The Application Process

Whenever you’re ready, we are here and ready to help you with your application to become a foster carer. The process in total can take up to 6 months from your initial enquiry to approval, and you’ll be kept informed at every step of the process.

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The 8 Steps to Becoming a Foster Carer

Transferring to us

For some, the process might feel daunting, and that’s completely normal, but we’re here to guide you through. It’s important to note that at any point in the process, you may withdraw your application if you feel you need to – We will always be here if you decide to get in touch again down the line.

Contacting Fostering North Somerset

When you’re ready to get in touch, you will first speak to our regional hub, Fostering South West. Their fostering specialists will take some basic information from you and pass this on to us. From here, we’ll be in touch at a time that suits you.

Registering Your Interest with Fostering North Somerset

Once we’ve had an initial chat with you and answered any questions, we will request that you complete a Registration of Interest Form. This form answers all initial criteria questions and allows us to get a feel for you and your family.

Your Home Visit

If you have met our basic criteria, we will arrange a home visit with you. A member of our team will visit you at your home, where we will chat with you about the different types of fostering and what might suit you.

It’s important to have all members of the household present at this visit so we can ensure that the views of everyone are considered, even if you’re going to be the primary carer!

Our Formal Application, References and Checks

After your home visit, you will be invited to make a formal application, and this will commence the background work that we carry out to make sure you’re equipped to foster.

Initial Foster Carer Training

Whilst background work carries on, you’ll attend our Skills to Foster Preparation Training Course and other relevant training, which will give you the practical day-to-day skills you’ll need to foster. You’ll explore fostering in more detail and learn more about the children who need to be fostered.

The Foster Carer Assessment

You will be assigned one of our dedicated assessing social workers who will visit you at home over a number of weeks. Working together, you will build your knowledge and detail how fostering will work for you, considering your personal circumstances and qualities.

Your assessing social worker will compile a document called a Form F which is available for you to read, this will be presented to the fostering panel. This will document everything the assessment has highlighted about you, make recommendations on your suitability to foster, the types of foster care you can offer and the number of children you should be approved to foster in the first instance.

North Somerset Fostering Panel

Once all information is brought together, we will invite you to attend the fostering panel with your assessing social worker, where members of the panel will make a recommendation of whether to approve you as a foster carer for North Somerset Council. At this panel session, the types of foster care and number of children you’re able to foster in the first instance will also be confirmed.

Your First Steps as a Foster Carer

Once approved as a Foster Carer, your fostering journey will begin!

As you’re now approved, you will be able to care for your first child. Your supervising social worker will be in touch with details of children who require foster care, and we’ll be here to support you as you begin to make a difference in a child’s life.

Honesty is our policy

For some, fostering might not be suitable right now, but we will always be upfront with you and let you know if there is something that could hinder you from becoming a foster carer.

Fancy a chat?

Curious about fostering, but not sure about your next steps?

Get in touch for a non-committal chat! We’re always happy to help with a simple question, or if you’re ready to get the ball rolling, we’re ready to welcome you.

We’d love to hear from you!

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