Portsmouth City Council
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Assessment process
The assessment process is lengthy. However Portsmouth City Council expect that the entire process from the time you have your initial visit to being approved as a foster carer will take no longer than five months. We promise to support you every step of the way.Initial visit
When you first contact us a member of the Family Placement Team will arrange to visit you at home. At this first meeting we will discuss the role of a foster carer, the assessment process and answer any questions you have. You will then need to think carefully and decide if you wish to go ahead with the assessment. To arrange a visit please call us on 023 9282 9846.
The next steps
1. You will be allocated a social worker to take you through the process. They will have regular meetings with you to discuss the skills and qualities that foster carers need and a range of subjects relating to the needs of children who require fostering. You’ll discuss with the social worker the numbers and ages of children you could foster.You will also be nominated for core training courses, which you must attend as part of the assessment. Your social worker will help you to build up a portfolio of training, childcare experience and transferable skills.
2. You’ll be invited to attend a preparation day where you’ll learn more about what’s involved with fostering. This is also a chance to meet other people who are going through the process, and talk to experienced foster carers.
3. You will be asked to fill in a detailed application form about yourself and other members of your household.
4. The council will carry out the following checks to make sure you are suitable for fostering:
- Criminal Record Bureau (CRB)
- Contact past and present employers if your work involved children or young people
- A medical - with your own GP
- Formal identification eg birth/marriage certificate or passport
- Two referees. You should nominate people who know you well and ideally who can comment on your experience with children
- One family member referee.
5. Your social worker will write a detailed report that you will be asked to read and sign. This will be passed onto another social worker who will visit you to confirm that you are happy with the report and add any final comments.
6. The report is presented to the Portsmouth Fostering Panel. You will be invited to attend this meeting. The panel either approves or does not approve you as a foster carer. If you’re not approved the social worker will discuss the reasons with you. Sometimes it’s possible to re-apply in the future.
Starting to foster
Once you have been approved we can start placing children with you. We offer regular training to all our foster carers and all the support and guidance you need to become an effective, confident foster carer.
