Who is assessed as part of my foster carer application?

A fostering assessment considers everyone whose circumstances, relationships or involvement could affect a child placed in your home. The assessment therefore looks beyond the named applicant or applicants and gathers information from relevant household members, professionals and people who know you well.

The people normally considered include:

• The applicant or applicants: each applicant is assessed individually and as part of the proposed fostering household. The assessment considers your motivation, parenting experience, relationships, health, lifestyle, accommodation, support network and ability to meet the needs of children in foster care.
• A partner who lives with you: if you are applying as a couple, both partners take part in the assessment. Where one person applies alone but has a partner or other significant adult in the home, that person’s views, involvement and suitability will also need to be understood.
• Children in the household: children and young people living at home can be affected by fostering, so their views and feelings are considered in an age-appropriate way. They may be spoken to separately or together with other family members, depending on their age and circumstances.
• Other adults living in or regularly using the home: adult children, relatives, lodgers or other household members may need to provide information and complete relevant checks. The assessing team will consider the nature and frequency of their contact with any fostered child.

People do not necessarily become foster carers simply because they live in, visit or support your household. However, the fostering service must understand who could have contact with a child, what role they may play and whether any safeguarding issues need to be addressed. This can include relatives, close friends and members of your support network who may help with childcare, transport or practical support.

Checks and references involve people outside your household too. The assessment may seek information from current or previous employers, personal referees, former partners where relevant, and other professionals who can comment on your relationships, responsibilities or experience with children. The purpose is not to assess these people as foster carers. Their information helps the assessing social worker build a balanced picture of your circumstances and ability to provide safe care.

There are also checks carried out by organisations and professionals rather than by household members themselves. These can include:

• criminal record and safeguarding checks for applicants and relevant adults in the household;
• local authority checks relating to previous involvement with children’s services;
• health information from your GP or another medical professional, with your consent;
• employment and personal reference checks; and
• information about previous fostering, adoption or other caring applications where this is relevant.

The assessing social worker brings this information together with interviews, home visits and discussions about how your household functions. They may explore family relationships, managing disagreements, privacy, boundaries, safer caring and how everyone would respond if a child’s needs affected everyday routines. Questions are not intended to test whether your family is perfect; they are used to identify strengths, possible pressures and any support or preparation that may be needed.

If circumstances change during the application, tell the fostering service. A new relationship, pregnancy, change of address, household member, employment pattern or significant health issue could affect who needs to be considered or which checks are required. Being open about changes allows the assessment to remain accurate and gives the assessing team an opportunity to discuss any practical implications with you.

Before the assessment progresses, the fostering service should explain who will be contacted, why their information is needed and how it will be used. If you are unsure whether someone in your household or support network needs to be included, raise this with your assessing social worker rather than making assumptions.