How long does a kinship foster care assessment take?

There is no fixed timescale for a kinship foster care assessment. An urgent assessment may need to progress alongside arrangements for a child to move into the family network, while a planned assessment can take longer where more information, appointments or professional opinions are needed. The responsible fostering service should explain the expected sequence and keep you informed if the timetable changes.

Kinship assessment usually has two possible stages. If a child needs to live with a relative or another connected person urgently, the local authority may consider whether the proposed arrangement is safe and suitable on an immediate basis. This is separate from completing the full assessment for foster carer approval. Temporary approval, where applicable, is for a limited statutory period, so the more detailed assessment must continue rather than being treated as complete.

For a planned arrangement, the assessment begins by establishing the child’s needs and your relationship with them. The social worker will consider whether your home and household can provide suitable care, how you understand the circumstances that led to the child needing care, and what practical arrangements would be required. This can include school, transport, contact with parents and relatives, appointments, routines and any specialist support.

The length of the assessment can be affected by:

• how urgently the child needs a placement;
• whether the child is already looked after or may become looked after;
• the child’s health, behaviour, education and contact needs;
• the number of people living in your household and their views;
• the time needed to obtain medical information, safeguarding records and references;
• whether other adults who have regular contact with the child need to be considered;
• the availability of professionals, referees and household members for meetings; and
• whether legal proceedings or changes in the child’s circumstances affect the proposed plan.

A delay does not necessarily mean there is a problem with your application. Some parts of the process depend on information from people or organisations outside your control. Missing documents, difficulty arranging a medical appointment, an unavailable referee or a change to the child’s care plan can all extend the timetable. It is sensible to tell the assessing social worker promptly about holidays, work commitments, health changes or other issues that could affect appointments.

What happens towards the end of the assessment? Once the required information has been gathered, the assessing social worker considers the evidence as a whole. The written report should explain your relationship with the child, your strengths, any areas requiring support, the proposed arrangements and whether the service considers you able to meet the child’s needs. You should have an opportunity to discuss factual inaccuracies and provide relevant information before the report is completed.

The report is then considered through the fostering service’s approval process. A panel may ask questions or request clarification, but panel consideration is not always the final decision. The agency decision-maker makes the formal approval decision, taking the assessment and panel recommendation into account. The outcome may include approval with terms setting out the type of placement or circumstances for which you are approved.

How can you help the assessment progress?

• Provide complete information about your health, finances, household and personal history.
• Tell the assessing social worker about everyone who lives in, or regularly visits, your home.
• Identify suitable referees and let them know that they may be contacted.
• Attend meetings and training sessions prepared to discuss the child’s needs and your support network.
• Ask for an explanation if a document, check or appointment is outstanding.
• Keep the service updated about changes in your household, employment, health or accommodation.

The most useful question to ask your assessing social worker is not simply how many weeks the process will take, but which stage has been completed, what evidence is still needed and whether anything is preventing the next step. Our local team can explain the assessment process, help you understand what information will be required and provide guidance as your application progresses.