What does a local fostering assessment involve?

The assessment is an evidence-gathering process used to decide whether you can provide safe, stable and appropriate care for a child or young person. It looks at your circumstances as a whole rather than testing you against a single ideal profile, and the assessing social worker will discuss both your strengths and any areas where further preparation or support may be needed.

Initial information gathering

After your enquiry and application, the fostering service will discuss your reasons for wanting to foster, the type of fostering you are considering and your household circumstances. This is an opportunity to identify practical issues early, such as space in your home, work commitments, transport, existing caring responsibilities or the likely effect on other members of the family.

The assessor will normally explain the stages of the process, the information you need to provide and the checks that must be completed. You should also be told what information will be shared with you, how your assessment will be recorded and who will make the final decision.

Home visits and individual interviews

Most assessments involve several discussions in your home and, where appropriate, separate conversations with individual household members. The assessor may want to understand:

• your motivation for fostering and your expectations of the role;
• your personal history, relationships and experience of caring for children;
• how you manage stress, disagreement, change and uncertainty;
• your approach to boundaries, routines, discipline and safer caring;
• your understanding of the impact of neglect, abuse, trauma and separation;
• how you would work with birth families, social workers, schools and other professionals; and
• how your family, friends and wider support network would respond to fostering.

Some questions may be personal because the assessor needs to consider whether past experiences, health matters or current circumstances could affect your ability to foster. This does not mean that a particular life history automatically rules someone out. The important issue is how relevant experiences have been understood and managed, and whether the household can meet a child’s needs safely.

Checks and supporting information

The service carries out statutory and household checks to verify the information provided and identify anything that could affect approval. These can include enhanced criminal record checks, local authority checks, health information, employment or personal references, and checks relating to other adults living in or regularly visiting the home. Previous fostering or adoption assessments may also need to be considered.

A medical adviser may comment on whether your health is compatible with fostering. The purpose is not to require perfect health, but to understand any condition, treatment or limitation that could affect day-to-day care, resilience or your ability to continue caring for a child. You should give accurate information and discuss reasonable arrangements that may help you manage your responsibilities.

The assessor will also consider the home itself. This includes sleeping arrangements, privacy, cleanliness, general safety, storage of medicines and hazardous items, fire safety and whether the accommodation is suitable for the age and needs of a child. A spare bedroom is normally expected for a foster child, although the precise requirements can depend on the proposed placement and the relevant fostering standards. Pets, smoking, outdoor areas and household routines may also be discussed.

Preparation and training

Applicants are usually expected to complete preparation training before approval. This helps you examine subjects such as safeguarding, attachment, behaviour, identity, contact with family members, recording information and working as part of a professional team. Training is not simply a pass-or-fail test. Your participation helps the fostering service understand your learning needs and whether you can reflect on new information.

You may be asked to complete exercises, reflect on scenarios or explain how you would respond to a child who is distressed, withdrawn, angry or testing boundaries. The aim is to assess your judgement and willingness to learn, rather than to expect you to have specialist knowledge before you begin.

The written assessment report

Your assessing social worker brings the information together in a detailed report, commonly known as a Form F assessment. It should describe your household, experience, strengths, support network, motivation and any identified risks or uncertainties. It should also make clear what type of fostering may be suitable, including the age range, number of children and circumstances you may be able to manage.

You should have the opportunity to read the report, correct factual errors and comment on its conclusions before it goes to panel. If you disagree with an opinion, discuss it with the assessor and ask for your response to be recorded. A balanced report should explain the evidence behind its recommendation rather than presenting unexplained conclusions.

Panel and the final decision

The fostering panel considers the assessment report and supporting checks before making a recommendation. You may be invited to attend and answer questions, usually with your assessing social worker available to support you. Panel members can ask about areas that need clarification, but this is not intended to be a formal examination.

The panel’s recommendation is passed to the agency decision-maker, who makes the formal decision about approval. If you are approved, the decision will set out the terms of your approval. These may cover matters such as the number and age of children you can foster and the types of placements that are considered appropriate. Your approval can be reviewed if your circumstances change or if your fostering role develops.

If approval is not recommended or granted, the fostering service should explain the reasons and tell you what review or representation process applies. You should not feel pressured to conceal relevant information during assessment. Openness allows the service to judge suitability fairly and identify the training, practical arrangements and ongoing support needed for safe fostering.