How to become a foster carer

Begin your assessment process

First, you'll need to tell us you're interested in becoming a foster carer by completing our online form

Then we'll contact you to begin the 4 stage assessment process. This should take around 6 months to complete.

Foster carers transferring from another agency will be fast tracked. We'll complete your assessment in a shorter timeframe.

Stage 1 initial visit

We will visit you and your family at home to talk about becoming a foster carer.

Stage 2 application and training

You'll complete your Fostering Application form and attend our local 3 day Skills to Foster training course, where you'll meet experienced foster carers and a former fostered young person.

Stage 3 writing your report

You will have regular meetings with your assessing social worker, who will get to know you and your family. The assessing social worker will write a report, which will be presented to a panel of people.

We will support you throughout this process, partnering you with an experienced foster carer to learn more about fostering.

Stage 4 attending the fostering panel

The panel is a meeting held to consider your application to become a foster carer.

The panel is made up of a people from diverse backgrounds with vast experience of fostering. Both professionals and independent individuals, from within the community.

You and your social worker will then attend the fostering panel. The panel will make a recommendation about your approval as a foster carer.

A Chief Officer known as the Agency Decision Maker (ADM) within Children Social Care makes the final approval decision.