What happens at a fostering agency’s approval panel?

A fostering agency’s approval panel is a formal quality and suitability review held after the fostering assessment is complete. It considers whether the applicants can provide safe, consistent and appropriate care, and advises on the approval terms that would best match their circumstances and the needs of children placed with them.

Who sits on the panel?

The panel is made up of people with relevant experience of fostering, social work, education, health, safeguarding or other professional areas. It should include a balance of independent members rather than being made up solely of the agency staff involved in your assessment. A panel chair leads the meeting, while an adviser ensures that the discussion follows the relevant fostering regulations and standards.

The social worker who completed your assessment normally attends to present the key information and explain the recommendation. Other professionals may contribute where their expertise is relevant, such as information from a medical assessment or safeguarding checks. You may be invited to attend part of the meeting, depending on the agency’s procedure. If you do attend, the panel will usually have time to speak with you directly and clarify points in the assessment.

What information does the panel consider?

The panel considers the full assessment report alongside the evidence gathered during the application. This can include:

• your reasons for fostering and understanding of the role;
• your personal history, relationships, household circumstances and support network;
• your health and ability to meet the physical and emotional demands of fostering;
• references, identity checks, Disclosure and Barring Service information and other safeguarding checks;
• your home environment and whether it is suitable for a child or young person;
• your preparation and training, including how you understand trauma, attachment, behaviour and safeguarding;
• the views of everyone in your household, including children where appropriate; and
• any matters that need to be managed through a clear support or risk plan.

The panel is not simply looking for a perfect personal history or a particular type of home. It will consider whether any concerns have been explored openly, whether they affect your ability to foster and whether appropriate safeguards or support are in place.

What questions might you be asked?

Questions are intended to clarify the assessment rather than test you on set answers. The panel may ask how you would respond to a child who is distressed, rejects boundaries, has experienced neglect or wants to contact people from their past. It may also ask how fostering could affect your household, how you would work with the child’s social worker and birth family, or how you would manage confidentiality and recording requirements.

You may be asked about areas where the panel needs more detail, such as a previous relationship breakdown, a health condition, a change in employment, a criminal record or a disagreement within the household. Answer honestly and explain what you have learned, what has changed and what support is available. It is acceptable to say that you do not know something yet and describe how you would seek professional guidance.

How are approval terms decided?

If approval is recommended, the panel considers the range of placements that is suitable for you. The terms can cover matters such as the number of children, their age range, whether you are approved to care for brothers and sisters together, and the types of placement that can safely be offered. They should reflect the evidence in your assessment, the space and resources available in your home, your experience and training, and the support likely to be required.

Approval is not automatically unrestricted. For example, an agency may recommend a narrower age range or a particular number of children while you build experience. Terms can be reviewed later if your circumstances, skills or household change, or if the agency identifies a different level of suitability through a formal review.

Can the panel defer a decision?

Yes. The panel may ask for further information if important evidence is missing, reports conflict, or a concern has not been explored sufficiently. This is known as deferring the matter. It does not by itself mean that you will not be approved. The agency may need to complete another check, obtain clarification from a professional, update a report or agree additional support before the application can return to panel.

What happens after the panel meeting?

The agency’s decision-maker considers the panel’s recommendation and reaches the formal decision. You should receive the decision and the proposed approval terms in writing, together with information about what happens next. If approved, the agency will discuss your induction, ongoing learning, supervision and the process for considering suitable placements. Approval does not mean that every placement will be suitable; each referral still needs to be assessed against your approval terms and the child’s needs.

If the decision-maker is minded not to approve you, the agency should explain the reasons and tell you how to respond. You can normally make written representations to the agency or ask for the matter to be referred to the Independent Review Mechanism, subject to the applicable fostering regulations and deadlines. Your agency should explain these options clearly. You can also use its complaints procedure if you believe the assessment or panel process was not handled properly.

How can you prepare?

• Read your assessment report carefully and ask your assessing social worker about anything you do not understand.
• Tell the agency about any change in health, household circumstances, employment, address or relationships before the panel meets.
• Think through practical examples of how you would manage safeguarding, challenging behaviour, contact arrangements and confidentiality.
• Make sure household members understand the process and are comfortable raising their own questions.
• Prepare questions about approval terms, supervision, training, financial support and how placements are matched.
• Attend in a way that allows you to speak openly; the panel is assessing your suitability, not looking for rehearsed answers.

The most useful preparation is to understand the assessment, be honest about both strengths and difficulties, and show how you would work with the agency to keep a child safe and support their development.