Foster carers are as individual as the children they care for, so it's important for us to know what skills you possess and where you need further training and development. As you'd expect, we also make rigorous checks about prospective carers so that children and young people in their care are safe from harm.
The first step to becoming a carer is to either contact us for a chat when we can provide more information about the formal assessment process or commence the suitability questionnaire online.
The process gives you the accurate information you need on what fostering will involve and gives you a chance to consider how fostering will affect your life - as well as your family and friends.
The process will usually take between four and six months from the time you apply to becoming an approved Next Step foster carer. Once approved as a foster carer we can also use information gathered during the assessment process to decide which children or young people to ask you to foster.
If you are applying with a partner, you will both be assessed - but even if you apply on your own, all members of your household will be involved in the process.
We will support you throughout the process, and simply ask in return that you are as open and honest as possible and give answers that you believe in, rather than answers you think are 'correct'. Be yourself, raise any concerns as quickly as possible and always ask if there's anything that you don't understand or would like more information about.