How to apply

If you are interested in foster care please contact us by telephone, letter or fill in the online information form. You will receive an information pack which we hope will answer most questions about our service.

Application process

Caring for children can be a demanding task and we need to be very sure that becoming a carer is right for you, your family and any children we might place with you. There is a detailed process potential carers follow which allows you to explore whether fostering is right for you. This process also allows us to assess whether you will be likely to cope with the demands fostering might place on you.

Initial home visit

On receipt of the notification form or other form of contact to advise us of your continued interest, a family placement social worker will contact you (and your partner if applicable) within seven days to arrange a home visit. This is to discuss the assessment process in more detail as well as to take basic information about you and your family. This is also your opportunity to ask any questions not covered in the information pack. Following a positive initial home visit we will advise you of the details of our next preparation training course.

The preparation course

We run a nationally recognised course called the Skills To Foster designed by the Fostering Network. We usually run it over three consecutive Saturdays or a combination of three other days or six evenings. The course is run by family placement social workers and experienced foster carers. It covers the main areas involved in caring for children, including sections on dealing with difficult behaviour and caring for abused children. Course members are all potential carers and you will have the opportunity to discuss in detail the issues that carers face. Everyone who completes the course receives a certificate of attendance. It is a requirement that all prospective foster carers attend this course. If a couple, both applicants need to attend. There is one separate session run for prospective applicants children from age 7 - 16. We usually invite suitable applicants to training within six weeks of the initial home visit.

The assessment

The assessment involves a family placement social worker making a number of visits to you and your family, asking detailed questions about your life and childhood, the way your family functions and other matters that might affect the way you would respond to a distressed child. The purpose of the assessment is to identify your strengths as well as allowing the worker to address any areas of difficulty. This process also helps us to understand the type of child who would fit best into your family. 

The assessment format used is designed by the British Association for Adoption and Fostering and is competency-based. As part of the assessment process enquiries are made with the Criminal Records Bureau, health, education, employers, and other agencies. We will also interview at least three personal referees you have supplied. These references are confidential and cannot be shared with you. At the end of this assessment the social worker writes a report with a recommendation to the Fostering Panel. You will normally be invited to attend the panel.

You will be involved in the process from the beginning to the end and contribute to the report. We aim to complete your assessment within six months of application.  Formal application is made after successful completion of training.

The Fostering Panel

This is the final stage in the assessment process. The panel is made up of childcare workers and managers from various agencies and foster carers who will make a decision based on the social worker's assessment and your views. The panel meets every month and decides issues such as the number, age range and type of children carers can be approved to care for. Following your approval, we will begin to work on matching a child that will fit with your family.

Is fostering for you?

You may wish to consider the following points to help you decide whether fostering could be for you.

• You understand that caring for children from another family is different to caring for children of your own family.
• You really enjoy working with children and can remain enthusiastic even when things are difficult.
• You understand that fostering will have an impact on your own family.
• You can work with children/young people positively even when they reject the care you offer or disregard your views and feelings.
• You can work with difficult behaviour, which foster children may display.
• You can allow and encourage a child to have feelings of affection for others.
• You have a good sense of humour.
• You can seek support for yourself and foster child when necessary.
• You can celebrate simple progress and achievements made by a child.

If you feel confident about the above, we would like to hear from you.