Everything You Need To Know!
- How long does it take to become a foster carer?
- What does the fostering process involve?
- Why is this process so important?
How Long Does It Take To Become A Foster Carer?
Typically, the process of becoming a foster carer takes around 6 months but it can take less time. This depends on many factors, such as whether you have fostered before, your availability for training and meetings, and how long each step in your fostering assessment takes.
What Does The Fostering Process Involve?
At Changing Futures, we make the fostering process as smooth and straightforward as possible. The first step for you is to enquire. There are a lot of ways that you can get in touch with us, including our contact page, Facebook message or ringing 01429 363127. From here, our Registered Manager will get back to you as soon as possible to answer any questions you may have and explain what becoming a foster parent, with a therapeutic approach, involves, as well as the training and types of fostering available. At this point, there is no obligation for you or our agency to take your enquiry any further; it is simply an initial chat to see if fostering is a good fit for you!
Next, our team will visit you at your home to offer further information and assess your environment. After this visit, we’ll have a better idea of whether our agency fits in with your fostering goals, and we will invite you to apply. This involves an application form and consent to the statutory checks that make up the next step of the fostering process.
Then comes the fostering assessment, which involves a DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service Check), Local Authority Check, Medical, Home Assessment, Pet Assessment, and Evidence of Citizenship. All of these checks need to be carried out to ensure child safety! While all this is going on, we’ll invite you to join our therapeutic fostering preparation training, Changing Futures through Fostering, to help you develop the required skills.
Finally, there is the fostering panel, where we will present your Form F. A panel of around 5-6 will discuss what type of fostering placement might be right for you. They’ll then make a recommendation to the Agency Decision Maker, who makes the final decision. We’ll support you throughout all of this, and when it is complete, you’ll legally be able to foster a child or young person!
For more information on any stage of this process, please visit our dedicated web page here.
Why Is This Process So Important?
Child safety is paramount, which is why this process is of fundamental importance to ensure that children are provided with a safe, happy, stable home where they can grow and develop. This is why all of the security checks and training is required. The process also helps inform what sort of fostering would be the best fit for you and your family, ensuring the best decisions can be made! You will also have a social worker working with you to ensure you are comfortable and confident at every stage of the fostering process. Their support will continue once you become a foster parent to ensure a smooth transition, child safety and to offer ongoing guidance and support.
At Changing Futures Fostering, we’re all about providing our foster parents with the information and support they need to really make a difference in a vulnerable child’s life. If you need any more information about how long it takes to become a foster carer or the fostering process, or if you have any other questions or queries, please click here to contact us. Or, please feel free to email us at admin@changingfuturesne.co.uk or give us a call on 01429 363 127 to speak to our brilliant fostering team!