That’s why we provide dedicated, comprehensive support to our foster carers throughout their journey, both through assessment and once approved.
1. Phone chat
Firstly we will have a chat with you on the phone, and answer as many questions as you have, and we might also ask you a few of our own. From here we will advise you if we can take your application forward.
2. Home visit
If we can, then we will visit you and the family in your home, at a time and date that suits you, carrying out an Initial Visit.
3. Training
And if this goes well then, we will invite you to our three-day preparatory training called The Skills to Foster. Here you will meet other applicants and some of our staff too, whilst learning about what Fostering is like with Barking & Dagenham.
4. Your Form F Assessment
If you progress from here, we will give you your own Independent Assessor who will complete a F Form Assessment, that details your personal journey from birth to date.
5. Fostering panel
From here we will invite you to the Fostering Panel, where a small group of professionals will consider your application, and make an informed recommendation about your suitability to Foster.
6. Final decision
The final stage of the assessment process is that our ADM (Agency Decision Maker) will read all of your paperwork, and make a decision as to whether you become a foster carer. If this is made, then you become an approved carer for the borough.