The fostering process

Becoming a foster carer

Becoming a foster carer is big commitment for both you and those in your household. We will work with you every step of the way to make sure the relationships you build with the children and young people that come into your care will be positive and long-lasting ones.

This process normally takes between 4 – 6 months from start to finish, but most of our approvals are completed within 5 months.

Talk to us

You contact our Carer Recruitment Team either by phone or online and they gather some key information about you and your circumstances.

Meet with us

Once you have completed your initial enquiry, our Carer Recruitment Officer will contact you to discuss your interest in fostering further and will arrange an initial home visit. You will receive a detailed application form.

Allocation

Once the initial home visit has taken place, and upon receipt of your completed application form, Quality Foster Care will allocate you one of our qualified social workers to undertake a comprehensive assessment.

Assessment

  • Stage One: We will review your suitability as a foster carer and complete a number of mandatory checks from the Disclosure & Barring Service and Social Services, alongside medical checks and a home safety check.
  • Stage Two: Your social worker will visit your home a minimum of 7 – 10 times to carry out a detailed assessment about you and members of your household. The assessment is a joint process and needs full participation from applicants and their family.

Preparation training

During the assessment, you are required to attend a preparation course called ‘Skills to Foster’. This course is focused on preparing you for fostering and will help you make the decision that fostering is the right career for you.

Panel interview

After reading your assessment report, you attend our fostering panel with your social worker and the report is presented to them. The panel is a group of appointed people who will make a recommendation about your application to become approved as a foster carer and will give reasons for their recommendation.

Approval - you are a Quality Foster Care foster carer!

Once the recommendation has been made we will inform you verbally and in writing to let you know if you have been approved as a foster carer.

Matching

Once approved, our placements officers start working to carefully match you with a child or young person.

Placement

Once a suitable match has been identified, you will be provided with information about the child or young person. If you decide to go ahead then the placement is made.

Ongoing training & support

You will receive comprehensive training and will be fully supported by your own supervising social worker and your local fostering team.

Can you give a vulnerable young person the experience of family life?

If you think you could offer a stable and safe environment for a child or young person in need, please get in touch.