What checks are required to provide respite foster care?

The checks for respite foster care are part of the same safeguarding assessment used for other types of fostering. They are designed to establish your identity, history, health, household circumstances and ability to offer safe care, even when placements are short. The exact enquiries will depend on your circumstances and the fostering service’s assessment process.

Identity, residence and household checks

You will need to provide documents confirming your identity and address, together with information about where you have lived. The assessing social worker will usually ask about everyone who lives in, regularly visits or has a significant connection with your home. This helps the service understand the environment in which a child would stay and identify any arrangements that may need further consideration.

If you have lived outside the UK, or have recently moved between areas, additional checks or references may be needed. You should provide accurate details of previous addresses and any relevant periods spent abroad, as gaps in your information can delay the assessment.

Criminal record and safeguarding checks

Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service checks are used to identify convictions, cautions or other information that may be relevant to caring for children. The assessment does not treat every disclosure as an automatic bar to fostering. The fostering service considers the nature of the information, how long ago it occurred, the circumstances and any evidence of changed behaviour.

Checks may also be made with children’s services and other relevant authorities. These enquiries can identify previous involvement with social care, safeguarding concerns or information about children who have lived in your care. You should disclose relevant information openly, including matters that you think may not appear on a current DBS certificate.

Employment and personal references

References help build a fuller picture of your reliability, relationships, judgement and ability to manage responsibility. The service may seek references from employers, former employers or people who know you well. It may also need to contact a previous partner or another person with important knowledge of your family circumstances.

Referees are normally expected to provide honest information rather than simply confirm that they know you. A reference that raises questions does not necessarily end an application, but the assessing social worker may need to explore it with you and the referee.

Health and wellbeing assessment

A medical assessment considers whether your physical and emotional health is compatible with providing safe, dependable care. It is not intended to require perfect health. The relevant question is usually how any condition, treatment or disability affects your capacity to respond to a child’s needs, manage routines and maintain consistent care.

Your GP or another appropriate health professional may be asked to complete information for the fostering assessment, with your consent. You should explain any ongoing treatment, medication or support needs accurately. The service may discuss practical adjustments, but it must be satisfied that respite fostering would be safe and sustainable for both you and the child.

Financial and practical enquiries

The assessment includes consideration of whether your household can manage financially without depending on fostering payments to meet essential living costs. You may be asked for information about income, regular outgoings, debts, benefits or other financial commitments. This is not a test of wealth; it is intended to check that financial pressure would not affect the care you provide.

Practical matters may also be examined, such as transport, childcare arrangements, work commitments, insurance and who could support you during a placement. If you drive a child, appropriate driving documentation, vehicle arrangements and safety equipment may need to be considered.

Home and safety assessment

A home visit forms part of the assessment. The social worker will consider sleeping arrangements, privacy, cleanliness, general condition, security and potential hazards. They may discuss fire safety, medicines, animals, smoking, water safety and how household belongings are stored.

The home does not need to be perfect or unusually large. It must provide a suitable, safe space that meets the child’s assessed needs and complies with the relevant fostering requirements. If changes are needed, the assessing social worker should explain what they are and when they must be completed.

Information about experience and suitability

You will be asked about your motivation for respite fostering, your experience of caring for children, your understanding of trauma and separation, and how you respond to behaviour that is difficult to manage. The assessment also explores your relationships, communication style, boundaries, attitudes, support network and ability to work with birth families, social workers, schools and other professionals.

Respite care can involve children with different routines, communication needs, health needs or emotional responses. The checks therefore sit alongside training and discussions about the kinds of placements you could safely accept. Being approved for respite care does not mean that every placement will be suitable for your household.

What you will need to provide

• Proof of identity and current address.
• Details of previous addresses and relevant time spent outside the UK.
• Information about household members and regular visitors.
• Consent and information required for DBS, medical, local authority and reference checks.
• Employment, financial and personal history, including explanations for any significant gaps.
• Details of pets, vehicles, work patterns, childcare and other practical arrangements.
• Any documents requested by the fostering service to verify the information you have supplied.

It is important to answer questions fully and tell the assessing social worker if your circumstances change during the assessment. A new household member, change of address, health issue, criminal investigation or significant financial change may require further enquiries. Providing information early is generally more helpful than waiting for it to be discovered through another check.

Once the enquiries and assessment are complete, the information is brought together in a written assessment for consideration through the fostering service’s approval process. You should have an opportunity to discuss factual errors and provide relevant context before a final decision is made. The outcome should reflect your individual circumstances, the safety of your household and the types of respite placements you may be able to offer.