The path to becoming a foster carer
A clear, honest look at what happens between your first phone call and your first placement. Allow around eight months from application to approval, with us alongside you for every step.
The first step. You call us, or fill out our online form, and we'll arrange a relaxed phone chat. We'll cover the basics:
- Your household and who lives there
- Whether you have a spare bedroom
- Your work situation and time availability
- Why you're thinking about fostering
- Any questions you have for us
If we're a good fit for each other, we'll book a home visit. No pressure, no hard sell. If it's not the right time for you, we'll say so honestly.
Two members of our team visit you at home, usually a social worker and the registered manager. This is a chance for everyone to meet each other and explore whether fostering is right for your family.
- We talk through your life experience and strengths
- We discuss what fostering would look like in your home
- We answer questions about allowances, training and support
- We meet other household members if they're around
- We take a look at your spare bedroom
After the home visit, we'll write to you with a decision about whether to invite you to formal assessment.
The formal stage. A qualified social worker is allocated to carry out your assessment using the BAAF Form F framework. Your checks, references and Skills to Foster training come first. Once those are done, the Form F itself usually completes within eight weeks, with 8-12 visits along the way. So allow around three to four months for this stage as a whole.
Stage 1 (checks and references):
- Enhanced DBS check on every adult in the household
- Medical reports from your GP
- Personal and employment references
- Local authority and probation checks
- Skills to Foster course (six sessions over three days)
Stage 2 (the assessment itself):
- Your background, family, relationships and history
- Your understanding of children's needs
- Your motivation, capacity and parenting approach
- Your support network
- Practical readiness: home, finances, time
You'll see and contribute to your Form F as it's written. It's your story, in your words.
Our independent fostering panel meets quarterly. The panel reads your Form F in advance, then invites you to meet them. It's not an interview, more a conversation about your readiness to foster.
- The panel includes a chair, vice chair, medical advisor, an independent reviewing officer, and panel members from different professional backgrounds
- You can bring your assessing social worker for support
- Panel makes a recommendation to the Agency Decision Maker (Jeanette)
- Final approval decision is made within seven working days
Once approved, you're allocated a supervising social worker and added to our matching database. From there, it's about finding the right placement.
Once approved, the support starts immediately:
- 12-step induction programme over the first three months
- Buddy / mentor pairing with an experienced Embrace carer
- Access to all Embrace Each Other support groups
- 24/7 advice line activated
- Allocated supervising social worker for visits and check-ins
- Annual review every 12 months
How quickly your first placement comes depends on the types of children you can support and the referrals we receive. Some carers are matched within weeks. Others, especially specialist or solo-placement carers, may wait a few months for the right child.
Questions about the process?
The most common ones, answered. For anything else, just ask.
Allow around eight months from the very start of your application to approval at panel. The Form F assessment itself usually completes within eight weeks once your checks and Skills to Foster training are done, and you'll receive a copy of the report ten working days before panel. We'll be clear with you about timelines from the start.
It's thorough, because we have to be confident every child placed with you will be safe and well cared for. But it's not about catching you out. Most carers describe it as a positive, reflective process. You'll learn things about yourself.
It depends on the offence and how long ago. Certain offences against children or violent offences are absolute bars. Other convictions are considered on their own merits. Honesty at enquiry stage matters most. Tell us upfront and we'll guide you on whether to proceed.
For some types of fostering, yes. Short-break or weekend-only carers often work full-time. For mainstream fostering, at least one carer in the household usually needs to be available during school hours and emergencies.
If panel doesn't recommend approval, you have the right to appeal. If we end your assessment before panel because something significant has come up, we'll explain why in writing. We don't put anyone forward who isn't ready.
Take the first step
One phone call. No commitment. We'll have an honest chat about whether fostering could work for you.