How do I become an Intensive foster carer?

Next Information Session
Initial Enquiry
Formal Assessment
Post-approval as a registered Foster Carer

Next Information Session

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Initial Enquiry

We will hold an information meeting where we will explain more about what is involved alternately we may just arrange to see you individually. This will involve no commitment to the assessment process at this time. It is regarded as part of the initial enquiry stage.

Individual visits involve being initially assessed in your own home by one or two qualified Social Workers. They will look with you at a number of areas e.g. why you want to foster, your childhood experiences, your experience and views about caring for young people and what young people would fit best in your family. This enables us to support you to make an informed choice as to whether fostering within our particular service is right for you and your family at this time.

Formal Assessment

If you decide you want to proceed and we are prepared to assess you, there will then be a period of assessment, which can take up to 6 months. We will run preparation/assessment groups where a number of issues will be covered in more details e.g. managing difficult behaviour, contact with birth families, and situations which lead to young people needing placements. Experienced carers will often be invited to share their experiences with you. If you are a couple then you would be usually seen together and at least once individually to make sure you are both equally committed to fostering. If you have children they will also be seen separately. References will be taken from two or three personal referees, your doctor will be asked to report on your health and checks will be made with the police and your local social services department.

Once the assessment has been completed, a report is presented by your social worker to the Fostering Panel who will make a recommendation as to whether you are approved as a foster carer. We will invite you to attend this panel and discuss your application to foster with our service with the Panel members. Their recommendation will be shared with you and with the agency decision maker who will formally write to you indicating if and when you are to become an approved Foster Carer with Kibble’s Intensive Fostering Services. Thereafter, your approval will be reviewed annually at the Fostering Panel.

Post-approval as a registered Foster Carer

On approval we will match you with a young person whose needs can be met by your particular skills and abilities as a carer. Information will be exchanged, linking and planning meetings will be arranged with the relevant professionals, the young person and their family. Introductions with the young person will include overnight stays with your family prior to them being placed. The final decision about the placement lies with the Children’s Hearing who has a legal responsibility to decide into whose care the young person is placed.

After a young person has been placed with your family through our service, you will receive ongoing visits from your allocated Senior Practitioner, regular payments and a high level of support. In addition, to support from other professionals involved with the young person i.e. their social worker.