Children and young people who are fostered are very vulnerable and we have to ensure as far as possible that people who are involved in looking after them are suitable for the task and able to keep them safe from harm or abuse. For this reason we undertake an extensive range of checks and references.
We will need to see proof of who you are. This means we will need to see your birth certificate, passport, and if applicable, driving license, marriage certificates and divorce papers.
You and any other person over the age of sixteen living in your home will be required to sign a form allowing us to carry out a criminal records check. If you have any cautions or convictions, tell us so that we can discuss them with you. It does not necessarily mean that you will not be considered but we would need to assess this carefully. It is important to be clear that anyone who has committed an offence against children will not be considered for any of our care options.
You will be asked for a list of every address you have lived in and when. We will check to see if you are known to us, or any other local authority for any reason. For example, if you have previously applied to become a foster carer or child minder.
You need to complete a medical assessment. This is done via your General Practitioner (GP) who meets with you to discuss your medical history. The GP completes a medical report (that we pay for) which is then passed to our Medical Advisor. The medical report offers a view on your physical and mental suitability to participate in the care option that are interested in.
If you have any health concerns let us know when we first visit so we can offer you a view on the likelihood of your present or prior medical condition affecting your application. It is important to note that anybody wishing to foster children under the age of five must not be a smoker.
As part of the assessment we need to meet at least two people who know you, (and if applicable) your family well. This is so we can discuss your abilities and skills, as well as areas for development, in interacting with children and young people. We will also ask about how they think you will cope with the demands of looking after children. A summary of the interview responses we gather from your referees are (if they are agreeable) shared with you.
When applying for a care option that involves a child or young person coming to stay in your home we need to involve every member of your household in the assessment. This includes children who live in the household. They will be interviewed (in your presence) and involved in some of the assessment and preparation exercises (also in your presence). This is to ensure that as far as possible we understand their views and that they are prepared and informed. If you have children who are pre-nursery/pre-school, we will ask for a reference from the health visitor. If you have a child who is at school or nursery we contact the head Teacher to establish whether they have any concerns about your application.
If children are going to be looked after in your home we have a legal responsibility to make sure that your home is suitable and safe. To ensure that it meets the necessary legal requirements we will complete (at a pre-arranged time and with you) a health and safety check on your home. This also allows us to see if you require any additional equipment, which we can sometimes help with.