How To Become A Foster Carer: A Step-By-Step Guide

Whether you’re weighing it up for the first time or have been considering becoming a foster carer for years and are finally in a position to get started, a good first step is to understand the eligibility criteria and what to expect from the application process.

From the outside, fostering can feel like a big unknown, with plenty of questions about what the process actually involves and how long it takes. You may worry it’s invasive or that your personal circumstances could be a roadblock. The truth is, the journey is more structured and supportive than most people expect, with clear stages and a team behind you at every point. They will be there to support you throughout the process, and beyond.

Whether you’re single, married, working full time, or already juggling a busy household, there’s likely a route into fostering that fits your life. This guide breaks down the full journey to becoming a foster carer, one step at a time, covering who can apply, what makes Embrace Fostering’s approach different, and exactly what happens from your first enquiry through to approval and beyond.

Who Can Become A Foster Carer?

Before we get into the process, it’s worth answering the question many people ask first: can I actually foster? The answer, for most people, is yes. 

Far more people can foster than you may think, whatever your background, relationship status, living situation, religion, ethnicity, etc., so long as you can offer a child a safe, stable home and you:

• Are over 21, with no upper age limit
• Have a spare bedroom
• Can offer time, patience and stability
• Are a UK resident with the right to work
• Can drive, or live somewhere with good public transport
• Are prepared to be assessed and trained

You can foster if you are single, married, in a civil partnership, cohabiting, divorced, working, retired, a homeowner, a tenant, an experienced parent, or have never looked after a child before; these things are simply not taken into account when deciding suitability. Things like sexuality, race, religion and disability are also never barriers. What matters is your personality and passion – not which boxes you tick.

Why Foster With Us?

Choosing who to foster with matters just as much as deciding to foster in the first place. Here’s what sets Embrace Fostering apart:

Therapeutic approach: DDP and PACE training come as standard, so every carer is equipped to support children who have experienced trauma. Backed by an in-house therapist and monthly Embrace Each Other support groups.

Round-the-clock support: A 24/7 emergency line, 365 days a year, means help is always close. We also offer weekly check-ins and supervision every 4 to 6 weeks, so you are never navigating challenges alone. 

Generous allowances: Competitive allowances with a level one to level two career structure that rewards your growing skills and experience.

Continuous training: Mandatory and ongoing courses, specialist subjects and free Foster Talk memberships ensure the learning never stops once you’re approved.

A real community: Embrace Each Other groups, fun days twice a year, consultation days and a quarterly newsletter so you’re part of something bigger than a single placement.

The Fostering Journey: Enquiry To Approval

Becoming a foster carer follows five clear stages: enquiry, home visit, assessment, panel and approval. Each step builds on the last, giving you and our team time to get to know each other properly before any final decisions are made.

From that first phone call to receiving your approval, the whole process typically takes around 8 months. You will never be left guessing what comes next; we’ll walk you through each stage as you go.

Step 1: Initial Enquiry (15-30 Minute Phone Call)

The first step is for you to call us or send us a message, then we’ll arrange a relaxed phone call. Within the chat, we will 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, we will book a home visit. No pressure, no hard sell. If it’s not the right time for you, we’ll say so, honestly.

Step 2: Home Visit (1.5-2 Hour Meeting)

Two members of our team visit you at home, usually a social worker and our 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 leave you with a pack to complete. We know you may need time to

think and consider the decision in more depth, so there is no pressure to complete everything immediately – or at all if you decide it isn’t something you’d like to proceed with. You might have more questions once we’ve gone, and you are more than welcome to reach out to discuss these further. Our goal is to ensure you feel fully informed and understand the process. 

Then, if you decide you would like to go ahead and we’re satisfied after the visit, we’ll collect your pack and then write to confirm that your application has been accepted and stage one has begun. 

Step 3: Assessment (Around 3-4 Months In All)

This is the more 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, we usually complete Form F within eight weeks, with 8 to 12 visits along the way. So we recommend allowing three to four months for this stage overall. This may still sound a bit confusing, so let’s break it down further.

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 checks
• Skills to Foster course (six sessions over three days)

Stage 2 – The Assessment Itself

• Your background, family, relationships and employment/education history
• Your understanding of children’s needs
• Your motivation, capacity and parenting approach
• Your support network
• Practical readiness: home, finance, time

You will see and contribute to your Form F as it is written, as it is your story in your words.

Step 4: Panel & Approval (Never More Than 60 Minutes)

Our independent fostering panel meets regularly. The panel reviews your Form F in advance, then invites you to meet with them. It’s not an interview, more a conversation about your readiness to foster. 

• The panel is made up of members from different professional backgrounds, including health, education, previous foster carers and care-experienced adults. 
• Your assessing social worker will support you throughout the process. 
• The panel makes a recommendation to the Agency Decision Maker. The final approval decision is made within seven working days. 

Once approved, you’ll be allocated a supervising social worker and added to our matching database. From there, we focus on finding the right child for your family.

After Approval: Where It Starts

Once approved, the support starts immediately: 

• 12-step induction program over the first three months
• Buddy/mentor pairing with an experienced Embrace carer 
• Access to all Embrace Each Other support groups

How quickly your first child is placed with you depends on the children you feel able to support and the referrals we receive. Some carers are matched within weeks, and specialist carers are often matched even quicker as they are desperately needed. Foster carers who tend to wait a little longer often have more specific matching criteria, such as extensive work commitments or limits on how far they can travel. The more flexible you can be, the easier it is for us to find the right child for your home.

Ready To Start Your Fostering Journey?

Every stage of this process exists for the same reason: to make sure every child who comes to

live with one of our carers is safe, supported and set up to thrive. It’s thorough, but you’re never navigating it alone. Our team is with you from that first phone call, through your first child’s arrival, and beyond.

Whatever stage you are at, whether you’re still playing with the idea or ready to start the process today, there’s no wrong time to reach out. Get in touch with our team today to start your fostering journey with Embrace Fostering.