Becoming a foster parent | Apply to foster with ISP Fostering

Become a foster parent

Becoming a foster parent is one of the most rewarding things you’ll ever do – you’re giving a child who may not have had the best start in life, a chance to flourish with your love, care and understanding.

The fostering process may not be as difficult as you think – we’ll aim to complete your fostering assessment within 4-6 months. However, we’ll always move at a pace that’s right for you.

This guide shares how to become a foster parent – from initial enquiry to fostering panel, and everything in between. And when you’re ready to take your first step, you’ll have a local, dedicated team to support you.

Steps to become a foster carer

Talk to us about fostering
The first step is to enquire online and speak to our team about fostering a child.
Home visit (or video call)
We'll visit you at home or virtually through a video call to get to know you better.
Fostering assessment
When you're ready to take the next step in your fostering journey, you'll complete an application form and if accepted, we'll start your Form F assessment.
Preparatory training
With over 35 years' experience in therapeutic fostering, we'll give you all the skills you need to make a life-changing difference.
Panel and approval
This is the final step where your assessment will be reviewed by an independent fostering panel, before our agency decision maker confirms your approval.
Your first child
Our dedicated referrals team will get to know you and expertly match you with your first child or young person.

Just starting to think about fostering?

Our Introduction to Fostering guide is the perfect place to start. Download it today and discover the world of fostering.

DOWNLOAD GUIDE

Step 1 - Speak to our team

If you’re interested in applying to become a foster parent and meet the initial requirements, then the first step is to get in touch for an informal chat.

Simply complete our online contact form and we’ll give you a call – you’ll learn about what we do and the children we work with, as well as give us the opportunity to find out a little more about you.

Step 2 - Home visit

When you're ready, we’ll arrange for someone from your local ISP fostering team to visit you at home – virtual home visits via video call can also be arranged if you prefer.

We'll speak to you about all aspects of fostering and ask you some questions so we can get to know you better. By the end of the visit, you should have a pretty good idea about whether fostering is right for you.

If you’re suitable to foster and are ready to progress, the next step is to apply to foster using our fostering application form.

Step 3 - Fostering assessment

Once your application has been accepted, you’ll be assigned an assessing social worker who will carry out your fostering assessment. This involves a series of visits to explore various aspects of your life, including your home, childhood, birth children, current and previous relationships, physical and mental health, and more.

We’ll also undertake various background checks and gather a number of personal and professional references. Learn more about what's involved in the fostering assessment below.

Fostering assesment

Step 4 - Prepare to Foster training

As part of your preparation to become a foster parent, you’ll be invited along to our Prepare to Foster course.

It covers a variety of topics that are essential in providing a safe and secure family environment for children in care. You’ll also learn about our key therapeutic foster care principles and be introduced to some of the additional fostering services we provide as standard, including therapy and education support.

Foster parent training

Step 5 - Panel

Once you’ve completed the assessment process and initial training, you’ll be invited to attend Panel at your local ISP centre.

This is where your assessment will be reviewed by a group of people from related professions, including education, health and social care, and care leavers too. Their recommendation and the assessment report will then be reviewed by our agency decision maker, who will make the final decision about your approval.

Fostering panel

Discover the steps to becoming a foster parent

There are a number of steps that every foster parent must take when becoming a foster parent. Discover more about each stage here...

Referrals and matching

Once approved as a foster parent, one of our experienced referrals officers will be in touch to get to know you and your family. We build strong relationships with our foster parents, so we can expertly match the needs of children with our families, ensuring an enjoyable experience for everyone.

We receive thousands of referrals from local authorities every month and identify the young people who are a suitable match for your family, including your preferences, family dynamics, skills and experience.

We’ll send you all the information we have on the child and work with the local authority to answer any questions you may have. Together, we can help you decide whether this is the right child for you and your family.

The local authority will look at the various foster families put forward, and make the final decision.

Foster care matching process

How long does it take to become a foster carer?

It takes around four to six months to become a foster parent. This includes a series of home visits with your dedicated assessing social worker, background checks and references, and some preparatory training.

It's an important process to make sure that you're right for fostering, and that fostering is right for you.

What do I need to become a foster carer?

The minimum requirements to become a foster carer are that you’re over 21 years old, have the right to live and work in the UK and that you have a spare bedroom in your home that’s always available to a child in foster care.

You’ll also need to be committed to making a positive difference to a child, resilient, kind and nurturing. Find out more about the fostering requirements

How to apply to be a foster carer?

If you’ve enquired about fostering with us and are ready to take the next step, you can apply to become a foster carer using our online application form.

How long does the fostering process take?

The fostering process takes around four to six months, which includes the initial training, assessment and panel. While it may seem like a long process, it’s important to make sure that fostering is right for you and that you’re fully prepared for caring for a vulnerable child.

Speak to our team today

Whether you're looking for more information on how to foster a child or you're ready to apply for foster care, we're here to help you take the next step to fostering and start your journey.

Please make sure you read our terms and conditions because you're agreeing to them by submitting an enquiry. It's also worth reading our privacy policy and cookies policy so you understand how we collect and use your personal data.

How to become a foster parent