Our fostering assessment process

Our assessment begins when we receive your application form. This process can take up to 5 months in total.

1. Join a fostering preparation group

You must attend a fostering preparation group (Skills to Foster) as part of the assessment. 

The preparation group training gives you the opportunity to meet other prospective foster carers. It explores in detail what it means to you and your family to foster a child.

The preparation group training lasts for 3 days. 

2. Fostering assessment report 

We’ll allocate you a social worker to help you produce a personal fostering development plan. They’ll also prepare an assessment report to present to the fostering panel to decide on your suitability. 

Our social worker will meet with you and your family or household regularly to complete your fostering assessment report.

Once your assessment report is complete, your social worker will present this to the fostering panel. The report will also include a recommendation on the age and number of children you can foster. 

3. Attend a fostering panel meeting 

The fostering panel meeting is the final step in the assessment process. Your social worker will support you during this meeting. 

The panel is made up of: 

  • an independent group of professionals from healthcare and social work backgrounds 
  • people who have experience of fostering or the care system 

The panel is also chaired by an independent person who is not employed by Royal Borough of Greenwich. 

They’ll meet you and your social worker to consider your assessment report.

4. Approval

If the panel decides to recommend you as a Royal Greenwich foster carer, we’ll send their recommendation to the agency decision maker, who is the strategic lead for Children in Our Care and Care Leavers, to make the final decision.