How are household members assessed when fostering in Coventry and Solihull?

Household members are assessed according to their age, relationship to the applicant and involvement in family life. The assessment looks at whether the household can accommodate fostering safely and consistently, rather than expecting every person to take on the role of foster carer.

Each adult who lives in the household will usually be asked to complete relevant statutory checks. These can include identity checks, criminal record checks and references, alongside information about health where it is relevant to the household’s ability to foster safely. Adults who do not live at the address but regularly spend time there may also need to be discussed, particularly if they could have contact with a fostered child.

Checks are considered in context. A criminal record, health condition or previous family difficulty does not automatically mean that fostering cannot proceed. The assessing social worker will consider the nature of the information, when it occurred, the circumstances involved, any changes since then and its relevance to caring for children. Being open and providing accurate information is important; undisclosed information can raise more concern than information that is discussed honestly.

Partners or other adults who share the home are normally interviewed as part of the assessment. They may be asked about:

• their understanding of fostering and the needs children may bring;
• how they would respond to changes in routines, privacy and family relationships;
• their views on safeguarding, boundaries and safer-care arrangements;
• how they would support the prospective foster carer without taking on responsibilities they are not approved to undertake; and
• how disagreements, stress or concerns would be managed.

Children already living in the household are included in an age-appropriate way. The assessor will consider their views, feelings and understanding of fostering rather than expecting them to give formal consent in the same way as an adult. Conversations may explore sharing space and attention, having a child with different experiences in the home, and knowing who to speak to if something feels uncomfortable. Their welfare remains an important part of the decision.

Household members may be spoken to separately as well as together. This gives the assessor an opportunity to understand individual views and identify any concerns that someone may be reluctant to raise in front of other family members. The assessment also considers wider family and social networks where they have a practical role, such as helping with transport or spending time with children in placement.

Home visits help the assessor understand how the household works in practice. They may discuss sleeping arrangements, household rules, pets, visitors, privacy, online safety, transport and arrangements for school or other commitments. These discussions are linked to the individual child’s needs and to the safer-care plan, which sets out appropriate boundaries and ways of reducing risks.

Everyone in the household does not have to feel exactly the same about every aspect of fostering. However, the assessing team needs evidence that adults understand the commitment, that any significant concerns have been considered, and that the home can offer reliable cooperation. Unresolved opposition, pressure on a child in the household, unsafe relationships or a lack of willingness to follow safeguarding expectations may affect whether the assessment can proceed.

Household members are also prepared for the changes fostering can bring. Training and discussions may cover trauma, behaviour, attachment, contact with birth families, confidentiality, allegations and the importance of recording and reporting concerns. The level of involvement will depend on the person’s role, but everyone should know the basic household boundaries and who to contact for advice.

The assessment is based on the information gathered from interviews, checks, references, training and home visits. If a concern emerges, it should be explored with the family rather than assumed to be an automatic refusal. The assessor may suggest further information, a safety measure, additional preparation or a change to household arrangements before making a recommendation. The completed assessment is then considered through the fostering approval process, with the household’s circumstances and views recorded alongside those of the applicant.

Before applying, it is sensible to discuss fostering openly with everyone who lives in the home. Consider how routines, bedrooms, personal belongings, family time and confidentiality could be affected, and make sure children understand that they can ask questions. A clear and honest picture of household life gives the assessing social worker the information needed to identify suitable support and make a safe recommendation.