Becoming a foster carer is one of the most meaningful things a person can do. But the process can feel daunting if you do not know what to expect. In this guide, we walk you through every stage of the fostering assessment process in England — from your first enquiry to your first placement.
Before You Start: Am I Eligible?
Before diving into the process, it helps to know the basic eligibility requirements. You can foster in England if you:
- Are aged 21 or over (there is no upper age limit)
- Have the right to live and work in the UK permanently
- Have a spare bedroom for the foster child
- Are in good enough health to care for a child (assessed individually)
You do not need to own your home, be married, have prior experience with children, or have a specific qualification. For more details, see our Can I Foster? page.
Step 1: Making Your First Enquiry
The fostering journey begins with a simple enquiry. You can contact:
- Your local authority’s fostering team directly
- An independent fostering agency (IFA) in your area
- A service like FosterHub (coming soon) that helps match you with the right agency
At this stage, there is absolutely no commitment. You are simply expressing an interest and asking questions. The agency will typically have a friendly phone conversation with you, lasting 15–30 minutes, to understand your circumstances and answer your initial questions.
Top tip: Do not feel you need to have all the answers at this stage. Agencies are used to speaking with people who are at the very beginning of their thinking. No question is too basic.
Step 2: Information Event or Home Visit
If you are interested after the initial call, the next step is usually either attending an information event or having a home visit from a social worker. Some agencies offer both.
An information event is a group session (in person or online) where the agency explains the fostering process in detail, introduces current foster carers who share their experiences, and answers questions from prospective applicants.
A home visit is an informal meeting at your home with a social worker. They will see your living space, meet anyone else in your household, and discuss what fostering involves in more detail. This is not an inspection or assessment — it is an opportunity for both sides to see if fostering could work for you.
Step 3: Formal Application
If you decide to proceed, you complete a formal application form. This collects basic information about you, your household, your health, employment, and motivation for fostering. It is the starting point for the formal assessment process.
Once your application is accepted, the agency begins a series of background checks:
- Enhanced DBS check (Disclosure and Barring Service) — a thorough criminal record check for you and any adults in your household.
- References — typically three personal references and one employer reference. Referees are contacted by the agency and asked about your character, reliability, and suitability for fostering.
- Medical assessment — your GP completes a health report. Agencies need to know you are fit enough to care for a child, but having a health condition does not automatically rule you out.
- Local authority checks — the agency checks with your local authority to see if there are any safeguarding concerns on record.
Step 4: Preparation Training (Skills to Foster)
Before or during your assessment, you attend a preparation training course. This is commonly known as “Skills to Foster” and typically runs over 3–5 days (sometimes spread across several weeks).
The training covers:
- What fostering involves day-to-day
- Understanding children in care — why they are in care, their experiences, their needs
- Attachment theory and how early experiences affect behaviour
- Managing challenging behaviour
- Working with birth families and professionals
- The legal framework for fostering
- Your rights and responsibilities as a foster carer
The training is free, and it is usually delivered by a mix of agency staff and experienced foster carers. It is also a chance to meet other prospective carers and build a support network.
Step 5: The Home Study Assessment (Form F)
This is the most in-depth part of the process. An assessing social worker visits your home several times over 3–6 months to build a comprehensive picture of you, your life, and your readiness to foster.
The assessment (known as Form F) covers areas including:
- Your childhood and family background
- Your relationships (past and present)
- Your education and employment history
- Your health and wellbeing
- Your parenting experience (if any)
- Your understanding of children’s needs
- Your home environment and the bedroom for the child
- Your support network
- Your views on discipline, diversity, and identity
This assessment is thorough, and it can feel intrusive at times. But it is important to understand that the assessing social worker is not trying to catch you out. They are trying to build an honest, balanced picture of who you are and what you can offer. The assessment is as much for your benefit as the child’s — it helps ensure you are matched with a child whose needs you can meet.
Step 6: The Fostering Panel
Once your assessment is complete, it goes before a fostering panel. This is a group of independent people — typically including social work professionals, health or education specialists, and experienced foster carers.
You will attend the panel, either in person or virtually. The panel will have read your assessment in advance and may ask you questions. This can feel nerve-wracking, but panels are generally supportive — they want to approve you if your assessment is positive.
The panel makes a recommendation, and the agency’s decision-maker formally approves (or, rarely, declines) your application. If approved, you are now a registered foster carer.
Step 7: Matching and First Placement
After approval, your agency begins looking for a child who would be a good match for your skills, experience, and family setup. Matching considers:
- The child’s age, needs, and background
- Your skills, experience, and preferences
- The location of your home relative to the child’s school and birth family
- Whether you have other children and how a new child would fit in
Before a placement begins, you will receive information about the child and usually meet them. For planned placements, there is a transition period where the child visits your home before moving in. Emergency placements happen more quickly, sometimes with very little notice.
How Long Does the Whole Process Take?
From first enquiry to approval, the process typically takes 6–12 months. Some agencies are faster, some slower. The time from approval to first placement varies — it could be days (for emergency carers) or several weeks (for those waiting for a specific match).
Ongoing Support
Approval is not the end — it is the beginning. As a foster carer, you receive ongoing support including:
- A dedicated supervising social worker who visits regularly
- Access to a 24/7 support helpline
- Regular training opportunities
- Peer support from other foster carers
- Respite care so you can take breaks
- An annual review of your approval
Ready to Take the First Step?
The fostering process may seem long, but every step exists to protect children and support carers. Most foster carers say the process, while intensive, helped them feel genuinely prepared for their first placement.
If you are thinking about fostering, the best thing you can do is take that first step. Check your eligibility or explore our types of fostering to see which might suit you.