Becoming a foster parent in England
Your fostering assessment
Before you can foster a child you must pass an assessment by a social worker.
Assessments have 2 stages that might be done separately or at the same time.
Stage 1 - practical information about your circumstances
A social worker will ask questions to assess if fostering is right for you. They will ask:
- about the property you live in and any pets you have
- for your personal information including your relationship history
- about your general level of health (you’ll need to get a medical statement, usually from a GP)
- if you or anyone in your home has ever applied to foster, adopt, or become a childminder
- about who else is living with you, including other children
- about children in the family who do not live with you
- for the names and addresses of at least 2 people who can give references for you and every adult who lives with you (they do not have to be the same 2 people for everyone)
They can ask for more information or run other checks.
Stage 2 - detailed information about you and your family
A social worker will ask more questions so that they can get to know you and your family. They will ask:
- about your personality
- if you have religious beliefs
- for your ethnicity, cultural background and what languages you speak
- if you’re willing and able to care for a child of a different religion, ethnicity or cultural background, or a child that speaks a different language to you
- for your employment history and about your standard of living
- about your hobbies and interests
- if you have ever cared for children
- if you have any useful skills relevant to fostering
Where you’ll be assessed
Different fostering services assess you in different ways, for example they could:
- visit you at home
- call you
- invite you to meetings