Editorial

First step
If you decide to complete our enquiry form, you will receive information packs from the Fostering Agencies in your area. This will give you the opportunity for you to decide who visits you. You will also receive the free Fostering Handbook.

Second step
The social worker(s) will discuss what it takes to care for a child or young person, what you feel you can offer and if fostering is for you and your family. The decision about proceeding to the foster care assessment is usually made at this stage.

Third step
Sometimes the Foster care Agency might ask you to attend a training course or require further information before starting the assessment.

Assessment
For couples, both applicants will have to undergo the assessment, checks and training, as both applicants will need to be approved before they can look after children.

Approval
The completed foster care assessment report is presented to the Fostering Agency Fostering Panel who make a recommendation about the approval as Foster Carers.

Fostering is a big decision with many implications for foster carers, the foster child, and the foster carer's family. Because of this the fostering agency must undertake a very thorough assessment .

During the fostering assessment, applicants are asked lots of personal questions which may feel intrusive but the aim is to find the right people to be foster carers for a child or group of children, so it is important to be as open and honest as possible.

There is no charge for the preparation, assessment or home study.

The reason the foster care assessment process is so thorough is because fostered children have particular needs, often relating to experiences of loss and difficulties in their early lives that must be met within their new foster care family in order for them to feel safe, grow and become thriving individuals.

Fostering children...

Fostering agencies

Assessment

Family Services Ltd has Fostering and Foster Care Providers registered across the UK. All of the Fostering Agencies have been assessed as suitable for membership, the primary aim being to give choice to the applicant from the start and therefore increasing your chance of getting fostering right first time.

Every member Foster Care Agency has vacancies for Foster Carers.

The Fostering enquiry forms are forwarded to each member Fostering Agency who has subscribed in the area from which the enquiry came from, denoted by County boundaries.

Family Services is 'not for profit' therefore all proceeds will be reinvested to secure the ongoing success and growth of Fostercarenews as a significant information and recruitment resource of Foster Carers for the UK.

To become a member Fostering Agency, visit the Simply Fostering website.