Form F Assessment: Timeline, Checks and How to Prepare

Thinking about fostering in the UK? The Form F assessment is the structured process your assessing social worker follows to understand your life, skills and support network, and to evidence whether fostering is right for you (and which children you’re best matched to). Here’s how it works—step-by-step—plus the checks involved and practical preparation that makes everything smoother.

What Form F Is (and Isn’t)

Purpose and scope

Form F is a comprehensive profile of you and your household. It covers your background, relationships, health, work and finances, your home environment, parenting capacity, safeguarding understanding and your motivation to foster. It isn’t a “test” to catch you out; it’s a collaborative piece of work that highlights strengths, training needs and any support you’ll require in your first year.

Typical Timescales in 2025

From enquiry to approval

Most applicants reach panel in four to six months once they formally start, although it can be quicker or slower depending on how quickly checks come back and diaries align. Think of the journey in three phases: Stage 1 checks, Stage 2 home study, and panel/agency decision-maker.

Stage 1: Mandatory Checks

DBS and identity verification

Every adult in the household (and regular overnight visitors, where relevant) requires a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Be ready with passports, right-to-work/right-to-reside documents, marriage/divorce certificates where applicable, and any name change documents. Overseas criminal record certificates may be needed if you’ve lived abroad.

Health, GP medical and wellbeing

You’ll complete a medical questionnaire and your GP provides a health report. You don’t need to be “perfectly healthy,” but you should have the fitness and resilience to meet the demands of caring for children, including appointments, school runs and night-time support.

References and employment history

Expect three to five personal references (interviewed by phone/video or in person) and employment references—especially from roles involving children or vulnerable adults. If you’ve previously applied to foster/adopt, that agency may be contacted. Be candid about gaps, disciplinary issues or past grievances; transparency builds trust.

Finances and home safety

You’ll provide an income–expenditure overview to evidence financial stability. Assessors will complete a health and safety checklist of your home (stairs, windows, garden, ponds, tools, medication storage). Most adjustments are low-cost—think window restrictors, stair gates for young placements, lockable cabinets, smoke/CO alarms.

Pets, vehicles and insurance

Pets are risk-assessed (temperament, vaccinations, secure sleeping/eating spaces). Vehicles must be roadworthy with correct child seats and business-use insurance if required for fostering travel.

Stage 2: The Home Study

Sessions and themes

Your social worker will visit several times to build the Form F. Sessions explore your childhood and family patterns, significant life events, couple dynamics (if applicable), parenting approaches, communication and boundaries, culture, faith, identity, and your understanding of trauma and attachment.

Matching profile and placement types

You’ll discuss what you can realistically offer: age range, number of children, siblings, short-term/long-term, emergency, respite, or more specialist options such as parent & child or therapeutic fostering. This isn’t about saying yes to everything—it’s about safe, sustainable matches.

Training: “Skills to Foster”

Most agencies provide a foundation course covering the care system, safeguarding, safer caring, recording, education, contact with birth family, and working as part of a professional network. Treat this as your starter toolkit and keep notes; you’ll use them in your portfolio.

Writing Your Portfolio

Evidence that tells your story

Your assessor writes the Form F, but your evidence brings it to life. Include examples of supporting children (your own or relatives), youth work, coaching, caring roles, or managing behaviour and routines. Real scenarios—how you handled a difficult bedtime, advocated at school, or managed a fall-out—show reflective practice.

Safer caring policy (household-specific)

You’ll draft a safer caring policy that explains practical boundaries: bedroom use and privacy, bathroom rules, phones, internet and gaming, transport, visitors, babysitting, and how you manage affection and physical contact safely. This document evolves as placements change; a strong first version reassures panel.

The Fostering Panel and Decision

How panel works

A multi-disciplinary panel (including experienced carers and professionals) reads your papers, meets you (in person or online), and asks clarifying questions. They make a recommendation to the Agency Decision Maker (ADM), who issues the final decision—usually within a week or two. If the decision is deferred, it’s typically to gather a missing piece of evidence or complete an action.

After approval

You’ll receive your terms of approval (e.g., “up to two children, 5–15”). Your supervising social worker will agree an induction plan, get your equipment sorted, and prepare you for your first matching calls.

Common Delays—and How to Avoid Them

Slow checks

DBS backlogs and former employers not replying are the top causes. Provide full addresses, dates and correct contact details at the outset, and chase referees kindly so they expect the call.

Incomplete documents

Have your ID bundle and proof of address ready; keep digital scans in a secure folder so you can resend instantly if something goes astray.

Home adaptations

If your home needs tweaks (locks, window restrictors, garden hazards), do them early. Keep photos/receipts to evidence completion.

Scheduling

Offer flexible times for visits/training where possible—early evenings or occasional daytime slots help maintain momentum.

What Assessors Are Looking For

Attachment-aware, reflective carers

You don’t need to be a child-development expert, but you should show curiosity about trauma, attachment and regulation. Being able to reflect—“What happened? How did the child feel? What helped? What will I try next?”—is gold.

Safe boundaries and teamwork

You’ll be part of a professional network that includes social workers, schools, health and birth family. Assessors want to see clear communication, record-keeping, and respectful partnership working, even when plans change at short notice.

Resilience and support network

Fostering can be intense. Map out practical supporters (school pickups, last-minute sits, emotional backup). If you’re single or work full-time, show how your network bridges gaps.

Preparing Your Home and Family

Space and routines

Each fostered child normally needs their own bedroom (with limited exceptions). Create a neutral space with storage, blackout blinds, and a desk or reading nook. Establish predictable routines—meal times, homework, bedtime—so children feel safe from day one.

Digital safety

Agree household rules on phones, gaming and social media, matched to age and need. Set up parental controls, keep devices out of bedrooms overnight, and decide how you’ll handle screen-time conflicts calmly.

Transport and school readiness

Check you can reach likely schools and contact centres within realistic times. If you don’t drive, plan safe alternatives and how you’ll handle emergencies or evening activities.

Your Personal Readiness Plan

Document checklist

Prepare a secure folder (digital and paper) with ID, right-to-reside, driving licence/insurance, GP/medical details, pet vaccinations, boiler/electrical checks, and employment history. This saves repeated scrambling during Stage 1.

Learning log

Keep a learning journal from day one: course notes, books, podcasts, webinars, and reflections from the assessment sessions. Panels love to see how your thinking evolves.

Support map and contingency

Write down who does what if plans change: school runs, illness cover, last-minute appointments, or if you need respite. Clear contingencies reassure assessors.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to give up work?

Not necessarily. Many carers work flexibly or part-time. What matters is being available for school runs, meetings and unplanned appointments. Discuss realistic placement types (e.g., school-age rather than under-5s) if you’ll keep working.

Is a past conviction a barrier?

It depends on the nature and context. Honesty is essential. Some offences are incompatible with fostering; others may be considered with evidence of change and strong safeguarding awareness.

What if we’re renting?

That’s fine—just secure landlord consent and ensure your tenancy allows fostering. Your assessor will still complete the full home-safety review.

How “perfect” must my house be?

Clean, safe and welcoming beats perfect décor. Assessors look for safety, space and warmth. Simple improvements go a long way.

Final Thoughts: Make the Process Work for You

The Form F assessment is thorough because children deserve the best possible matches. If you approach it with openness, curiosity and practical organisation, you’ll find it a surprisingly affirming process. Get your documents ready, tackle safety tweaks early, keep a learning journal, and involve your support network from the start. By panel day, you won’t just be “ready to foster”—you’ll know who you’re best placed to care for, and you’ll have the tools and people around you to start well.