What is the Process

The Homefinding and Fostering Agency can take up to 4 months to assess and approve foster carers.

When you have read the information on this web site , the next step is speak with a member of staff to discuss your circumstances. You would then have an initial visit from a member of staff from The Homefinding and Fostering Agency. Following this visit, a decision is made whether or not to proceed with training.

We will then invite you to our two day training programme that examines all aspects of foster care and the children we look after.

At this point, prospective carers are required to complete a series of forms and give agreement for a full range of statutory checks to be undertaken and completed on members of the household and significant adults.

Once the training is completed, we make a decision to proceed to the assessment stage.

The assessment is completed using the ‘Form F’ designed by the British Association for Adoption and Fostering (BAAF). This form is presented to The Homefinding and Fostering Agency's panel for consideration and prospective foster carers attend this panel meeting.

Once approved, foster carers are available to take placements and an ongoing, personalised training and support programme is developed for them.