What happens if my circumstances change during the fostering process?

A change in your circumstances does not necessarily end your fostering application. It should be discussed with your fostering agency, which will consider what the change means for your suitability, household stability and ability to meet the needs of a child. The assessment may then continue, be adjusted, or pause while further information is gathered.

Tell your assessing social worker about changes such as:

• a change of address, household members or living arrangements;
• a new relationship, separation or change in your partner’s involvement;
• pregnancy, a new baby or significant changes affecting the care of children in your household;
• a change in employment, working hours or financial circumstances;
• a significant physical or mental health development;
• a police investigation, conviction, allegation or other legal matter;
• a change in immigration or residency circumstances; or
• anything that affects your availability, support network or ability to provide a safe home.

Some changes may require additional checks or a revised assessment. For example, a new adult joining the household will normally need to be included in the assessment and may need relevant checks and a health assessment. Moving home can lead to a review of the property, sleeping arrangements, safety measures and whether the location remains suitable for fostering. If your employment changes, the agency may need to reconsider how fostering would fit alongside your work and who would be available to care for a child.

Health information is considered in relation to the practical demands of fostering rather than as an automatic reason to refuse an application. You may be asked for updated medical information so that the agency can understand any effect on your capacity to care for a child. Similarly, a change in finances does not automatically prevent someone from fostering, but the agency will need to establish that your household is financially stable and that fostering is not being undertaken to resolve immediate financial difficulties.

Changes involving safeguarding, household safety or legal matters must be reported openly. The agency may need to obtain further information, speak with other professionals or consider whether the change affects the assessment timetable. Providing information early is important because withholding a relevant change can create greater concerns than the change itself and may affect the agency’s confidence in the assessment.

Your assessing social worker should explain what happens next. This could include an updated assessment, extra interviews, further references, new documents, additional training or a review of your household’s support arrangements. You may also need to update information already submitted, such as addresses, employment details, health declarations or details of people living in or regularly visiting your home.

If the change happens shortly before an approval panel meeting, the agency may decide that the panel should receive the new information or that the meeting should be postponed. This is intended to ensure that any recommendation is based on current circumstances. The final decision will take account of the full assessment and the child’s need for a safe, stable and appropriately supported placement.

You can make the process easier by:

• contacting your assessing social worker as soon as you know a change is likely or has happened;
• explaining what has changed, when it happened and how you expect it to affect your household;
• providing requested documents or consent for further checks;
• discussing any practical changes to bedrooms, childcare, transport or support; and
• asking whether your assessment plan, training or expected panel date needs to be amended.

If your circumstances mean that fostering is no longer realistic at that point, you can discuss pausing or withdrawing your application. This does not prevent you from making a future enquiry if your situation becomes suitable again, although the agency would need to consider your circumstances at that time.