What eligibility checks should a local fostering agency explain?

A local fostering agency should explain not only which eligibility checks it carries out, but also why each check is needed, who must complete it, what evidence is required and how any concerns will be considered. The checks form part of the wider fostering assessment, rather than acting as a simple pass-or-fail test based on one piece of information.

Identity, residence and household information

The agency should confirm how it will verify your identity, address history and immigration or residency status where relevant. It should also explain that checks normally apply to adults in the fostering household, not just the person submitting the application. This may include a partner, adult children and other household members, depending on their age, relationship to the applicant and involvement in family life.

You should be told which documents are acceptable, such as identity documents and proof of address, and what to do if your circumstances are unusual. For example, moving home frequently, having lived outside the UK or being unable to provide a standard document should lead to further guidance rather than an unexplained delay or rejection.

Criminal record and safeguarding checks

A fostering agency should describe the level of DBS check required and obtain the appropriate consent before applying for it. Where someone has lived abroad, the agency should explain whether additional overseas police or background checks are needed and what happens if equivalent records are unavailable.

A disclosed conviction does not always mean that fostering is ruled out. The agency should consider relevant details, including the nature of the offence, when it happened, the person’s age at the time, any pattern of behaviour and evidence of change. Offences involving children, violence, sexual harm or serious abuse are likely to receive particularly careful consideration. The agency should explain how safeguarding concerns are assessed and how decisions are recorded, rather than suggesting that every disclosure has the same outcome.

Checks with local authorities and other organisations

As part of the assessment, the agency may need to make enquiries with local authorities and other bodies connected with your circumstances. This can include information about previous involvement with children’s services, subject to the relevant consent and legal requirements. Previous contact with social services is not automatically evidence that someone cannot foster; the agency should look at the context and relevance to caring for a child.

References should be explained clearly. You may be asked for personal references from people who know you well, along with information from an employer or another appropriate source. The agency should tell you who can provide a reference, whether a former partner may need to be contacted and how it will handle a reference that is delayed, incomplete or raises a concern.

Health assessment

A medical assessment is used to consider whether your physical and emotional health is compatible with fostering and with the needs of children likely to be placed with you. The agency should explain what information your GP or another medical professional will be asked to provide, how confidentiality is protected and whether you will be able to discuss any report before it is considered.

Fostering does not require perfect health. The relevant question is usually whether any condition, treatment or limitation could affect your ability to provide safe, consistent care, now or in the future. The assessment should take account of individual circumstances, available support and the likely demands of fostering. It should not rely on general assumptions about age, disability or a medical diagnosis.

Home and safety assessment

The agency should visit your home and explain what it will examine. This normally includes the child’s bedroom or sleeping arrangements, household safety, privacy, storage of medicines and hazardous substances, fire precautions, outdoor areas and the suitability of pets. The assessment is about whether the home can provide a safe environment for a child, not whether it is presented to an unusually high standard.

You should be told how the agency will approach practical matters such as renting your property, sharing facilities, smoking or keeping animals. Permission from a landlord may be needed, and some arrangements may require additional safeguards. If work is identified, the agency should distinguish between essential changes and improvements that can be completed before approval or before a particular type of placement.

Relationships, experience and household stability

Assessors will usually explore your relationships, support network, daily routines and reasons for fostering. The purpose is to understand how a child would fit into your household and how adults would manage stress, disagreements, allegations or challenging behaviour. A single applicant, couple or family should be assessed on their actual circumstances rather than against an assumption that one household structure is preferable.

The agency should also explain how it considers childcare experience, employment, finances and other commitments. Previous professional childcare work can be useful but is not the only relevant experience. Employment is considered alongside the age and needs of children who may be placed, the availability of support and the practical demands of attending meetings, training and appointments. Financial checks should establish whether the household can manage responsibly; fostering should not be presented as a substitute for resolving serious financial difficulty.

Consent, confidentiality and concerns

Before checks begin, ask who will see the information, how it will be stored and when information may need to be shared for safeguarding or legal reasons. You should have an opportunity to explain information that may otherwise be misunderstood, including gaps in employment, previous addresses, health history or a criminal record.

An agency should explain what happens if a check raises a concern. This may involve requesting more documents, seeking professional advice, changing the assessment plan or deciding that approval is not appropriate. Ask whether there is a review or complaints route and whether you can correct factual errors in reports. A clear explanation should leave you knowing what information is outstanding, what decisions have been made and what the next assessment stage involves.

Before proceeding, useful questions include: which household members will be checked; what overseas or previous-address information is required; how will a disclosure be assessed; what home changes may be necessary; and who makes the final approval decision? A transparent answer helps you judge whether the agency’s process is thorough, proportionate and focused on safeguarding children.