Who makes the final decision on my foster carer application?

The decision is reached in two stages: the fostering panel reviews your assessment and makes a recommendation, then the Agency Decision Maker considers the full evidence and decides whether you should be approved as a foster carer.

What the fostering panel does

The panel is made up of people with relevant experience and knowledge of fostering, social care, health, education and safeguarding. Its role is to provide an independent, balanced review of your application. Panel members consider the assessment report, statutory checks, references, medical information, household circumstances, training and any other evidence gathered during the assessment.

The panel will look at whether you can provide safe, consistent and appropriate care for a child or young person. This includes considering:

• your reasons for wanting to foster and your understanding of the role;
• your ability to work with children, birth families, social workers and other professionals;
• how you would respond to challenging behaviour, trauma and changing needs;
• the safety, stability and space available in your household;
• the views and involvement of everyone who lives in your home;
• your health, employment, relationships and support network where these affect fostering; and
• the types of placement that may be suitable for you.

The panel may ask questions about your assessment and give you the opportunity to clarify information. Your assessing social worker will normally explain how the panel meeting works and help you prepare. The panel then records its recommendation, which may support approval, recommend that you are not approved, or identify specific terms for approval.

What the Agency Decision Maker considers

The Agency Decision Maker reviews the panel’s recommendation alongside the completed assessment and supporting evidence. This is not simply an automatic confirmation of the panel’s view. The decision maker must consider whether the evidence shows that you meet the requirements for fostering and whether the proposed approval is appropriate.

If approval is recommended, the decision may include terms such as the age range, number of children, or types of placements you are approved to offer. These terms are based on your circumstances, skills, experience, household and assessment findings. They define the placements the agency can consider for you and can be reviewed later if your circumstances or experience change.

The Agency Decision Maker may agree with the panel, ask the panel to reconsider an issue, or reach a different decision where the evidence supports doing so. The decision and the reasons for it should be provided to you in writing. If the outcome is not approval, the written notification should explain the reasons and set out any applicable right to make representations or use the Independent Review Mechanism.

Can you challenge the decision?

If you disagree with a decision not to approve you, you can discuss the reasons with your fostering service and check the procedure described in your written notification. Depending on the circumstances, you may be able to make representations to the fostering service or ask for the application to be reviewed through the Independent Review Mechanism. Time limits apply, so it is important to read the notification carefully and take advice promptly.

A complaint about how the assessment or decision was handled is separate from challenging the approval outcome. Your fostering service should explain which process applies and what information you need to provide. You can also seek independent legal or specialist advice if you are unsure about your options.

The final decision is based on the whole assessment rather than one interview, check or personal opinion. Your assessing social worker and fostering team should explain the evidence being considered, identify any information still needed and help you understand the next stage of the application.