What checks are carried out when recruiting foster carers in Birmingham?

Fostering recruitment checks are safeguarding enquiries designed to establish whether an applicant and everyone in their household can provide a secure, consistent and suitable home. They are considered alongside interviews, training and the wider fostering assessment, rather than treated as isolated pass-or-fail tests.

Who may be checked?

The assessment normally covers each applicant and other people whose circumstances could affect a child placed in the home. This can include household members aged 16 or over, anyone who regularly stays at the property and, where relevant, people who provide frequent childcare or support. The agency will explain which checks are needed in your circumstances and obtain the appropriate consent.

Identity and background information

Applicants are asked to provide evidence of their identity, address history and any relevant immigration or residence information. This allows the assessing team to confirm who is applying and make sure enquiries are directed to the correct records. You will also be asked about previous names, relationships, addresses and significant life events so that the assessment is complete and transparent.

What a DBS check is used for

An enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check helps identify criminal record information relevant to safeguarding. The assessing team will consider the nature of any offence, how long ago it occurred, the circumstances and evidence of subsequent change. A disclosure does not automatically mean that someone cannot foster, but withholding information can create a more serious concern than discussing it openly.

Checks may also be required for other adults in the household. This is because a child placed with you will be affected by the wider home environment, not only by the named applicant.

Previous involvement with children’s services

Enquiries may be made to relevant local authority records, including information about previous fostering, adoption, child protection or other children’s services involvement. The purpose is to identify information that could affect safeguarding or the suitability of the proposed household. Applicants should mention previous applications to foster or adopt, even if they did not proceed, so the assessing team can explain what information is needed.

References and employment information

Personal referees are asked about your character, relationships, reliability and ability to care for children. Referees should usually know you well enough to provide specific examples rather than a general character statement. An interview with a referee may form part of the process.

Employment checks can confirm your work history and may help the agency understand your working pattern, responsibilities and practical availability for fostering. If you are self-employed, work shifts or have more than one role, the assessment will consider how your commitments would fit around a child’s needs.

Health assessment

A medical assessment considers whether your physical and emotional health is compatible with fostering. It is not intended to require perfect health. The relevant question is whether any condition, treatment or limitation could affect your ability to provide safe and dependable care, now or in the future. You may be asked for information from your GP or another healthcare professional, with your consent.

Financial circumstances

Applicants are normally asked about income, regular expenditure, debts and financial commitments. This is to check that the household can manage without relying on fostering payments to meet basic living costs and that financial pressure is not likely to compromise a placement. The assessment is not simply a test of how much you earn; it looks at the stability of the overall household budget.

Home and household assessment

The assessing social worker will visit your home and look at practical matters such as sleeping arrangements, privacy, space, security, fire safety, pets, smoking and any risks connected with the property or its location. They will consider whether the home could meet the needs of the children you may be approved to care for. You do not usually need to have a perfect or specially decorated home before applying, but any required changes should be identified and addressed.

The assessment also considers household relationships, support networks, attitudes towards birth families, and how existing children or other household members may respond to fostering. These discussions help determine what types of placement might be appropriate and what preparation or support would be useful.

What happens if a check raises a concern?

The agency should discuss concerns with you and give you an opportunity to provide context or further evidence. Information is considered alongside the full assessment, including your openness, insight, current circumstances and ability to learn from past experiences. Some findings may affect the type of fostering considered, require additional safeguards or mean that approval cannot proceed.

It is important to disclose relevant information at the start, including criminal convictions, health conditions, financial difficulties, family circumstances and previous applications. Checks can take longer when information is missing or inconsistencies need to be clarified, so accurate forms and prompt responses help keep the assessment orderly.

How the checks fit into approval

Recruitment checks form part of a wider assessment, which normally includes preparation training, interviews, a home assessment and written recommendations. Once the assessment is complete, it is considered by a fostering panel or through the agency’s formal approval process. The final decision takes account of the evidence as a whole and identifies the age range, number of children and types of placements you may be suitable to foster.

If you are considering applying, ask the fostering agency for its current list of documents and consent forms. It can also explain how a particular circumstance, such as a past conviction, health condition, rented home or complex working pattern, will be considered before you decide whether to proceed.