Step 4:
fostering assessment

The fostering assessment – also known as the Form F assessment - is basically a very detailed report which goes into every aspect of your life and circumstances. This isn’t unique to Fosterplus, and every foster parent in the UK must complete one.

The fostering assessment is designed to check every angle and make sure you’re suitable for fostering - and equally, that fostering is going to be the right choice for you. Over a number of visits to your home (or via video call), your dedicated assessing social worker will ask you a variety of questions and gather all the information they need to complete the Form F report.

As well as social work visits, we'll also complete a number of background checks and references, and there's some initial training that you'll complete too.

Fostering assessment questions

The fostering assessment is about you, your life experiences and your suitability to foster, therefore, there's no set list of questions that will be asked as everyone is different. However, there are a number of topics we'll cover, including:

• Experiences in childhood
• Relationships, past and present, including with your birth children (if you have any)
• Working experience
• Physical and mental health
• Finances
• Support network – family and friends
• Home and its suitability – e.g. locks, security, fire safety and pets
• Reasons for wanting to foster
• Availability

How long does the fostering assessment take to complete?

Generally, it takes 4-6 months to complete your fostering assessment, which gives everyone some real thinking time so no hasty decisions are made. We work at your pace, and there’s no hurry. We want to make sure that at the end of the assessment, your Form F is a detailed document that fully captures your reasons, motivations and suitability for fostering. We also want to be sure you remain totally committed to becoming a foster parent.