How long does a fostering assessment take

Only in exceptional circumstances would sharing bedrooms be allowed and this would NEVER be with adult sons or daughters of the foster carer. It is important that the home environment is child-friendly, welcoming to children, safe and meets reasonable levels of hygiene. All applicants will have a safety check on their home. This will include the outdoor space, animals including the sleeping and toileting arrangements for any pet and the holding of any firearms.

It is beneficial that the applicant who is going to be the main carer has some experience of 'hands-on' care of children. All applicants must be prepared to facilitate contact between any foster child and their parents and significant family members.

All applicants will need to be able to understand and record information appropriately in the English language. Once approved, the agency will enter the foster carers' approval details on the Fostering Register database see Section 12, Register of Foster Carers and update the electronic records. The foster carer will be allocated a supervising social worker, - see Supervision and Support of Foster Carers Procedure.

If the social worker does not know the new carer, they will read the assessment and supporting documentation presented to the Fostering Panel including the references prior to contacting the carers and arranging to meet them, their family and members of their support network as appropriate. A handover visit is ideal between the assessing social worker and the supervising social worker.

The agency will visit the foster carers within 1 week of their approval and request the foster carer to sign a Foster Care Agreement between the local authority and the foster carer, which contains the information the foster carer needs to carry out their functions as a foster carer effectively, ensuring that the foster carer understands its contents.

The foster carer will be given two copies for signature, and will retain one signed copy in their secure box. The other will be kept on the foster carer's file, together with the report and supporting documents presented to the Fostering Panel, a copy of the Panel's recommendation and a copy of the approval decision.

New foster carers will also be given access to the Foster Carer's Hand-Book, which contains information about fostering in the local authority and covers policies, procedures, guidance, legal information and insurance details. Information about local foster carer support groups will also be provided. Foster carers will be assisted by their supervising social worker to produce a Safe Caring Policy relevant to the placement, health and safety relevant to the child and a child specific risk assessment in conjunction with the allocated social worker for the child.

The supervising social worker will continue to provide support and supervision to the foster carer up to, during and after all placements - see Supervision and Support of Foster Carers Procedure and ensure that they understand the need to undertake Disclosure and Barring Service and other checks and assessments on any new member of the household - see Section 13, Changes in the Foster Carer's Household or Circumstances and the need to repeat Disclosure and Barring Service checks on themselves every 3 years - see Review and Termination of Approval of Foster Carers Procedure.

A register of all approved foster carers will be maintained by the fostering service containing the following particulars:. Once approved, the administrative staff will be informed and will enter the foster carers' approval details, including their expected first review date, on the Fostering Register database. The supervising social worker will ensure that any newly approved foster carer is clear about their responsibility to notify the fostering service before any change in the composition of their household occurs or where there is any significant change in their circumstances which affects their fostering, for example any new relationship, pregnancy or bereavement.

If the supervising social worker discovers that there has been a change in the foster carer's household without prior notice, the manager must be informed and an immediate review of the foster carer's approval must be considered - see Review and Termination of Approval of Foster Carers Procedure. Where the proposed new member of the household is a partner of the foster carer, there will be a presumption that they will have a part to play in caring for any child in the placement and therefore a full assessment of this new application must be completed before the partner moves into the foster home.

The same procedure for this assessment will be carried out as for any foster carer applicant and it will be presented to the Fostering Panel and the Agency Decision Maker Fostering in accordance with the preceding paragraphs of this chapter.

There will be no presumption that any such assessment will be approved. Pending the completion of the full assessment, where the foster carer wishes their partner to stay overnight before the full assessment is completed, a Disclosure and Barring Service enhanced check must be carried out, and a risk assessment must also be completed to determine the level of additional checks required, before agreement to overnight stays can be given.

The risk assessment should take account of, amongst other things, the number and ages of the children in the placement, their views about the foster carer's partner, the significance and stability of the relationship including how long they have known each other and the foster carer's history of fostering. Any agreement to overnight stays must be endorsed by management. Where a foster carer proposes that any person will join the household, notice must be given before this occurs in sufficient time to enable a Disclosure and Barring Service enhanced check to be carried out on the relevant person and an assessment at the appropriate level to be undertaken before the change in household composition occurs.

A report to the Fostering Panel will be prepared. We use cookies to track usage and preferences. View our Cookie Policy I Accept. This document is only valid 72 hours after printing. For the latest version please visit the online manual. Responding to Initial Enquiries All members of the public who make an initial enquiry by telephone, email or letter in relation to becoming a foster carer will be referred to the Fostering and Adoption Service. If there is no response within 2 weeks, the enquirer will sent a no contact letter.

When a response is received, the records will be updated and the manager will be informed. Assessment — Stage One Stage 1 of the assessment process is intended to provide the agency decision maker with basic information about the applicant to enable clearly unsuitable applicants to be sifted out without unnecessary bureaucracy or expenditure of time and resource by the fostering service or the applicant.

The Fostering Panel must make its recommendation on the application within 8 months of the applicant first applying to be assessed. Checks and References 4. On receipt of the statutory checks, the electronic records will be updated. Otherwise, applicants will be asked to provide the names of two personal referees, who are adults, and have known the applicant for at least 5 years. All referees should be people who know the applicants well in a personal capacity. The administrative staff will send requests for written references to each referee.

On receipt of the references, the agency will update the electronic records. We ask you to be as honest as possible with us, and if you have anxieties, our Compass staff will be happy to talk you through them. Your own local Recruitment Administrator will be dedicated to help you through your checks and references section.

Another check we ask you to complete is a foster carer medical assessment with your GP. This referred to as a fostering medical or foster care medical check. Having a criminal record or a health problem does not necessarily mean that you will not be able to foster in the UK but it is important that you are honest with us.

We need to know about these issues from the beginning so that we can discuss and understand your circumstances. As your report is written up with your Form F Assessor, we will invite you to attend our 3-day Skills to Foster course.

The training is designed to help you learn about fostering alongside others going through the process. Home Births, deaths, marriages and care Having a child, parenting and adoption. Becoming a foster parent. Your fostering assessment Before you can foster a child you must pass an assessment by a social worker. Assessments have 2 stages that might be done separately or at the same time. Stage 1 - practical information about your circumstances A social worker will ask questions to assess if fostering is right for you.

Stage 2 - detailed information about you and your family A social worker will ask more questions so that they can get to know you and your family. We support our carers from the point of their first enquiry, through the assessment process and throughout their […]. Across this difficult year, we have had many enquiries coming from people all across Ireland whose circumstances changed due to COVID With people now working from home more often, having more flexibility or else at a point where they may now be fully available, perhaps they have decided that now is the time to […].

Give us a call 01 The Fostering Assessment Process Applying to become a foster carer The journey to fostering is different for everyone. Initial Contact After registering your interest with us, we will contact you to chat about fostering and help you to think about whether it is right for you.

Home Visit Our Fostering Advisor will visit your home to answer any questions you may have and explain how FFI work with and supports foster carers. Application Pack You will need to complete an application form, which gives us detailed information about you and your family, and also requests your consent for us to complete necessary checks and enquiries to determine your suitability to foster. Training You will be invited to attend a preparation course that will give you a full understanding of the fostering role and get you thinking about how you would react to some of the situations you may find yourself in as a foster carer.