How Do I Become a Foster Carer? The Next Step
The process of becoming a foster carer is a extended one which takes several months to complete. To become a foster carer, you will need to complete several tasks, undertake training and be approved by a fostering panel. This post looks at all the steps you will need to take to apply & become a foster parent.
Abacus Preparation to Foster Training is a 4-day programme which complements your assessment. It focuses on learning about the role of a foster carer and preparing you to become a foster carer. It covers:
- Understanding children in foster care
- Equality and diversity
- What do foster carers do
- Looking after other people’s children
- Working together
- Safe caring
- Safeguarding
- Transitions for children and young people
- Transition of your family becoming foster carers
What are the steps to becoming a foster parent?
Stage 1
Step 1. - Complete Application Form
The first step is to complete a form which we will send out to you, which gets some basic information about who you are. Get in touch to receive a form.
Step 2. - Initial Home Visit
A member of staff will come out to see you to make an initial assessment of your home and your suitability to become a foster carer.
Step 3. - Preparation to Foster Training
Everyone who applies to foster must complete the Preparation to Foster training. This is held over 4 days during weekends and evenings. It covers all aspects of the fostering task and forms part of your assessment.
Step 4. - Statutory Checks
- Medical report from your GP which will be reviewed by Abacus’s Medical Advisor.
- Data and Barring Service(DBS or the old CRB police check) on all members of the household over 16 years.
- Interview and reference from birth children living within or outside the household (if applicable).
- Social Services and Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (CAFCASS) checks.
- Outcome of any previous request or application by any member of your household to foster or adopt a child or young person.
- Two personal references and one family member reference for each applicant.
- Present employer’s reference (where applicable).
- Past employers’ references, where you have worked directly with children and young people.
- Reference from ex-partners where there has been joint parenting.
School reference for birth children (if applicable). - Health and safety check on the home and completion of a safe care plan.
- Assessment of your skills, competence, potential, and daily lifestyle.
Stage 2
Step 1 - Form F Assessment
You will be allocated a social worker who will complete your assessment. The assessment usually takes between 3 and 6 months. It is a big piece of work and you will be expected to contribute. Your social worker will set you regular homework.
Everyone who is applying to become a foster carer must attend the sessions unless agreed otherwise. You will also need to attend the Preparation to Foster training. The completed content of Form F will be shared with you before you go to the Fostering Panel.
Step 2 - Panel Approval to Foster Children/Young People
Upon completion of the assessment and satisfactory checks, the Form F is presented to our independent fostering panel. The role of the panel is to consider the application for approval and to recommend the terms of approval. This recommendation is then presented to the Agency Decision Maker for their approval. Abacus will inform you of the decision at every stage.
If you are looking to become a foster parent in the Midlands, then foster through Abacus Fostering agency. Our team is committed to ensuring that our foster carers are the best match for the child or young person. We provide support through every stage of the application process and provides ongoing supervision.