Becoming a foster carer in England
Applying to become a foster carer
The process starts when you apply to become a foster carer and finishes with a decision from the fostering service. The process can take up to 8 months to complete.
Steps 2 to 6 might happen in a different order.
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You apply to become a foster carer through your local council or regional recruitment hub or an independent fostering agency. You can only apply through one fostering service.
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The council or agency asks you to go to a preparation course on fostering.
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You and every adult that lives with you will need to pass an enhanced with barred lists Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
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A social worker assesses you and your family to check that you’re able to care for a child.
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You state any preferences about the type of foster care and the children you’ll care for, like age or gender. You cannot choose a child out of a group of children and you do not get a trial period with a foster child.
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The fostering service reviews your application. You’ll need to meet with their panel who will make a recommendation.
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The fostering service makes a decision on your application.