What statutory checks are required when applying to become a foster carer?

Statutory checks are mandatory safeguarding enquiries carried out during a fostering assessment. They help the fostering service establish whether an applicant and the people in their household can provide a safe environment for a child. They are not designed to judge someone’s entire history or to act as a simple pass-or-fail test; the information is considered alongside the full assessment.

Who is checked? Checks normally apply to each applicant and to relevant adults in the household. This can include a partner, adult children, lodgers and other people who regularly live at or stay in the fostering household. The exact scope depends on the household’s circumstances and the type of fostering being considered. The agency should explain which individuals need to provide information and why.

Identity and criminal-record information

An enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check is part of the assessment for applicants and relevant household members. The agency will need suitable identity documents and accurate details about names, addresses and dates of birth. A criminal record does not automatically prevent someone from fostering. The nature of the offence, when it occurred, the sentence, patterns of behaviour, evidence of rehabilitation and its relevance to caring for children will all be considered. Some offences may make approval inappropriate, particularly offences involving children or serious violence, but decisions must be based on the circumstances and the applicable safeguarding rules.

Applicants should disclose relevant information fully, including matters they may believe are spent or no longer important. Omissions can raise safeguarding concerns and may delay the assessment. The assessing social worker will discuss any information returned by a check and give the applicant an opportunity to provide context.

Local authority and safeguarding enquiries

The fostering service may contact local authorities connected with an applicant’s previous addresses or family circumstances. These enquiries can identify information held by children’s services, such as previous involvement with social care, concerns about children’s welfare or an earlier fostering or adoption assessment. This information is considered carefully rather than treated as an automatic refusal. For example, a historic referral that did not result in findings will be assessed differently from substantiated concerns about harm or neglect.

Where an applicant has previously fostered, adopted or had another formal caring role, the agency may seek information from the relevant service. It may also need to understand the reasons a previous approval ended or why an earlier application did not proceed.

Health assessment

A medical assessment helps establish whether the applicant is physically and emotionally able to undertake fostering duties and meet the needs of a child. The assessment is usually completed by a doctor or other appropriately qualified medical professional using information from the applicant’s medical history. It is not intended to require perfect health. The relevant question is whether any condition, treatment or limitation could affect day-to-day care, emotional availability, safe supervision or the ability to continue fostering.

The fostering service should consider medical information fairly and may seek further professional advice where necessary. Applicants should not stop prescribed treatment or withhold information in an attempt to influence the outcome. Any recommendations, such as managing a condition or obtaining additional advice, should be discussed as part of the assessment.

References and background information

Personal referees are asked about the applicant’s character, relationships, reliability, experience of caring for children and ability to manage pressure. The agency may also verify employment or other relevant history, particularly where it provides evidence of responsibility or contact with children. References should be independent and able to comment meaningfully on the applicant; the assessing social worker may explore answers further if they are incomplete or inconsistent.

If an applicant has lived, worked or volunteered outside the UK, the agency may need additional evidence from the relevant country. The availability and format of overseas information can vary. Where an official document cannot reasonably be obtained, the fostering service should record the steps taken and consider other evidence rather than silently overlooking the gap.

Consent, confidentiality and accuracy

Applicants are expected to give informed consent for the necessary enquiries and to provide complete, accurate information. Checks are handled as confidential assessment material, although information may need to be shared with professionals involved in safeguarding and the approval decision. The agency should explain how information will be used, retained and discussed.

Tell the assessing social worker about changes while checks are under way, including a new household member, a change of address, a new relationship, a police matter or a significant health development. A check reflects information available at a particular point, so changes may require further enquiries or updated documents.

How the results affect approval

The checks form one part of the wider assessment, which also examines accommodation, household relationships, motivation, practical childcare skills and the support available to the family. The assessing social worker records the findings and identifies any risks, strengths or actions that need consideration. The fostering panel then considers the completed assessment and makes a recommendation, after which the fostering service’s decision-maker makes the approval decision.

If a concern arises, ask the agency to explain what it means, what evidence has been considered and whether there is an opportunity to provide further information. Being open from the beginning is the best way to ensure that checks are assessed in their proper context.