What happens during foster carer assessment visits?

Foster carer assessment visits are structured evidence-gathering meetings that help the assessing social worker decide whether fostering is suitable for your household and what support you may need. They are not simply a check of your home or a test that you must pass on the day. The assessment builds a detailed picture over a number of discussions, checks and observations.

The number and format of visits can vary according to your circumstances, the fostering service’s process and the information that needs to be explored. Some meetings may involve the whole household, while others may be held privately with individual adults. Your assessing social worker should explain what each visit is intended to cover and tell you if you need to prepare documents or arrange for particular people to be present.

During the visits, you may discuss:

• your reasons for wanting to foster and your understanding of the role
• your childhood, family history and significant life experiences
• your relationships, household routines and how decisions are made
• how you manage stress, disagreements, change and uncertainty
• your experience of caring for children or supporting people with additional needs
• your views about safeguarding, boundaries, behaviour and confidentiality
• your health, employment, interests and other commitments
• your support network and the practical help available to you
• your ability to work with social workers, schools, birth families and other professionals
• how you would respect a child’s identity, culture, religion, sexuality and individual needs.

The questions are usually open rather than designed to produce a particular answer. Your social worker will be looking for honest reflection and realistic expectations. For example, you may be asked how you would respond if a child rejected household rules, became distressed after contact with their birth family or disclosed something worrying. You do not need to have every answer immediately; being willing to learn, seek advice and consider different approaches is important.

Part of the assessment involves understanding who lives in or regularly visits your home. Adult members of the household will normally need to participate, and their views about fostering will be explored. Children in the household may also be spoken to in an age-appropriate way. The social worker may ask about previous partners, adult children, frequent visitors or other people whose relationship with the household could affect a child placed there.

The home visit is intended to establish whether the accommodation can provide a safe and suitable environment. Your social worker may look at:

• where a fostered child would sleep and whether they would have appropriate personal space
• general safety, including stairs, windows, doors, heating and potential hazards
• fire safety, escape arrangements and the storage of medicines, cleaning products or other dangerous items
• how bedrooms, bathrooms and shared areas are used
• pets, vehicles, gardens, swimming pools or other features that may require safeguards
• how the home could accommodate equipment, routines, contact arrangements or a child’s specific needs.

The assessment is not based on having an immaculate or expensively furnished home. The focus is whether the environment is safe, suitable and capable of supporting a child’s privacy, stability and day-to-day care. If something needs changing, the social worker should explain what is required and when it needs to be completed.

Visits may also be used to discuss information gathered through the wider assessment, such as identity documents, health information, references and statutory checks. These checks are separate from the conversation itself, but your social worker may ask you to clarify an answer, provide further information or explain something in your history. Previous difficulties, health conditions or convictions do not automatically provide the answer either way; their relevance will depend on the circumstances, evidence and safeguarding considerations.

Before each visit, it can help to:

• read any information or questions provided by your fostering service
• make a note of anything you do not understand or want to discuss
• tell the social worker about changes to your household, work, health or living arrangements
• consider how fostering would fit alongside existing caring responsibilities
• check that household members understand the purpose of the meeting
• identify any adjustments, communication support or interpreter arrangements you may need.

You should answer openly, including where your circumstances are complicated or where you have concerns about fostering. Trying to give answers that you think the assessor wants can make it harder to identify the right preparation and support. If a question feels unclear, ask for it to be explained. You can also ask how information will be recorded and who will have access to it.

At the end of a visit, the social worker may summarise what has been discussed, identify unanswered questions and agree actions for the next stage. You might be asked to complete training, gather additional information, make a change to the home or reflect on a particular issue. These requests are part of developing a safe and evidence-based assessment, rather than necessarily indicating that your application is failing.

After the visits, the information is analysed alongside checks, references, training and other evidence. The assessing social worker uses this to prepare an assessment report, which will normally include your strengths, areas requiring further development, the types of placements that may be appropriate and any support or safeguards recommended. You should have an opportunity to discuss the report before the application is considered through the fostering service’s approval process.

You are also assessing the fostering service during these meetings. Ask about training, supervision, practical support, allowances, matching, delegated authority, contact arrangements and what happens when a placement becomes difficult. Clear questions help you understand the responsibilities involved and whether fostering is right for your household.