Becoming a foster carer is a life-changing step — not just for you, but for the children and young people you’ll care for. If you’re interested in making a difference, it helps to know exactly what the process to become a foster carer looks like. This guide walks you through each stage, from first enquiry to the approval process, and reflects what you can expect from most fostering providers — including services like St David’s Fostering Service in Wales.
Step 1: Make an Enquiry
The fostering journey usually starts with a simple phone call or online form. You’ll talk to someone from a fostering service, either a local authority or one of the most foster service providers, like an independent fostering agency. They’ll ask about your home, lifestyle, and why you’d like to become a foster parent.
You don’t need to be perfect. You just need space in your home, time to give on a full-time basis, and a real desire to make a difference in a child’s life. To put it simply, foster parent means caring — consistently, patiently, and without judgement.
Step 2: Initial Home Visit
If things feel right, you’ll be offered an initial home visit. A social worker will come to your home, chat with you and any family members, and check the room where the child would stay. This is your chance to advocate for your strengths and ask plenty of questions.
You might only be looking to offer support for one night at a time or something more long-term — either way, this early step helps you and your team decide what kind of foster care could suit you.
Step 3: Application Form and Background Checks
If you’re happy to move forward, you’ll complete an application form and begin the formal application process. This includes:
- A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check
- A GP medical
- References from friends, family, and employers
- A home safety check
These background checks are part of making sure you’re ready to care for a child who depends on your support, structure, and patience. During this time, you’ll learn a lot — including what paperwork is involved, such as how to write reports for your social worker.
Step 4: The Assessment Process (Form F)
The assessment process is thorough. You’ll be paired with an assessing social worker who will get to know you and your household over several visits. These meetings give you a chance to reflect and prepare. You’ll discuss your own upbringing, your views on discipline, and how you might support a foster child through tough days.
This is also where other training may be discussed — including how to support children who struggle to manage their emotions or behaviours.
Step 5: Foster Training – Skills to Foster Course
Next, you’ll attend a short course called Skills to Foster. It covers what to expect from different types of foster care, working with a child’s birth family, and the role of the supervising social worker.
This training also gives you a real sense of how rewarding fostering can be — even when it’s challenging. You’ll meet other foster carers and build early friendships with people who are going through the same process.
Step 6: Fostering Panel and Final Decision
Once the assessment is complete, your assessing social worker writes a detailed report. This is shared with a fostering panel — a group of professionals who review your application. You’ll attend a fostering panel meeting, which is usually friendly and supportive.
The final step comes from the agency decision maker, who reviews everything and makes the final call. Once approved, you’ve officially completed the approval process.
Step 7: Matching and Starting to Foster
After approval, the team will work with you to find a match. You might begin by caring for a child for one night, a weekend, or something longer. The key is making sure the match is right — for both you and the child.
Your supervising social worker will continue to support you as you settle into your first placement. This is when the real journey begins.
How Long Does the Fostering Process Take?
The fostering process usually takes four to six months. Here’s a general idea:
- Enquiry to application – 1 to 2 weeks
- Assessment process – 3 to 4 months
- Training and panel – 1 to 2 months
This time gives you space to reflect, prepare, and decide if this is the right path for your family.
Common Concerns You Don’t Need to Worry About
You might assume you won’t qualify, but fostering is open to more people than you think. You don’t need to own your home, be married, or have children of your own. What you do need is the capacity to provide stability on a full-time basis, and the ability to work alongside a team of professionals.
Age, background, and job status aren’t barriers. The most important qualities are commitment, openness, and a genuine willingness to support a child who depends on you.
A Quick Look at the Steps: From Enquiry to Approval
- Enquiry
- Initial home visit
- Application form and background checks
- Assessment process (Form F)
- Skills to Foster training
- Fostering panel
- Final decision by agency decision maker
What’s the Difference Between the Social Workers?
You’ll be supported by different professionals throughout the fostering journey:
- Assessing social worker – Leads your assessment and helps with your application form
- Supervising social worker – Supports you once you’re approved and throughout placements
- Child’s social worker – Focuses on the child’s life, education, and relationship with their birth family
Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Apply
- Can I support a child or young person emotionally and practically?
- Am I ready to work with social workers, schools, and health professionals?
- Do I have the patience to help a child manage difficult emotions?
- Will I make time for training, reflection, and ongoing support?
- Can I offer consistent care, even if it’s just for one night?
It’s Okay to Feel Nervous
Becoming a foster carer is a big step — and it’s natural to feel unsure. The good news is that you’re not expected to have all the answers straight away. You’ll receive guidance, build experience, and gain confidence with every new step.
With the right support, you’ll grow into the role. And when a child begins to thrive in your care, you’ll see just how rewarding fostering can be.
