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How will I be assessed?
You can make your initial enquiry by phone or by registering on-line. After an initial phone call we can jointly discuss if you want to proceed to the start of the assessment process. At this point there are only a few things where we would advise you against proceeding. For example, if you do not have the physical space for another child in your home, or if you live too far away for us to be able to place children with you. If we both agree to start the assessment process we will arrange for a social worker to visit you and your family. This first visit is mostly concerned with giving you lots of information about what being a foster carer involves and to tell you a little bit about the children we place with foster carers.
We like people to have a little time to think things over at this stage and then to decide if they want to begin the Home Study. This study is carried out by an experienced fostering social worker who will continue to provide you with more detailed information about fostering but will also start to discuss with you in detail how you might be able to care for a child. The social worker will visit you quite often and get to know all members of your family. It is important for them to be able to consider what children might be placed with you and what strengths, skills, knowledge and experience you as a family can use to help a child.
It is part of the Home study to undertake various checks. As part of this we will ask you to have a full medical and ask your GP about your health. We will also ask your consent to carry out checks with the police. If you have been convicted or cautioned for an offence please tell us at an early stage as we will want to discuss with you how this might affect your application. Being convicted of an offence will not usually stop you from applying to become a foster carer and we will consider each application on the particular circumstances and the type of offence.
The home study is a very detailed piece of work. It is designed to ensure the safety of children and give prospective carers the chance to find out if fostering really is the right thing for them. If the application is successful it will usually take about six months from beginning to approval.
Towards the very end of the Home study you will be shown a copy of the report and be asked to make comments upon it.
Want to find out what happens next?
