Becoming a foster parent

Thinking about becoming a foster parent? That’s a big step — and a brilliant one. Foster carers change lives every day by offering children and young people a safe, caring home when they need it most. It’s also a deeply rewarding journey for you and your family.

You can apply to foster through your local authority or with an independent fostering agency like ours. At Wholistic Fostering, we’re a small, dedicated team with a special focus on supporting children with African Caribbean heritage — and we’ll guide you through every stage of the process.

This page explains what to expect when you apply to foster with Wholistic Fostering.

1. Enquiry: Your First Step

If you’re thinking about fostering, the first thing to do is get in touch with us. You can:

• Fill out our quick online enquiry form

• Call us to have a chat

We’ll send you an information pack covering important topics like:

• What fostering involves

• Our support for carers

• How we match children with families

Or, if you prefer, we can call you back to answer your questions and explain the next steps. There’s no pressure — just friendly advice to help you decide.

2. Home Visit: Getting to Know You

One of our experienced team members will visit your home to talk about fostering in more detail. This visit helps both of us learn more about each other.

We’ll:

• Discuss what fostering means for you and your family

• Explain the kinds of children you could care for

• Look at your home and the bedroom a child would use

• Answer any questions you have

This is your chance to be honest and find out if fostering feels right for you.

3. Application: Taking the Next Step

When you’re ready, you’ll fill out a simple application form. It asks for basic info like:

• Your contact details

• Your family and health background

• Why you want to foster

If anything feels confusing or tricky, your recruitment officer is here to help you through it.

4. Begin Assessment: Getting to Know You Better

After you send your application, we assign a social worker to start a detailed assessment, called Form F.

This involves:

• Talking about your life, family, and experiences

• Understanding how you would care for a child

• Exploring your strengths and any challenges

Many carers find this a useful and reflective process — it helps prepare you for fostering.

5. Checks: Keeping Everyone Safe

To make sure every child is safe, we carry out important checks like:

• Medical check to confirm you’re fit to foster

• DBS check (criminal record check)

• References from people who know you well

These checks are routine and protect everyone involved.

6. Training: Learning the Basics

Before you’re approved, you’ll take our “Skills to Foster” training course. It’s designed to:

• Teach you how to care for a vulnerable child

• Help you understand children’s needs and behaviours

• Prepare you for the challenges and joys of fostering

Training is free and can be done online or in person.

7. Added Checks: Final Background Reviews

We’ll carry out a few more checks to make sure everything is in order. These include:

• Employer references

• Financial checks

These help confirm your stability and readiness to foster.

8. Visits & Quality Assurance: Building Your Report

Your social worker will visit you several times (usually 6 to 12) to:

• Observe your home and family life

• Talk through your assessment questions

• Collect information to write a detailed report

This report is very important for your panel recommendation.

9. Panel: Presenting Your Assessment

You’ll be invited to attend a fostering panel. This is a group of professionals who:

• Review your assessment report

• Ask questions to understand you better

• Decide if you should be recommended for approval

Your social worker will support you during this meeting.

10. Decision: Final Approval

The Agency Decision Maker (ADM) reviews the panel’s recommendation and makes the final call on your approval as a foster carer.

You will be told the decision soon after, and if approved, you’re officially part of the Wholistic Fostering family.

11. Allocated Supervising Social Worker: Your Ongoing Support

Once approved, you’ll be assigned a Supervising Social Worker (SSW). Your SSW will:

• Visit you regularly

• Provide advice and guidance

• Help with training and development

• Support you whenever you need it

You’re never alone on your fostering journey.

12. Ready to Foster: Welcoming Your First Child

Finally, we match you with a child who fits your skills, experience, and preferences. We aim for placements that work well for everyone.

From the moment you welcome your first foster child, our team will be by your side — offering support, training, and help whenever you need it.