Fostering

How to become a foster carer

The process leading up to becoming a foster carer is called a Home Study or Assessment. During your assessment, your social worker will help you decide whether fostering is right for you and your family. It also helps us to get to know you, make sure that you have sufficient space in your home, time to care for a child and have thought through how fostering will work for you and your family. The time it takes to be approved as a foster carer can vary, but it takes approximately six months from start to finish.

Enquiry process

• telephone the Family Placement Team on 0800 0322 533 or request an application pack
• information sent out to you 
• you return your reply slip from the information pack or telephone us to confirm your interest
• initial interview or assessment at your home with a social worker
• decision made about whether or not to proceed to the next stage

Foster carers approval process

Preparation Training: We invite you to attend preparation training sessions where you can learn about what is involved in fostering and the needs of the children who require fostering. It is a chance to meet the other people who are going through the process and to talk to experienced foster carers.

Checks: You are given an application form to complete, giving us permission to start your background checks i.e. Criminal Records Bureau, references, medical history. Westminster will take up your personal references and if applicable, employer references.

Assessment: A social worker is allocated to you to start your full assessment. Your social worker arranges weekly appointments to meet you. During these sessions you discuss a range of different topics relating to your background, your ability to care for children and the needs of the children. You and your social worker decide the number and ages of children you can foster. The assessment on average takes between six to eight visits. We aim to complete your assessment within 12 weeks. 

Report: All the information you provide is collated into a report which outlines your skills, experience, and your future training needs. You see the social worker’s report and you can make any comments or changes you would like in writing. 

Panel: Your social worker presents the report to the Fostering Panel. We invite you to attend if you would like. The Panel makes the decision to approve you as a foster carer. If you are not approved you have the right to appeal or challenge the decision.

Approval: If approved, you are allocated a Supervising Social Worker, who will support and monitor your progress as a carer. You are offered ongoing training and opportunities to meet other foster carers.

Placing children: A child or young person is placed with you. Their age and length of stay depends on the type of fostering you are approved for and the child’s care plan.

Review: Your approval is reviewed annually or when there is a significant change in your circumstances.