Recruitment and Approval Process
The Form F Assessment of your family is crucial; we meet with all members of your family, friends and take up references from employers, sometimes your children’s school. The process can take up to 5 months but it can be quicker depending on your circumstances. We also undertake a Criminal Records Check and contact the local authority. If you have a criminal record or are known to the local authority it is best to tell the social worker who visits you initially and checks can be undertaken earlier, all information is treated as confidential.
When your assessment is finished, your Form F will be presented at the Fostering Panel. This consists of people who work in fostering, a foster carer and staff from CFFA. A decision is made whether you can foster, how many children can live with you and what ages. We do not take you to panel if we think you won’t be approved. When you are approved we will match you with a child or children when a suitable referral is available. You will also be allocated a supervising social worker who will visit you fortnightly when you have a placement and monthly when we are awaiting referrals.
