Care and support

The Approval Process

The Assessment

Once you have completed the Pre-approval training course a social worker from the Fostering team will visit you and your family to find out more about you. You will be asked questions about yourselves and your lifestyle. This is known as an Assessment and most people find the visit an enjoyable experience.

The assessment is designed to help acknowledge your strengths and skills in caring for children, and look at areas you may find more difficult.

Most people enjoy the assessment.

Report and Presentation to a Foster Panel

When your assessment has been completed, a written report will be compiled. This will be read and signed by you.

The fostering social worker will then present the report to a Foster Panel which consists of people who have knowledge and expertise in child care and fostering, including Foster Carers.

A decision regarding your approval will be made based on the report.

This is the final stage of the process in your application to become a foster carer.

How long will the process take?

Generally you can expect that it can take up to six months from the time you initially enquired to completing the assessment process.