What assessment is needed for short- or long-term fostering?

The assessment for short- or long-term fostering is based on the same core approval process. It is a detailed evaluation of your suitability, circumstances and capacity to provide safe, consistent care, followed by a recommendation about the types of fostering placements that may be appropriate for your household.

The process normally begins with an initial conversation and a home visit. This gives you an opportunity to discuss your reasons for fostering, your household circumstances and the types of placements you are considering. It also allows the fostering service to explain the assessment stages, expectations and information you will need to provide.

As the assessment progresses, the fostering service gathers evidence from several sources. This commonly includes:

• identity and address information for the applicants;
• Disclosure and Barring Service checks and other safeguarding checks for relevant household members;
• local authority checks where required;
• personal and professional references;
• health information from your GP or another appropriate health professional;
• details of your employment, finances and household arrangements;
• information about previous relationships, children and significant life experiences;
• a home safety assessment, including sleeping arrangements and the suitability of the space available; and
• training and discussions about safeguarding, child development, behaviour, safer caring and working with other professionals.

Everyone who is applying to foster is assessed individually, and the household is considered as a whole. This may involve discussions with a partner, children living at home and other people who have an important role in family life. The assessment looks at how fostering could affect existing relationships, routines and responsibilities, as well as how the household would respond to a child or young person joining it.

Assessors will explore your motivation for fostering and your understanding of children who may have experienced neglect, abuse, loss or disruption. They will consider your ability to set appropriate boundaries, communicate with children, work as part of a professional team, manage difficult situations and reflect on your own practice. You do not need to have worked in childcare or have parenting experience to be considered, but you do need to show that you can learn, accept advice and put a child’s welfare first.

Preparation training forms an important part of the assessment. It helps you understand the realities of fostering and gives you the opportunity to consider whether it is right for your household. It also gives the fostering service further evidence of how you engage with safeguarding responsibilities, different perspectives and the practical demands of caring for a child.

The assessment is recorded in a detailed report, often referred to as a Form F assessment. The report brings together the information gathered, identifies strengths and any areas requiring further consideration, and makes a recommendation about approval. You should have the opportunity to discuss the report and correct factual inaccuracies before it is submitted for a decision.

The completed assessment is normally considered by a fostering panel. The panel reviews the evidence and may ask questions before making a recommendation about whether you should be approved and what approval terms would be suitable. The final decision is made by the fostering service’s agency decision-maker. Approval terms can take account of factors such as the age range, number of children, relationship between siblings and level of need you may be able to support.

Short- and long-term fostering do not usually require separate assessments. The same assessment establishes whether you can foster safely, while your preferences, experience, household capacity and the needs you feel able to manage help inform the type of placement considered. Short-term fostering may involve caring for a child during a period of assessment or while longer-term plans are made. Long-term fostering requires consideration of your ability to provide stable care over an extended period and to support the child’s relationships, education and developing independence.

You should give accurate and complete information throughout the assessment. Criminal records, previous involvement with children’s services, health conditions or financial difficulties do not automatically mean that you cannot foster, but they must be considered openly and in context. Failing to disclose relevant information can affect the assessment more significantly than the issue itself.

An assessment is not intended to identify a perfect family. It is designed to establish whether fostering can be undertaken safely within your circumstances, what support or preparation may be needed, and which placements are compatible with your skills and household. If your circumstances change during the process, tell your assessing social worker so the information and recommendation remain accurate.