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.

Fostering assessment stages

Background checks and references

As part of your fostering assessment, we’ll complete a number of background checks, including a full DBS on anyone over the age of 18 who lives in your home (16 or over in Scotland), and local authority checks. We’ll also follow up on a number of references too.

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Prepare to Foster training

You’ll complete some initial pre-approval training, where you’ll learn the basics on important topics, such as child development and safeguarding, speak with current foster parents and gain a real insight into the role.

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Next step:
fostering panel

Once your Form F report is complete and you’ve been to our Skills to Foster course, you’re ready for the last and final step of the process – and that’s the fostering panel.

This is where an independent panel of experts will make a recommendation about your suitability to become a foster parent. This might sound a little scary, but you’ll be thoroughly prepared by now and we’ll support you all the way.

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Reasons to join Fosterplus…

Why choose us?

Everything we do is geared towards this idea of continuity, and it’s something that our foster parents experience too – with stable teams and consistent support and training.

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Support for the family

With Fosterplus, you’ll be connected to the support you need 24/7/365. This ranges from a dedicated social worker, regular support groups, direct access to Fosterplus management and an out of hours service.

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Generous allowances

You’ll benefit from an attractive fostering payment for when a child is in your care, together with other benefits and rewards. Find out how much you could receive using our allowance calculator.

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Speak to our team

Ready to take your first step into fostering? We’re here to support you on your journey…

Enquiry

You are required to have a spare bedroom that’s always available to a foster child. The spare room cannot be shared, and must be big enough to fit a single bed, a wardrobe and a chest of drawers.

Do you have a spare room?*

To be approved as a foster carer in the UK, you must be a British citizen or have the legal right to remain in the UK without restrictions that would prevent fostering.

Which of the following applies to you?*

How can we help you with your enquiry?*

The following questions are intended to help us understand your experience with children. Please note that prior experience is not required to become a foster carer, as full training will be provided.

Have you had children of your own?*

Do you have professional experience of working with children?*

Have you had any prior experience of fostering, such as being a foster parent or growing up in a fostering family?*

Have you ever adopted a child?*

Are you happy to receive regular fostering news from us?*

Yes

No

First Name*

Last Name*

Phone Number*

Email Address*

Postcode*