What checks are needed to become a kinship foster carer?

The checks for kinship fostering form part of a wider suitability assessment. Their purpose is to establish whether your household can provide the child with safe, stable and appropriate care, while identifying any support the local authority or fostering service should put in place. The assessment considers your individual circumstances rather than applying a single pass-or-fail test.

Identity and background information

You will be asked to provide documents confirming your identity, address and relationship to the child. The assessing social worker will need accurate information about your family, household, previous addresses, relationships and any relevant changes in your circumstances. If you have lived abroad, worked overseas or spent significant periods outside the UK, further information may be requested where it is available.

Criminal record and safeguarding checks

Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service checks are normally required for applicants and other adults who live in, or regularly visit, the household. The exact people checked will depend on the circumstances, but the assessment is intended to identify any safeguarding concerns affecting the child.

A criminal record does not automatically prevent someone from becoming a kinship foster carer. The assessing service will consider the nature of an offence, how long ago it occurred, the circumstances surrounding it, and any evidence of changed behaviour. You should disclose relevant information fully rather than assume that an old or minor matter will rule you out.

Checks involving other household members

Everyone living in the home can affect the child’s safety and experience of family life. The assessment may therefore include discussions with adult household members, checks on their suitability and consideration of how they feel about the proposed arrangement. Children in the household may also be spoken to in an age-appropriate way.

The service will want to understand who visits the home, who may help with childcare and whether anyone has a role that could create a safeguarding concern. This does not mean that every visitor is assessed in the same way as an applicant, but regular contact and practical involvement will be considered.

Health assessment

A medical assessment helps establish whether your physical and mental health would allow you to meet the child’s needs. It is not designed to require perfect health. The relevant question is whether any health condition, treatment or limitation could affect daily care, appointments, supervision, emotional availability or the long-term stability of the placement.

You may be asked for information from your GP or another health professional, with your consent. The assessment should also consider reasonable adjustments and what support may help you continue caring safely.

References and safeguarding history

Personal references are used to build a balanced picture of your reliability, relationships and ability to care for a child. Referees may be asked about your character, parenting or caring experience, household relationships and response to difficult situations. Employment references may also be requested, particularly where your work history or caring responsibilities are relevant.

The local authority or fostering service may make checks with children’s services, police or other relevant agencies where safeguarding information is needed. You should tell the assessing social worker about previous involvement with children’s services, domestic abuse, serious conflict, substance misuse, significant mental health difficulties or other matters that could affect the child’s welfare. Openness allows concerns to be assessed properly and reduces the risk of delays caused by information emerging later.

Home and practical safety assessment

A social worker will visit your home to consider whether it is suitable for the child. This can include sleeping arrangements, privacy, space for belongings, household routines, fire safety, pets, transport and access to school, health appointments and family contact. The home does not need to be large or elaborate, but it must provide a safe and suitable environment for the particular child.

The assessment may identify practical changes, such as securing medicines and cleaning products, improving safety around pets, arranging suitable bedroom space or considering how the child can have private conversations. These matters are usually considered in relation to the child’s age, needs and history.

Assessment of relationships and caregiving capacity

Checks also explore how you manage pressure, set boundaries, respond to behaviour and work with professionals. The social worker will consider your understanding of the child’s experiences, including possible trauma, divided loyalties, loss or changes in family relationships. Your ability to support the child’s identity, education, health, culture and contact arrangements is relevant.

Where the child’s parents or other relatives remain involved, the assessment will consider how you can keep adult disagreements separate from the child’s care. You may need to work within agreed contact plans and share information appropriately, even when family relationships are difficult.

Financial and employment information

You may be asked about household income, regular outgoings, debts, housing costs and employment arrangements. This is not normally about meeting a particular income threshold. It helps establish whether the household is financially stable and whether caring responsibilities can be managed without unsuitable pressure. Your working pattern, childcare arrangements and ability to attend meetings or appointments may also be discussed.

What happens after the checks?

The information is brought together in a written assessment. You should have opportunities to correct factual errors and explain anything that needs context. The relevant decision-maker, and where applicable a fostering panel, considers whether you are suitable for the proposed arrangement and what safeguards or support are required.

For an urgent placement, a connected person may sometimes be temporarily approved under Regulation 24 while the full assessment continues. Temporary approval is not the same as completing the usual approval process, so further checks and assessment work may still be required. The precise route depends on the child’s circumstances and the local authority’s arrangements.

Before applying, gather identity documents, contact details for referees, information about previous addresses and employment, and details of any health or safeguarding matters that may be relevant. Ask the assessing social worker which adults need checks and what documents are acceptable. Providing complete and accurate information is the most useful way to help the assessment reach a safe, well-informed decision.