Whether you’re still at the research stage of your fostering journey, or preparing to have an assessment soon, we understand you might feel apprehensive about this step.
As you’d expect, the fostering assessment process involves an in-depth analysis, but it shouldn’t feel intimidating or frightening. Here’s more to reassure you about what happens and why.
When will your foster carer assessment happen?
The foster care assessment is usually the third stage in an individual or couple’s foster care application journey.
- Following an initial enquiry, which may happen over the telephone or in person, you would have received a fostering pack full of information to help you decide if fostering could be a good fit for you.
- Next, you will be visited by one of our team who till talk to you in more detail about fostering and how it might impact on your lifestyle, as well as answering any questions you may have about the process.
- If you decide to proceed, the next step is to complete a fostering application form. This will be followed by your fostering assessment.
What is the fostering assessment process?
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Once we receive your form, we will allocate an assessor who will work with you and your family during the assessment process. This process help your assessor put together what is known as a Form F, which charts the evidence supporting your application at this stage.
- They will visit you at your home on a number of occasions and work through your application with you, gathering information about your family life, your background and history including current and previous relationships.
- We will identify any previous experience you have of looking after children or providing care. Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks will be carried out to confirm whether you have any previous cautions or convictions. The questions you are asked will be probing, but are designed to find out how fostering might impact on you and your family, so it’s important to answer fully and honestly. Your assessor will always try and make you feel as relaxed as possible. You will also be asked to provide the names of referees as part of this process, and these people will be contacted in relation to your application.
- You will have the opportunity to review your Form F before it is passed to the Fostering Panel. You will meet with the Panel to discuss your application and find out whether they will be recommending that your application is progressed. This gives you the opportunity to discuss with them your experiences, circumstances, and other details outlined in the form.
Do you have more questions?
Hopefully, we’ve helped you feel more relaxed about the fostering process as a whole and any approaching assessment meetings. If you’re unsure whether or not you could be suitable for fostering, read about who can foster.
If you are ready to start your fostering journey, or if you just need to ask a question, fill out our online contact form and a member of your local team will get in touch shortly.