency, short-term, long-term, respite or another type of fostering;
• whether siblings or children with particular needs may be suitable; and
• any conditions or limits that should apply to your approval.

Panel members may ask questions about the assessment and, depending on the fostering service’s arrangements, you may be invited to attend part of the panel meeting. The panel’s role is to make a recommendation rather than the final approval decision.

The agency decision-maker confirms the outcome. The agency decision-maker reviews the assessment report, the panel’s recommendation and any relevant information before making the formal decision. The possible outcomes are approval, approval with different terms from those recommended, or a decision not to approve. You should receive the outcome in writing, including the terms of approval and the reasons for the decision where relevant.

Approval does not mean that a particular child will automatically be placed with you. Before any placement is considered, the fostering service must decide whether the proposed placement is suitable for the child, your household and the approval terms. You should be given information about the child’s needs and circumstances so that an informed decision can be made.

If you are approved, there are several formal arrangements to complete. You will usually enter into a foster carer agreement with the fostering service. This sets out responsibilities, expectations, support arrangements, confidentiality requirements, recording duties and the procedures to follow when caring for a child. You will also be given relevant policies and guidance, including information about safeguarding, allegations, behaviour management, medication, contact arrangements and maintaining records.

Your fostering service should explain how supervision, advice and reviews will work in practice. You should also understand the financial arrangements before accepting a placement. Foster carer allowances and any additional payments depend on the fostering service, the type of placement and the child’s assessed needs, so ask for the current written information rather than relying on general figures.

Approval is reviewed after you begin fostering. Your fostering service will monitor how placements are progressing and review your approval regularly. Reviews consider your development, the care provided, feedback from relevant professionals and whether your approval terms remain appropriate. Your terms may be changed if your circumstances, skills, household or the needs you are able to support change.

If you are not approved, you should receive a written explanation. The decision should set out the reasons and explain the steps available to you. In England, applicants can generally make representations to the fostering service or apply for consideration by the Independent Review Mechanism within the required timescale, usually 28 days from receiving the written notification. The letter explaining the outcome should confirm the applicable process and deadline.

A decision not to approve is not something to ignore or challenge without understanding the reasons. Read the assessment and decision carefully, ask the fostering service to explain any unclear points, and obtain independent advice if needed. A new application to another fostering service may not be appropriate immediately, particularly where the concerns relate to unresolved circumstances or information that would be shared between services.

Whatever the outcome, the assessment should give you a clear explanation of how the decision was reached. If you are approved, the next stage is to understand your agreement, responsibilities and approval terms before accepting a placement. If further work is required or approval is not granted, the written decision should explain what happens next and whether there is a review route.