Becoming a foster carer involves several steps, typically taking between four to six months from your initial contact with us. This duration may be shorter if you are transferring from another fostering agency.
Step One: Express your interest
If you're considering fostering, please contact us or attend an information event.
Step Two: Home visit by a Social Worker
A social worker will visit your home to discuss fostering, your background, and your reasons for wanting to foster. They will also assess your home's suitability.
If fostering seems right for you, we will send you an application form.
Step Three: Submit your application and begin assessment
After receiving your application, we will conduct various checks and references, including:
- Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks for criminal convictions and police cautions for you and anyone over 18 in your home
- GP information to confirm your health status
- Four personal references from people who know you well
You will be invited to attend the Skills to Foster training course, which includes both online and face-to-face sessions. An experienced foster carer 'buddy' will support you through the process and your first year of fostering. This stage usually takes around two months.
We will match you up with an experienced foster carer 'buddy' who will support you through the process and your first year of fostering.
This first stage of assessment usually takes around 2 months.
Step Four: Fostering assessment
Your assessing social worker will visit your home up to ten times to gather information for the assessment report, speaking with everyone in the household.
The report covers:
- Your childhood
- You job
- Your relationships
- Your capacity for parenting
- Any previous childcare experience
If you have children, we will discuss fostering with them and provide training and support to help them understand and feel comfortable. This stage typically lasts three to four months.
Step Five: Meet with the fostering panel
You will attend a panel meeting with your assessing social worker.
The panel, consisting of independent social workers, a care-experienced young person, and others with fostering and adoption experience, will review your assessment report and ask questions. They will then advise whether you should be approved to foster.
The final decision is made by our Agency Decision Maker within two weeks of the panel's recommendation.
Once approved, you will have a supervising social worker to support you throughout your fostering journey. You may welcome a foster child into your home soon after approval.
What is a fostering panel meeting?
We support you every step of the way, from assessment to approval and beyond. We offer additional training and help you join our network of foster carers across Surrey. Our social workers are available 24/7 for advice and support.
Get in touch to start your fostering journey
If you have any questions or would like to start your fostering journey, please contact us. We're always happy to answer your questions or have a friendly chat.
You can join of an information event to chat with foster carers and a young person who has been fostered.
