Form F Assessment | Fusion Fostering

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Form F Assessment

The fostering assessment is designed to make sure you will be a fantastic fit in the role of a foster carer.
Home visits by your assessing social worker as well as statutory checks and references make up the assessment.
Your social worker will support you throughout your whole application and assessment.

What is the assessment for?

Before you are approved as a foster carer, you will need to be thoroughly assessed by our team. The foster care assessment process is designed to make sure that not only are you fit to foster but that fostering is the right choice for you and something that you will find enjoyable and rewarding.

We understand that you may feel nervous about the assessment process, but it shouldn’t feel intimidating or scary. We will be required to ask you personal questions about your life, family, home and history. This is not just to be nosy! We need to find out all about you to determine if you will be a great fit with us here at Fusion. Many children who enter the care service may have suffered neglect or child abuse and will need help to rehabilitate, we want to be certain you are prepared for this challenge.

When does the fostering assessment begin?

The assessment is the third stage of your application and so we will already have spoken to you either on the phone or by email and met with you at your home. These first two conversations are informal and a chance for you to ask questions and get to know a dedicated member of the Fusion Fostering Social Care team who will always be on hand to support you during your application.

You will also have already completed a “Skills to Foster” training course which is compulsory for all applicants. After you have completed this course and returned all relevant documentation to us, the assessment process can formally begin.

The Form F Assessment

Form F is the name given to the form that ascertains that you have completed all prior stages of the assessment and are ready to proceed to the foster panel. This stage involves numerous home visits from your assessing social worker over the course of a few months. The aim is to gather information about you and your life as well as your background and personal history.

Furthermore, several checks are carried out to confirm that you are suitable to foster. This can include a number of statutory checks and references including:

DBS checks for all people living in the same household
Ensuring you are a full-time resident in the UK – your individual circumstances if you are not a British citizen will need to be considered
Medical checks / doctor’s note
Reference from your current employer / previous employers
Personal and family character references
Home safety checks
Pet safety checks
Ex-partner reference (if necessary and with your permission)
Criminal record check

Everyone who lives in the household will be included in the assessment, including any children who also fall under the applicants care. This is because everyone who lives in that home will be affected by the choice to foster. Fusion Fostering want to make sure that everyone in the family feels included in the decision to foster and will go on to find the inclusion of a foster child in their day-to-day life rewarding.

If you have any worries about the assessment to become a foster carer, your social worker will be happy to talk you through the process and explain to you why specific checks are necessary, even if they feel intrusive! We are here to support you every step of the way. We are eager for new foster parents to join our amazing team, so you can guarantee that we will always be on your side.

To begin your application and start making a difference, the first step is to contact us. Fill out the contact form below or give us a call on 03301 239355.