How long does social services fostering approval take?

Approval to foster through social services usually takes several months from the formal application, but the exact timetable depends on the circumstances of the household and how quickly the required information can be gathered. The process is designed to establish whether fostering can be provided safely and consistently, rather than simply to meet a target date.

It is useful to distinguish between an initial enquiry and a formal application. An enquiry may involve an introductory conversation and an initial visit to discuss your circumstances, motivation and the type of fostering you are considering. The formal assessment begins once you decide to proceed and the fostering service accepts your application.

The main stages are usually:

• Initial checks and information gathering: the fostering service considers your household, accommodation, employment, health, relationships and existing commitments. It will explain the requirements and identify any information needed before the assessment can progress.
• Statutory and personal checks: these commonly include Disclosure and Barring Service checks for relevant household members, local authority checks, employment or personal references, identity checks and financial information. Checks may also be required for other adults who spend significant time in the home.
• Medical assessment: your doctor is normally asked to provide information about your health. This is not intended to require perfect health; the question is whether you can meet the demands of fostering safely and reliably, now and in the foreseeable future.
• Preparation training: pre-approval training helps applicants understand safeguarding, attachment, trauma, behaviour, safer caring, identity and working with families. Training may take place alongside assessment visits, so it does not always form a separate block of time.
• Home assessment visits: a assessing social worker normally meets household members and visits the home. Discussions cover your childhood and experiences, relationships, support network, parenting or caring experience, attitudes towards children and ability to work with professionals. The assessment also considers how fostering may affect everyone living in the household.
• Assessment report: the social worker brings the evidence together in a detailed report, often referred to as a fostering assessment report. You should have an opportunity to check the factual accuracy of the report and comment on its recommendations before it goes to panel.
• Fostering panel and agency decision: the panel considers the report and makes a recommendation about approval. The agency decision-maker then makes the formal decision. Panel consideration is important, but the panel itself is not usually the final approving authority.

The parts most likely to affect the timetable are incomplete paperwork, delays in obtaining references or checks, difficulty arranging medical appointments, changes in household circumstances and the need for further assessment. The assessment may also take longer if the service needs to explore a particular issue in more detail or if additional training or support is recommended before a decision can be made.

Applicants can help keep the process moving by returning forms carefully, giving referees advance notice, providing requested documents promptly and being open about health, finances, relationships and previous experiences. Withholding relevant information can cause greater delay if it has to be investigated later. It is also important that every adult in the household understands the process and takes part when asked.

Approval is not the same as receiving a placement. Once approved, the fostering service still needs to identify a placement that fits your approval terms, skills, household and available space. Your approval may specify matters such as the number or age range of children, whether you can care for siblings, and the types of needs you are prepared to support. These terms can be reviewed as your experience develops.

If the agency decides not to approve you, it should explain the reasons and tell you about the relevant opportunity to make representations or seek a review. The precise route depends on the decision and the fostering service’s procedures. You can ask for a clear explanation of the decision, the evidence considered and any steps that would be needed if you wished to apply again.

When you speak to a local authority fostering service, ask when it considers the formal application to have started, which stages can run at the same time, and what could cause the assessment to pause. A written outline of the expected stages can make it easier to understand where your application is within the approval process.