What Checks Are Done for Fostering? (UK 2025 Guide)

Thinking about fostering and wondering what gets checked? Good—because thorough checks are a safeguard for children and for you. In the UK, every applicant goes through a regulated assessment that combines legal checks (identity, criminal record, health, references) with a detailed home study of your skills, support network, and day-to-day life. This guide walks you through each element in plain English, explains why it’s needed, and shows how to prepare so Stage 1 of your assessment runs smoothly.

The legal framework (what the law actually requires)

Fostering assessments in England are governed by the Fostering Services (England) Regulations 2011 and the National Minimum Standards (NMS). Together they require fostering services to verify identity, health, criminal records, personal references and other information set out in Schedule 3 before approval. In practice, that means you’ll be asked for a medical, enhanced criminal record checks, references, and details about everyone in your household.

Most assessments follow a two-stage model: Stage 1 (checks and references) followed by Stage 2 (in-depth assessment and analysis), culminating in a recommendation to the fostering panel. Your service should explain the process, what they’re looking for, and the likely timescales up front.

Tip: If you’re in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, the core checks are very similar but some details (like the frequency of repeat checks) differ. Always follow your local service’s guidance.

Enhanced DBS (criminal record) checks

What it is: An Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check with a children’s barred list search. It’s the highest level of DBS and is standard for fostering applicants.

Who is checked:

• All applicants and every adult (18+) who lives in your household. In Scotland, checks also apply from age 16; in England, services often choose to process DBS checks for 16–17-year-olds too where appropriate.
• Many providers also risk-assess regular adult visitors and non-resident partners, and may seek checks where necessary.

How often: There’s no legal rule in England about how often to repeat DBS checks (Scotland requires regular updates), so services set their own update policy and may use the DBS Update Service.

If you’ve lived abroad: Services will seek overseas police clearances or contact overseas authorities for periods you lived outside the UK.

What if something shows up?
Not all past issues are disqualifying. The key question is risk and safeguarding: the nature of the offence, how long ago it was, patterns of behaviour, and what’s changed. Serious offences against children or involving significant harm typically bar fostering (that’s what the children’s barred list is for), but historic, minor issues can be considered in context.

Local authority, safeguarding and background checks

Beyond DBS, your agency or local authority will complete other statutory enquiries:

• Local authority (children’s services) checks in the places you’ve lived, to see if there’s any relevant safeguarding history. This includes checks where you previously resided and, if applicable, liaison with overseas authorities.
• Identity and right-to-reside checks (passport, birth certificate, visas/settled status where relevant). The NMS emphasises that applicants must understand why identity and relationship status checks are needed.
• Household members & regular visitors: Services keep a record of all members of the household (and often of regular visitors). Adults who turn 18 while living with you will need DBS checks at that point.

Health (medical) assessment

You’ll complete a fostering medical with your GP (or a service-appointed medical advisor). This isn’t about being “perfectly healthy”; it’s about whether you’re fit to foster safely and able to meet a child’s needs with the right support. The 2011 Regulations (Schedule 3) require details of health supported by a medical report, and the NMS specifically references health checks as part of the Stage 1 process.

What the medical looks for:

• Physical and mental health history, medication, ongoing conditions, and any supports you use.
• Lifestyle factors (sleep, lifting/transport, stress).
• Capacity to meet needs of likely placements (e.g., babies, teens, siblings).

Health issues rarely end an application by themselves; the assessor looks at functioning, stability, support, and risk management.

Personal and employment references

Expect to provide at least two personal references who’ve known you for several years (often more), plus employment references—especially if you’ve worked with children or vulnerable adults. Agencies may request a reference from a former partner, particularly where there were shared parenting responsibilities. Guidance from CoramBAAF (who produce the widely-used Form F) and sector best practice emphasise using references to triangulate your history, support network and relationship patterns.

Good referees are people who can describe how you handle stress, boundaries, conflict, routines, and teamwork—specific, credible, and recent is best.

Home visit, safety and environment checks

Every application includes at least one home visit to look at space, layout and health & safety (stairs, windows, garden, tools/chemicals, fire safety, pets). You don’t need a show home—just a safe, welcoming base with the ability to offer a spare bedroom if required for the type of fostering you aim to do. Providers will complete household composition records and may ask for pet risk assessments (even friendly pets must be considered for allergies, size, and supervision). The purpose is to think through safety, not to “catch you out.”

Finances and stability

You’ll be asked about income, outgoings, debts and budgeting. Foster carers aren’t expected to be wealthy; assessors just need to see your household is financially stable so money stress won’t put placements at risk. They’ll also discuss fostering allowances (to cover the child’s costs) and how qualifying care relief works for tax once you’re approved.

Interviews, chronology and life story

During Stage 2, your assessing social worker builds a detailed picture of who you are and how you parent/care. Using the sector’s upgraded CoramBAAF Form F (2025), they’ll explore your childhood, relationships, work, community, parenting approach, resilience, learning, and how you’ll apply therapeutic care. This isn’t a memory test; it’s a structured conversation that helps matching later on.

Expect:

• Individual and joint interviews (if a couple).
• A chronology of your addresses, work, relationships and significant events.
• Discussion of your support network (who helps with school runs, sickness, emergencies).
• Training such as Skills to Foster to prepare you for real-world scenarios.

Children in your home, visitors and adult children

Assessors will talk to birth children (if age-appropriate) about how fostering might affect routines and space. They’ll also ask about regular visitors—grandparents, friends, partners who stay over—because consistency and clear boundaries matter. Local procedures commonly require checks for adult household members and set expectations about adult children who come home from university or young people turning 18 under Staying Put. Notify your supervising social worker when household circumstances change so required checks can be done promptly.

What happens if I rent, have pets, or work full-time?

• Renting: You can foster in rented accommodation—your service may ask for landlord consent and may check tenancy terms.
• Pets: Most pets are fine with sensible precautions; the assessor just records risks and mitigations (e.g., supervision with large dogs, secure housing for reptiles).
• Working: Many carers work alongside fostering (especially for school-age children). Assessors look at flexibility for school meetings, contact, and emergencies, and how your support network can step in when needed.

How long do the checks take?

Checks begin immediately in Stage 1 (DBS, references, medicals, local authority checks). How fast they complete depends on how quickly documents arrive (e.g., GP medicals, referee responses), whether overseas checks are needed, and diary availability for training and home visits. The DfE framework sets out what must be done in each stage; your service should give you a clear timetable and tell you what you can do to keep things moving.

Common reasons checks are delayed (and how to avoid them)

1. Slow references: Prep referees in advance; confirm their email/phone; tell them to look for an email from the agency.
2. GP medical backlogs: Book early, keep copies of prescriptions, and return forms quickly.
3. Name/address discrepancies: Ensure your ID, utility bills and bank details match and that you’ve listed every previous address with dates.
4. Overseas periods not evidenced: Have visa/residency documents and dates to hand; start overseas police clearances early.
5. Unclear support network: Provide contactable names who can help with school runs, illnesses, or emergencies.

Can I see what’s written about me?

Yes. You’ll read your Form F and can comment before it goes to panel. Checks and references are summarised in the report, not usually shared verbatim (to protect referees and third parties), but any factual inaccuracies can and should be corrected. The NMS emphasise clarity about the process and the standards applied, so don’t be shy about asking questions.

What if concerns are found?

Finding concerns doesn’t automatically end an application. The assessing social worker will explore the context, any learning or change since, and what safeguards would be needed. Sometimes applicants pause to complete extra training or strengthen their support network. Only where risks can’t be mitigated, or where a barred offence is identified, will an application not proceed.

If you disagree with a decision, services have a Representations/Independent Review Mechanism route; your assessing worker can explain how it works in your nation.

How to prepare for Stage 1 checks (a practical checklist)

• Identity & history: Passport or driving licence, proof of address, full address history (with months/years), name-change documents.
• Health: GP details, long-term conditions list, medication, consent for medical.
• Safety: Home insurance details, pet vaccinations where relevant, smoke alarms in working order, simple risk log (windows, stairs, garden).
• References: Line up 3–5 referees, confirm contact details, and explain they’ll be asked about your reliability, boundaries and how you handle stress.
• Support network: List who can help and how (school runs, contact, emergencies).
• Work & flexibility: If working, outline how you’ll manage school hours, meetings, and contact—include employer flexibility and backup plans.
• Overseas periods: Dates and documents for any time you lived abroad.

The bottom line

Fostering checks are thorough because children deserve safety and stability. They’re also supportive—designed to set you up for success, not to catch you out. If you’re open, organised, and proactive with documents and references, Stage 1 can move quickly and you’ll head into Stage 2 with confidence.

Next step: Make an enquiry with your local council or an independent fostering agency. Ask them to send their Stage 1 checklist and timescales, and book your Skills to Foster dates early. The process is detailed, but with a clear plan—and the right support network—you can get there.