To become a foster carer you and your family will need to follow a careful assessment process.
During the process, we will make police and probation checks, get references from people who know you, including previous partners, and ask you to have a medical.
It might sound daunting but don’t be put off – it’s a two way thing that helps us to make sure you are suitable and you to fully understand what’s involved.
1. Ask for an information pack giving more details about what’s involved and examples of people who foster. 2. Go to an information event to find out first-hand about fostering by talking to social workers and foster carers. 3. Have a home visit from a social worker to begin to get to know you and your family and talk over the sort of fostering you could offer. 4. Attend a training course of six short sessions spread over three weeks over to help you decide if fostering is right for you and your family, and the skills to help you look after foster children. 5. Work with your social worker who will visit you, your family and friends over several months to help prepare a full report for your assessment as a foster carer. 6. Gain approval from the Fostering Panel, who will discuss your assessment and decide whether to recommend you as a foster carer for Suffolk County Council. Soon after, you will receive a letter from the Fostering Service confirming their decision. 7. Start fostering supported by a team of social workers from your local area. Back to homepage