What checks are carried out before you can start fostering?

Before approval, fostering applicants go through a range of statutory and practical checks. The purpose is to establish who you are, understand your background and circumstances, assess your health and home, and decide whether you can provide safe, consistent care for a child or young person.

The assessment is carried out by a qualified social worker and normally includes the following checks:

• Identity and address checks: You will need to provide documents confirming your identity, address and immigration or residency status where relevant. Your household circumstances and any previous addresses may also need to be recorded.
• Disclosure and Barring Service checks: DBS checks are completed for applicants and usually for other members of the household aged 16 or over. The level of check reflects the responsibilities involved in caring for children. Any information disclosed is considered carefully in context; a past offence does not automatically mean that an application will be refused, but some offences may prevent approval.
• Local authority and children’s services checks: Checks may be made with relevant local authorities to identify any previous involvement with children’s social care. This can include information about you, your household or children who live with you.
• Health assessment: You will be asked to complete health information and may need an assessment by your GP or another medical professional. This is not about requiring perfect health. It helps establish whether you are physically and emotionally able to meet the demands of fostering and whether any adjustments or additional support should be considered.
• References: Personal references are usually requested from people who know you well and can comment on your character, relationships, reliability and ability to care for children. Employment references may also be needed, particularly where your work history or role provides relevant information about your experience and responsibilities.
• Household and relationship checks: Everyone in the household needs to understand how fostering could affect family life. The assessment considers relationships, support networks, children living at home, other caring responsibilities, pets and the views of people who may be affected by fostering.
• Home and safety checks: A social worker will assess whether your home offers suitable space and a safe environment. This can include the proposed bedroom, sleeping arrangements, fire safety, storage of medication and hazardous items, pets, heating, cleanliness and general household safety. The property does not need to be large or owned by you, but it must meet the requirements for the type of fostering you are considering.
• Financial information: You may be asked about your income, outgoings, debts and financial commitments. The assessment is intended to establish that fostering will be financially manageable and that you are not relying on a fostering allowance to resolve existing financial problems.
• Overseas and other relevant checks: If you have lived abroad, worked overseas or have other circumstances that affect your history, additional checks may be required. The assessing team will explain what evidence is available and what information you need to provide.

Checks are considered alongside your fostering assessment rather than in isolation. Your social worker will discuss your childhood, relationships, parenting or caring experience, employment, motivation, strengths, support network and understanding of children’s needs. You should be open about relevant information, including previous convictions, health conditions, family changes or periods that may need explaining. Omissions can create uncertainty and may delay the assessment more than the original information would have done.

You will normally complete preparation training while the assessment is taking place. This gives you an opportunity to learn about safeguarding, trauma, attachment, behaviour, identity, safer caring and working with professionals. Your participation helps the assessing team understand how you reflect on information and apply it to fostering situations.

When the assessment is complete, the written report sets out the information gathered, the checks completed, your strengths, any concerns and the support or conditions that may be needed. It is considered by a fostering panel, which makes a recommendation about your suitability. The agency decision-maker then makes the formal decision. Approval may specify the number, age range or type of placements you can offer, and these details can be reviewed as your circumstances or experience develop.

If a check raises a concern, it does not necessarily end the application. The relevance, seriousness, age and circumstances of the information are considered, together with any evidence of change and the potential impact on a child. Some findings will require further information, a risk assessment or additional safeguards; others may mean that fostering is not appropriate. Your assessing social worker should explain what is needed and how it affects the next stage.

Providing documents promptly, completing forms accurately, telling the assessing team about changes in your circumstances and ensuring household members understand the process can help the checks progress smoothly. A fostering service should explain why information is needed, how it will be used and what happens if further enquiries are required.