Become a carer
Enquiry
Please complete and send in the register an interest online form and we will contact you to arrange a visit.
Application and Assessment
When we receive your enquiry we will call you to answer any questions you may have and arrange a visit to see you. If you continue, it will be necessary to complete our application form. If your application is accepted, you will be invited to our office for an interview with the Fostering Manager and Chief Executive. We take this process very seriously and you will be interviewed in a manner similar to a job interview.
If successful, you will be allocated an Assessing Social Worker who will work through the next stage with you. You will be assessed using the Form F which is a standard assessment process set out by BAAF (British Association of Adoption and Fostering).
The assessment will cover all aspects of your family life, past and present, employment history and your views on child care and disabilities. You will need to have statutory checks completed which include references, CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) checks, Local Authority, NSPCC and medicals with your own GP. We comply with the National Standards for Foster Care, the Fostering Regulations 2002 and the requirements of Ofsted, the Government’s inspection agency. This process is understandably lengthy and can take four to six months.
Fostering panel
When your assessment is complete, you will be interviewed by our Fostering Panel. This is made up of an independent group of professionals who read the information, talk with you and your assessor and make a recommendation to the Agency Decision Maker as to whether or not you should be approved as foster carers. If the Decision Maker agrees with the recommendation, you will be approved and children can be placed with you.
Foster carer review
Your foster carer status is reviewed every 12 months. The first review report will be seen by the Fostering Panel and recommendations to either continue your approval or not, will be made. Subsequent reviews will only be brought back to the Panel if there are any concerns.