The process of becoming a foster carer

It’s always daunting making those first steps, but our friendly staff will help you every step of the way. Call us on 0161 799 1268 and a member of staff will ask you some initial questions. If you’d like one we can send you information pack which contains some useful information as well as an initial visit request form. You can also attend one of our events to talk to our foster carers and social workers.

After sending back your completed  initial visit request form (available in the information pack) and/or discussing your application over the phone and you are deemed suitable for a visit, a Social Worker and/or Recruitment Officer will be able to visit you and your partner (if applicable) at home and answer any further questions you may have and explain the next steps in your assessment as a foster carer. If you decide to go ahead and the fostering team agree, you will be invited to attend a 'Skills to Foster' training course with other potential applicants.

Skills to Foster is a broad introduction to what you can expect as a foster carer for Salford and provides an introduction to looking after other people's children. The course usually takes place in the evening over a six week period, or at the weekend over a three week period.

Following your Skills to Foster training, if you are still committed to becoming a foster carer and we have satisfactory feedback from your trainers, you will be given an application form. After receiving your completed form, an allocated a member of staff will work with you on your assessment.

Your assessment will look at you and your family's suitability to foster children. You will also be given a number of forms to complete, such as a Disclosure and Barring Service check (formerly Criminal Records Bureau), and a health assessment to ensure your suitability to look after children.

If you have a criminal record you should declare this as it will not necessarily exclude you from fostering. Although if you have committed a serious offence or have offences against children, you will not be able to foster children with Salford.

There is no prescription as to what makes a good foster carer but an understanding of how children develop and being able to work in partnership with children's professionals is an important aspect of your assessment, along your motivation to foster children. Your assessment should take about three months to complete. Your assessment will also help identify the type of fostering best suited to your skills and knowledge and any training you may need.

Once the assessment process is complete you will be invited to panel with the person who has done your assessment. The fostering panel will make a recommendation about your approval. Try not to worry about this, it’s all part of the process and isn’t as daunting as it sounds! Our agency decision maker then makes a decision about your approval.

Once you are approved we can begin the process of matching you with suitable children.