How are foster care houses reviewed after approval?

Post-approval review is an ongoing assessment of whether the household, accommodation and arrangements continue to meet fostering requirements. It is not limited to inspecting the building: the review considers how the home is being used, whether safer-care arrangements are followed and whether the carers can meet the needs of children living there.

A supervising social worker will usually discuss the household during supervision and record relevant information about the home. This may include:

• changes to rooms, sleeping arrangements or the use of shared spaces;
• repairs, maintenance issues or new hazards;
• changes in household members, pets, relationships or employment;
• how privacy, boundaries and visitors are managed;
• whether household rules and safer-care plans remain appropriate; and
• any concerns raised by the foster carer, a child, their social worker or another professional.

Practical checks may cover fire precautions, smoke and carbon-monoxide alarms, heating, electrical equipment, medicines, cleaning products, dangerous tools, water safety and any other risks relevant to the child’s age and needs. The exact checks depend on the fostering service’s procedures and the circumstances of the household. A review may also consider whether the home remains suitable for a particular type of placement, such as caring for a baby, a child with mobility needs or siblings who need to live together.

Foster carers are expected to report significant changes rather than waiting for a scheduled review. Examples include moving home, major building work, a new adult joining the household, a change in health, a new pet or a change that affects sleeping arrangements. The fostering service can then consider whether an updated assessment, additional safety measures or further information is needed.

Reviews also take account of the carer’s records and experience. Supervising professionals may look at placement records, training completed, incidents, complaints, safer-caring discussions and feedback from children or other professionals. This helps distinguish between a one-off issue that has been addressed and a continuing concern that may affect approval or a child’s safety.

Foster carer approval is normally reviewed formally at least annually, although a review can be arranged sooner when circumstances change or concerns arise. The carer has an opportunity to contribute information, discuss achievements and explain any difficulties. The review considers whether the existing approval terms remain appropriate, including the number, age range or circumstances of children the carer is approved to foster.

If a concern is identified, the first response may be practical action such as repairing a hazard, changing a sleeping arrangement, updating the safer-caring agreement, completing training or putting additional support in place. The action should be recorded and followed up. Where a concern is serious or cannot be resolved, the fostering service may reconsider whether the household remains suitable and follow the relevant formal procedures, including giving the carer an opportunity to respond.

For foster carers, good preparation makes reviews more useful. Keep certificates, repair information and household records organised, report changes promptly, and raise worries about the accommodation or a placement during supervision. A review is intended to provide evidence that the home continues to be safe, suitable and properly managed, while identifying adjustments that may support the child and the household.