Step 1
If you feel that you have the time and love to offer to a child in need of a fostering family, please get in touch on 01224 067604 or click to contact us link below and fill in the enquire now link with your details. A member of our team will be in touch to take some initial details and talk to you a bit more about fostering. We will if you are interested then arrange for someone from the team to visit you for an initial visit.
Step 2
During the initial visit we will talk you through about the different types of fostering and support you to think about whether fostering is right for you. Within this discussion we will talk about your motivation to foster, what experiences you could bring to the role and take you through the processes of the fostering assessment. From this discussion if all agree then progression can be made to the next stage. After the initial visit you will be given a workbook to help you prepare for the assessment.
If there is any reason, we do not feel that progression to the next stage is appropriate at this point then we will explain our reasons in full.
Step 3
We will then invite you to attend a Skills to Foster Course, which will give you a more in-depth insight into the role of the foster carer and the rewards and challenges of this role.
The course is delivered by experienced fostering social workers and will cover the following- –
- Day to day care needs of children who need a fostering family.
- The impact of trauma for children when there is a need for them to no longer live with their families of friends.
- The role of the foster carer in conjunction with the ‘team around the child’
- You will meet existing foster carers and hear about their experiences with the opportunity to ask any questions you may have.
- You will have the opportunity to meet with a care experienced young person and hear about their experiences.
- You will learn about the importance of working with birth families and the need to support the child or children’s understanding of their own life story.
The course is often co-led by foster carers, but we also have other professionals involved to explain the importance of the fostering role. You will also find out about the support that will be on offer to you including training courses, support groups and other resources you will be able to link in with. This course is mandatory to progressing to the next stage.
Step 4
A home visit will be arranged following attendance on Skills to Foster to discuss how you found the course, and to share our views on your progression to the next stage. If there is a reason that we are not in support of the progression to the next stage this will be fully shared with you and a follow up letter sent setting this out in detail.
If progressing, you will be asked to take part in an assessment called a Form F. As well as the fostering role itself the assessment time frame requires commitment, motivation, skills, and knowledge, therefore we need to be assured that you and your family if applicable are in a position to commit to the process.
Step 5
You will be allocated an assessing social worker from fostering team who will plan for a 4-to-6-month timeframe to visit your home and cover the following with you as part of the assessment -
- Family of origin
- Individual childhood Experiences
- Significant relationships
- Current Relationships
- Identity
- Experiences of Education
- Experiences of Employment
- Present day circumstances
- Completion of PVG checks
- Completion of Fostering Medical
- Reference Checks with anyone who is employed with children or vulnerable adults.
- Home Health and Safety Check
- Social and Support Network
Throughout the assessment your assessing worker will be compiling a report to be presented to the Fostering and Kinship Panel. You will be given the opportunity to read and comment on the report ahead of the report being submitted to panel.
Step 6
The fostering team manager will read the report complied which will include a recommendation on what your fostering registration will be. A visit will then be arranged for the team manager to visit you to provide a second opinion to the report provide and ensure that all has been covered ahead of panel or to gain more information on a particular area of your assessment if needed. The second opinion visit will also be to check in about your experiences of the assessment process and that all of the information has been shared with you ahead of the panel.
Step 7
The assessment report is presented to the Fostering and Kinship Panel, and you will be asked to attend this alongside your assessing worker. Set questions the panel will have will be provided to you ahead of this so you feel prepared for what you will be asked. In the conclusion to the panel, they will make a recommendation about your fostering registration which is then shared with the Agency Decision Maker (ADM). The ADM will consider the Panel’s recommendation within 4 weeks of the panel date, and you will be formally written to advise of their decision.
Step 8
Once formal approval is agreed you will be supported to commence your first placement. Your assessing worker will be your supervising social worker and with their in-depth knowledge of you and your individual needs will guide you towards your first placement and future fostering career.