Find out if you could be a foster carer
In a few simple questions, you’ll know if you’re suitable to apply to become a foster carer.
You’ll be supported throughout your application to become a foster carer (also known as a foster parent) with National Fostering Group. As the UK’s largest and most experienced agency, we’re with you every step of the way.
If you’re thinking about becoming a foster parent in the UK and joining National Fostering Group, that’s brilliant! Good foster carers really make a difference to young lives, and carers also find it very rewarding for themselves and their families.
Right now, we want to make sure you have all the information and support you need to take your next steps to becoming a foster carer. After all, you’re making an important, life-changing decision that will also affect your family and friends. Let’s start with an overview of the different stages of the application process.
If you’re interested in learning more or starting your application to become a foster carer, your next step is to get in touch with our team by completing our enquiry form. You will have the following options:
You might like to go over or reflect upon some key topics in your own time. The information pack is emailed to you once you’ve submitted the contact form.
If you don’t want an information pack at this stage, that’s okay. You can submit the form again at a later date and request one, or simply ask your local fostering agency contact to email you a copy.
If you ask for a call, a member of your local agency team will call you back as soon as they can. This will be either the registered manager or a carer recruitment officer who goes over the process of becoming a foster carer.
At this point, if you’re ready to proceed with your application, you can use this call to arrange an initial home visit.
We’ll arrange to meet with you and your family at your home, so we can get to know you better – and so you can get to know us too.
The Initial Home Visit is designed to help us to get to know each other and give you a more thorough understanding of what to expect from fostering if you go ahead with an application to become a foster carer.
You’ll need to complete an application form, which asks for basic information like contact details and an overview of your situation.
We’re here to help if you need guidance, there are no right or wrong answers.
A social worker will then be assigned to work with you through the rest of the process.
Your social worker will work with you to complete Form F and prepare you for the Fostering Panel meeting
The questions you’ll be asked are designed to find out how fostering might impact you and your family, including your own children, so it’s important to answer fully and honestly.
As one of the UK’s most experienced fostering agencies, we want to give you all the skills you need to be your best.
Your mandatory 3-day ‘Skills to Foster’ training is delivered free of charge either online or at a venue in your region.
A Fostering Panel makes a final check of all the information that has been gathered throughout the assessment process and makes a recommendation to approve your foster carer application.
The Panel then passes information to the Agency Decision Maker (ADM). You’ll be informed at the panel whether you are being recommended as approved to the ADM.
Once your Skills to Foster course has been completed and the ADM has approved your application, you’ll be ready for your first child.
The local agency team you have been working with will use the information you’ve provided to match you with your first child – and your foster carer journey will begin.
As young adults, taking the leap to become fostering carers seemed scary. Our local National Fostering Group agency provided encouragement, education and understand the challenges that are involved with being a foster carers. It's a rewarding experience.
We know how potential foster carers value the support we give them while they are applying to foster a child. We’re also committed to continuing to support you once you’ve been accepted.
National Fostering Group sees this as an ongoing relationship where we can work together to provide the best care and outcomes. It’s a challenging role to foster a child and you’ll find it reassuring to know there’s a team behind you.
We often talk about National Fostering Group being a family, and we mean it. Because our agencies are based locally, you’ll really benefit from the personal contact you have with the people who can support you.
The level of support we give our foster carers is one of the main reasons they continue to foster children with us year after year. We will advise you, fight your corner, celebrate your achievements and be there for you as you become an advocate for your foster children.
I have and always would recommend the National Fostering Group. They have been amazing for us and we’ve never thought about moving away from them.
