If you are a prospective foster carer going through the assessment process, you will be invited to attend a fostering panel. This purpose of the fostering panel is to review your fostering assessment and make a recommendation about whether or not to approve you as a foster carer, and the terms of your approval (such as the age and number of children you could care for).
The fostering panel will read your fostering assessment and will ask you and/or the assessing social worker any questions that will help them to make a recommendation about your suitability to foster and the terms of your approval. This recommendation will then be forwarded to the Agency Decision Maker who will make the final decision.
Once you are approved as a foster carer, the fostering panel will also be involved in your first review (which will happen within the first 12 months) and in any subsequent cases that are referred to them.
Attending your fostering panel can be exciting, but you may also feel anxious about what to expect. Read on for our top tips to help you prepare!
Before the meeting
Make sure you have read and understood the fostering assessment report. Make a note of any errors before signing it.
If you disagree with the report, you may want to submit additional written information that challenges information within the report. Find out the timeframe for doing this, as reports must be forwarded to fostering panel members at least five working days before the fostering panel date (National Minimum Standards 14.3).
Confirm whether the meeting is in person or online. If it’s in person, make sure you know where the venue is and how to get there. Plan your journey to allow for any traffic or public transport delays and aim to arrive early. If you are running late, let your assessor know – have their number with you.
If the meeting is online, make sure you have a quiet space you can use and familiarise yourself with the meeting platform. If you’re unsure, ask the assessor to set up a practice session (or practice with family or friends).
If you have any communication needs, make sure these are understood and the right support is in place.
If you are attending as a couple, discuss beforehand how you will both contribute to the meeting. Try to avoid interrupting or speaking over each another.
If you are attending as a single carer, it may be possible to take someone with you for support. Ask the assessor about their policy on accompanying people. A companion might be able to remind you of key points to raise, and a smile from a friend can give you confidence, so let them know what you feel may help you.
Prepare for common questions such as why you want to foster, how you feel about continued training and how you work with others. You may also want to consider how you would answer questions around caring for children from different backgrounds and/or children with additional needs, and your understanding of safeguarding.
Ask if you can take an introduction book that includes pictures of your home and family members to help ‘set the scene’. This may be shared with any future children who may come to live with you.
If you are already caring for a child as a kinship or connected person carer (under Regulation 24), it may be appropriate to share pictures of the child in your home taking part in family activities. Check in advance to see if this is allowed - it may be a real ice breaker and help to make you feel more confident.
Have a glass of water available in case you get a dry throat and keep some tissues to hand as these meetings can sometimes be emotional.
If your assessment refers to sensitive information, try to be prepared for questions about this, and take your time when answering.
There may be gaps in the assessment, or events mentioned that the panel wish to explore further. Try to focus your answers on the question asked.
You may be asked to give feedback on your experience of the assessment. Be honest - but remember that panel’s role is not to investigate complaints. You may wish to give a short overview of any negatives (and can request a copy of the complaints procedure from the fostering service if you wish to take this further).
The fostering panel can make recommendations about someone’s suitability to foster, but it will be the Agency Decision Maker who will make the final decision. This will happen within seven working days of them receiving the minutes (notes) of the fostering panel meeting (National Minimum Standards 14.9). As the prospective foster carer, you will receive their decision verbally (within two working days) and in writing (within five working days).
Occasionally a fostering panel/Agency Decision Maker may decide to recommend deferring an item to return to panel within an agreed timescale. This can feel disappointing but should not necessarily be interpreted as a negative. Ask your assessing social worker for clarity on this if you are unsure.
If you disagree with the decision from the Agency Decision Maker about your suitability to foster, or your terms of approval, you can request a review. The decision letter you receive will include details of how to do this. Be aware that the option to request a review expires 28 days after the date on the letter.
