Becoming Approved as a Foster Carer

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• Becoming Approved as a Foster Carer

Your step-by-step guide to the process in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames

1. After reading the information about fostering on this website you should complete the form below to register your interest.
2. A social worker will get in touch with you to discuss your enquiry further. We may arrange an appointment for our recruitment officer to visit you at home. If you have a partner we would expect you both to be available.
3. The home visit is an opportunity for you to find out about fostering and for us to get to know a little more about you
4. The recruitment officer will contact you again after a few days to discuss the meeting. You may be invited to attend the next Skills to Foster training course.
5. You and your partner will attend Skills to Foster training, which takes place over four or five sessions, usually held on weekday evenings and a Saturday
6. Once you have attended the course and have a good understanding of what fostering involves, you will let us know if you wish to be considered to apply
7. If we think that fostering is right for you and your family we will invite you to make an application, which includes giving us permission to carry out health and Criminal Records Bureaux checks, and take up references and checks
8. A fostering social worker from the team will begin a formal assessment by making a series of visits to your home to get to know you and your family. They will write a report which is presented to the Fostering Panel
9. Members of the Fostering Panel will read the report and discuss it with the social worker during one of their regular meetings. You and your partner are encouraged to attend but it is not obligatory. Once Panel is satisfied that you will make a good foster carer, you will be recommended for approval
10. The Agency Decision Maker confirms the recommendation and your new life as a foster carer begins.

• All foster carers are approved according to the age and number of children they are able to look after. This is reviewed at least annually
• There is a different process for Kinship Carers – those who look after family members and friends