Becoming (or remaining) a foster carer in England means meeting strict safer recruitment standards. These checks aren’t box-ticking—they protect children, reassure placing authorities, and help you start placements on the strongest footing. This guide explains, in plain English, what gets checked, who needs a check in your household, how references work, what happens with visitors and babysitters, how renewals and the DBS Update Service fit in, and what Ofsted expects to see.
What “safer recruitment” means in fostering
“Safer recruitment” is the umbrella term for the identity, criminal record, health, references and home safety checks that fostering services must complete before approval and throughout your fostering career. The legal backbone is the Fostering Services (England) Regulations 2011 and the National Minimum Standards (NMS), which Ofsted uses when inspecting fostering services. Together, they set out what information must be gathered at assessment (Regulation 26, Schedule 3) and the standards services must meet around suitability, vetting and ongoing review.
At a high level, expect your service to collect and evidence:
- Identity and right-to-reside details, enhanced DBS with children’s barred list for you (and other eligible people), medical and home environment information, and personal/employment references, all written into your assessment report (Form F).
- Systems that verify written references by phone and confirm suitability to work with children (reflected in NMS “Suitability” standards).
DBS checks for foster carers: the essentials
Which level and when?
Fostering applicants undergo an enhanced DBS check with a check of the children’s barred list—the highest level available for roles involving children. This is initiated in Stage 1 of assessment and revisited as policy requires (see “Renewals” below).
Who in the household needs a DBS?
By law, adult members (18+) of the fostering household must be checked. Many services extend practice to age 16+ where justified by Department for Education guidance and risk assessment. Your agency will explain its local policy at the outset.
What does DBS actually look for?
DBS discloses convictions, cautions and relevant police information, and (for barred list checks) confirms if a person is barred from working with children. If anything is disclosed that doesn’t automatically prohibit fostering, the agency carries out a risk assessment and the Agency Decision Maker considers the context before proceeding.
References: who is contacted and why it matters
Minimum expectations
Regulation 26 and Schedule 3 require at least two personal references (adults who’ve known you for a meaningful period) and allow services to obtain any other information they consider relevant. Expect telephone verification in addition to written statements—this is good practice in safer recruitment.
Employment/volunteering and character evidence
If you work or volunteer (especially with children or vulnerable people), your service may seek employer/line manager comments about conduct, reliability and safeguarding awareness. Where you parent children already, the service may seek school/health visitor checks to corroborate family context and how you work with professionals.
Ex-partner references
Many services seek ex-partner references (where appropriate and safe) because Schedule 3 requires information about previous relationships and children, and safer recruitment aims to understand significant family history. Agencies handle this sensitively and will complete a risk assessment if contact is unsafe.
Who else is checked around your fostering household?
Residents, lodgers and regular visitors
- New adult household members (moving in) must complete enhanced DBS and other vetting before or immediately upon joining the household. Regular visitors may need checks if their frequency or role means they could have unsupervised contact; your agency will set the threshold in policy.
- Non-resident partners who spend significant time in the home are usually risk-assessed and may be checked, even if they don’t “live there”, based on DfE/DBS guidance about home-based roles.
Babysitters and child-minders
Most fostering services require DBS-cleared babysitters approved via your supervising social worker (SSW). Arrange this in advance, not on the day you need them. Your local handbook will outline minimum age and the approval pathway.
Sleepovers and friends’ parents
For children’s sleepovers in friends’ homes, national/local guidance typically expects foster carers to make normal, sensible parenting decisions—there is no requirement for the friend’s parents to be DBS-checked, unless there are specific risks. Coordinate with your SSW and follow any care plan conditions.
Renewals, re-checks and the DBS Update Service
Do DBS certificates “expire”?
A DBS certificate shows a snapshot on the issue date; it doesn’t have a legal expiry. However, many children’s services adopt a renewal cycle (often every 3 years) or use the DBS Update Service to keep checks “live”. Your agency’s policy (considering Ofsted expectations) determines the refresh rhythm.
Why the Update Service helps
If you subscribe within 30 days of your certificate being issued, the DBS Update Service lets the fostering service run instant online status checks at any time (with your consent). This avoids repeated paper applications, and agencies can evidence ongoing vigilance at reviews and inspections.
When will I be re-checked?
Common triggers include:
- Change of circumstances (new adult moves in, change of name, concerns raised).
- Role changes (e.g., applying to provide parent & child or respite to different age groups).
- Agency policy cycles or Ofsted recommendations at inspection.
Health, home and identity checks (beyond DBS)
DBS is just one part of safer recruitment. Your assessment must also cover:
- Medical fitness to foster (GP medical and review by the service’s medical adviser).
- Home environment and space—enough room, privacy and safe storage; this is required in the NMS and Schedule 3.
- Finances and standard of living—agencies check financial stability to ensure allowances are used for the child, not to relieve acute hardship.
- Identity, right-to-reside, relationship status—to confirm legal background and stability.
What happens if your DBS shows information?
Not all disclosures are automatic bars
Some entries—especially old, minor convictions—may not disqualify you. The service performs a proportionate risk assessment considering the nature of the offence, how long ago it occurred, relevance to caring for children, insight shown, and any patterns. The Agency Decision Maker decides whether to continue the assessment or halt it. You’ll be told the reasons and how to appeal or re-apply later.
Automatic bars
If someone is on the children’s barred list, they cannot be approved to foster. The barred lists are checked at enhanced level specifically because fostering involves regulated activity with children.
Visitors, vehicles, and life admin: practical do’s and don’ts
- Tell your SSW early about travel plans, long-term guests, or a partner spending frequent overnights—so any checks can be planned.
- Keep a simple log of who babysits, when they were approved, and where your DBS certificate and Update Service details are stored (agencies and Ofsted look for tidy evidence trails).
- Normal childhood experiences like sleepovers should not be blocked by red tape—use parental judgment, check contact details and supervision norms, and record your decision briefly in your logs.
Ofsted’s lens on safer recruitment
On inspection, Ofsted looks for evidence that the service uses the right level of DBS, verifies references, and keeps decisions under review. Inspectors don’t expect perfection—but they do expect clear policies, timely checks, and consistent recording (including Update Service status checks or renewal dates), in line with NMS and DBS guidance for children’s social care providers.
How this plays out during assessment (Stage 1 & Stage 2)
- Stage 1 gathers statutory information (DBS, medicals, references, identity, home & finances). Missing essentials here can pause your progress.
- Stage 2 explores your skills, experience and capacity to meet children’s needs (the “analysis and evidence” part of Form F). Both stages feed into panel and the Agency Decision Maker.
Practical tip: start your references early. Let referees know a social worker will call, encourage timely replies, and double-check that contact details are current. This often shaves weeks off assessment timelines.
FAQs
Do my teenage children need a DBS?
England: the legal requirement is for 18+ household members, though some agencies also check 16–17s based on policy and risk. Scotland requires checks from 16. Ask your SSW what applies locally.
Can I use an existing DBS from my job?
Only if it’s the right level (enhanced with children’s barred list) and you’re subscribed to the Update Service so the fostering service can check its current status online. Otherwise, a fresh DBS is usually needed.
How often will I be re-checked?
DBS certificates don’t expire by law, but most services renew every 3 years or use the Update Service with periodic status checks. Your handbook sets the exact cycle.
Do friends’ parents need DBS for my foster child’s sleepover?
No. Carers are expected to make sensible parenting decisions. Do your normal checks (who, where, contact details) and log the decision.
What if a visitor becomes a regular presence?
Tell your SSW. Regular visitors or a new adult moving in will usually need checks before unsupervised contact takes place.
Key takeaways for carers
- Enhanced DBS with barred list is mandatory for applicants and adult household members (18+), with some services checking 16–17s by policy.
- Expect at least two personal references, phone-verified, plus employer/school/health visitor checks where relevant.
- Visitors/babysitters: plan ahead—many services require approved, DBS-cleared babysitters; normal parenting applies for children’s sleepovers.
- Keep your DBS current via a 3-year cycle or the Update Service (join within 30 days of your certificate being issued).
- Ofsted will look for clear evidence that safer recruitment is live, consistent and well recorded.
With these pieces in place—and good communication with your supervising social worker—you’ll meet safer recruitment expectations with confidence and keep the focus where it belongs: providing a safe, stable home for children.