When you are ready, you can contact a fostering service (by phone or email) to speak with them about your interest in fostering. You will usually have an informal discussion at first, and some services may also run information events either online or in person for you to attend with other prospective foster carers. You can find details of these events on our event board.
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When you have decided you would like to begin the application process, the fostering service may arrange an ‘initial visit’ at your home to meet with you and, if appropriate, other family members. This gives you an opportunity to ask any questions you may have and to find out more about all aspects of fostering. This visit also enables the fostering service to make an initial assessment of your situation, and decide if they wish to begin a full assessment of your suitability to foster.
On this visit, the fostering service will consider things such as the time you have available to care for a child, the suitability of your home, and the views of everyone in the household about fostering. They may also consider the timing of the application, and any recent major changes such as a family bereavement, any recent (or intended) house moves, or recent relationship changes. These questions are asked because children in foster care need stability, so in cases where there is not current stability, they may suggest that you apply at a later date. Your motivation to foster and willingness to attend training may also be discussed.
This visit may conclude with the fostering service inviting you to formally apply to become a foster carer with them, and beginning the statutory checks required for the first step of the assessment process.
On the other hand, the visit may conclude with either you (the prospective foster carer) or the fostering service deciding not to proceed. If it is the fostering service's decision, they will write to you explaining their reasons. You can make a complaint to the fostering service using the complaints procedure if you feel you have been treated unfairly.
If you still want to become a foster carer, you may wish to consider contacting other fostering services who may be recruiting for different fostering roles that are more aligned with what you can offer. Fostering services also differ on policies such as whether they recruit foster carers who wish to continue in employment alongside fostering, the age of any other children in the household and other issues. If you would like to discuss this further, Fosterline is here to support you.
What initial training will I receive?
All fostering services offer free preparation training which they will expect all prospective foster carers to attend. This usually lasts around three days, but may be divided into smaller sessions, and is delivered in person or online, often at weekends or in the evening. It will provide you with the basic skills and knowledge to begin your fostering journey, which will be supplemented by further training and development offered to all approved foster carers.
Many fostering services will expect prospective carers to have completed the preparation training before starting the full assessment process, although it is possible to do both at the same time.
