Apply to foster: step by step process

Apply to be an intensive foster carer

Intensive foster caring is a specialist, full-time role to care for children who present highly complex needs and challenging behaviours. Difficulties often stem from early developmental trauma and children who require close proximity and specialist care.

You will be offered a fee of £40,000 per year plus additional maintenance allowances when a child or young person is placed in your care. See the full job specification for criteria and details.

Intensive foster carer job specification

Intensive fostering enquiry form

Intensive fostering information events

You can find out more about intensive fostering at our information events.

Short or long term foster carer

You can also apply to be short or long term foster carer. This is different to intensive foster care. Contact us on + 44 (0) 1534 443970 to find out more about becoming a short or long term foster carer.

Steps to becoming a foster carer

We provide guidance and support at every step of the application / assessment process for any type of foster carer. The process usually takes about six months to complete depending on your individual circumstances.

Step 1: initial enquiry

Call us and have a chat with us, we can answer any questions you have or we can send you an information booklet. 

Tel: +44 (0) 1534 443970

Step 2: first visit

We’ll arrange to come and visit you at home to:

• meet all the members of your household
• have an in depth discussion about fostering
• answer any questions / concerns you have

If you want to proceed, you can complete an application form.

Enquiry form for a first visit

Step 3: preparation courses

You’ll complete a ‘Skills to Foster’ training course. This six-week course covers various aspects of fostering to give you the skills and knowledge you need. We ask you to complete an application form after the course.

Step 4: medical, criminal checks and a full assessment

We will complete a full assessment on you and your family.

We’ll carry out checks on anyone in your household over the age of 16, even if you’re not the main carer.

With your consent we make checks on you and your family with the Disclosure and Barring Service. A previous criminal conviction would not necessarily disqualify you from fostering. It depends on the nature of the conviction and when it occurred.

Step 5: the panel

We’ll write a detailed report to present to the fostering panel. You can review the report before it goes to the panel and you will be invited to attend the panel.

The panel decide whether or not to recommend your approval and a senior manager (Agency Decision Maker) will make the final decision.

Step 6: placement

Once you’ve been approved, we will match you with a child for you and your family.

Step 7: ongoing development and support

You‘ll receive ongoing training, support and guidance from us.

Choosing who you foster

Before you’re approved and appointed as a carer with us, we discuss which children would be the best match for you. For example, which age group, sex and how many children you could consider fostering.

We provide you with as much information as possible, including any difficult behaviour and how to manage it.

You can foster up to three children at once, sometimes we make exceptions if a large group of brothers and sisters need care. The number and age of your own children helps us to advise you on the number and age of children you could foster.