Approval process

Before becoming a foster carer an assessment will be carried out by an Alliance Foster Care social worker who will work with you and your family to consider

• your suitability to become foster carers
• your training needs
• the type of fostering that you are best suited to

We will ensure that you know exactly what is involved in the fostering task, provide you with training and ensure that you and your family are prepared and informed before you become a foster carer.

Our assessments are carried out in line with the National Foster Care Standards and Codes of Practice.

All applicants are required to undertake 3 days initial training, introducing them to Agency policies and procedures, child care law and other information they will require to foster safely.

Foster carers are required to undertake at least two further training courses each year. A wide variety of courses are made available free of charge.

We do our best to ensure that your assessment is enjoyable throughout. It is important to us that you feel comfortable with the assessment process and are able to ask questions and raise any concerns that you have with us.

Alliance Foster Care Panel

Prospective carer's assessments are presented to our foster panel. The panel, in accordance with fostering regulations comprises of experienced professionals who meet regularly to consider all issues relating to the approval and review of our carers.

Foster carers and prospective foster carers are encouraged to attend meetings of our fostering panel when their fostering status is being considered.

We believe it is important that foster carers take part in and feel part of the fostering panel's work to ensure that their views and wishes are fully considered before the panel makes recommendations.

Decision making process

Our fostering panel makes a recommendation to our agency decision maker who is ultimately responsible for taking decisions in respect of assessements of prospective foster carers.