What documents do I need to provide when applying to become a foster carer?

The documents needed to apply to become a foster carer usually cover your identity, home, household, health, employment, finances and relevant background. Some items are documents you provide yourself, while others are checks or forms arranged by the fostering agency after you give consent. Your agency will give you a personalised checklist because requirements can vary according to your circumstances and the type of fostering you are considering.

Identity and address documents

You will normally need documents that confirm who you are and where you live. These may include a passport or birth certificate, driving licence, immigration document where relevant, and recent correspondence showing your current address. If your name has changed, such as after marriage or divorce, you may also need a marriage certificate, decree absolute or other evidence linking your current and previous names.

Agencies usually need to understand your residential history as well as your current address. Be ready to provide previous addresses and the dates you lived there. If you have moved frequently, lived abroad or do not receive household bills in your own name, tell your assessing social worker early so they can explain which alternative evidence is acceptable.

Information about everyone in your household

The assessment includes the people who live in, or regularly spend time in, your home. You may be asked for names, dates of birth, relationships to you and details of any children, lodgers or regular household members. The agency may also need consent and identification documents from adults in the household so that the appropriate checks can be completed.

Information about pets, home arrangements and any regular visitors can also be relevant to the assessment. This is not usually about producing a particular certificate; it helps the assessing social worker consider safety, routines, privacy and how a child would fit into the household.

Background and safeguarding checks

Fostering agencies arrange statutory checks to help assess whether your home is suitable and safe. These commonly include Disclosure and Barring Service checks for relevant adults, local authority checks and checks relating to previous fostering, adoption or other care applications. You will need to complete the forms accurately and provide any information needed to explain previous names, addresses or periods spent overseas.

You should disclose cautions, convictions and other relevant matters when asked, even if you are unsure whether they still appear on a record. A past offence does not automatically mean that someone cannot foster, but withholding information can create difficulties during the assessment. The agency will explain what is relevant and how any information will be considered.

If you or another household member has lived outside the UK, additional evidence or overseas checks may be needed. The exact process depends on the country, the length of time spent there and the records available. Start gathering this information early, as overseas checks can require extra documentation.

Employment, education and references

You will generally be asked for details of your current and previous employment, self-employment, education and any significant gaps. This may include employer names, addresses, dates and contact details rather than a document for every entry. Explain gaps clearly, including periods spent caring for children, travelling, studying or looking for work.

Personal and professional referees are normally requested as part of the assessment. Choose people who know you well enough to comment on your reliability, relationships, responsibility and ability to care for children. The agency will contact referees directly or provide a form for them to complete. Former partners or employers may also be relevant in some circumstances, particularly where they can provide information about your family or caring history.

Health information

A medical assessment is normally required to consider whether you are physically and emotionally able to foster. You will be asked for consent for the agency or its medical adviser to obtain relevant information from your GP or another healthcare professional. You may need to provide details of your GP, current medication, ongoing conditions, treatment and hospital history.

Health information is considered in relation to the demands of fostering and the needs of the children likely to be placed with you. Having a health condition is not necessarily a barrier, but it is important to provide complete and accurate information. Do not stop medication or delay treatment to try to meet an assessment requirement.

Financial and housing information

The agency may ask for information about your income, regular expenditure, debts, benefits, mortgage or rent and other financial commitments. This helps establish whether your household can manage its finances and whether fostering payments would be relied on to meet essential household costs. You may be asked for payslips, benefit statements, tax documents, bank information or other evidence, depending on your circumstances.

If you rent your home, you may need your landlord’s permission to foster. If you own your property with someone else, the agency may need confirmation that the relevant adults understand and support the application. Housing documents are used alongside a home assessment to consider space, safety and suitability for a child.

Documents connected with your experience

There is not usually one specific certificate that proves you are ready to foster. Instead, you may be asked for information about caring for children, parenting, work with children, education, community involvement or supporting someone with additional needs. Evidence might include training certificates, employment details or contact information for someone who can provide a reference.

Documents written in another language may need an approved translation. Do not arrange translations, order replacement certificates or pay for additional checks before confirming what the agency accepts. Keep copies of anything you submit and ask whether the agency needs an original, a certified copy, a clear scan or simply the information from the document.

When the documents are provided

You do not necessarily need every document before making an initial enquiry. The process normally develops in stages: the agency gathers basic information first, then requests consent and evidence for checks, followed by more detailed information during the assessment and preparation training. Some checks must be refreshed or repeated if they expire or if your circumstances change.

Tell your assessing social worker if you marry, separate, move home, change jobs, become pregnant, take on a new household member, receive a new diagnosis or have any significant change in your finances or criminal or legal circumstances. Providing updated information promptly helps keep your assessment accurate and avoids confusion later.

The most useful preparation is to make a simple list of previous addresses, employers, overseas residence, household members and referees before completing the forms. Ask your fostering agency to confirm which documents are essential, who needs to sign each consent form and how securely information should be submitted. A fostering agency can guide you through the paperwork and explain any item that is difficult to obtain.