Foster care background checks and references

DBS / PVG

A DBS check with the Disclosure and Barring Service in England or Protecting Vulnerable Groups in Scotland is completed for applicants and household members over the age of 18.

Local authority check

We carry out a local authority check to the local authority where you currently reside, as well as any local authority area you have lived in, in the last 10 years.

Health / Medical assessment

A medical is completed for all applicants – if applying as a couple, you both will undertake a medical assessment. You will be asked to complete an AH1 form which we will give you, you’ll then take that to your GP and arrange an appointment for a full medical. The GP sends the medical to our Agency Medical Advisor who will form an analysis of the information in relation to any health related issues which could affect your ability to foster safely for yourself or a child in your care.

Work references

We will request a reference from your current (or most recent) employer and also any others where you have worked or volunteered with children or vulnerable adults. If you are self-employed, we would usually ask for a reference from a client / customer or partner / employee.

Personal references

We will ask you to nominate 3 personal referees – 1 family and 2 non-family; normally friends who know you well. The referees are written to and once the written reference is received, this is followed up by a visit from your assessing social worker.

Ex-partner references

All significant ex-partners should be contacted where possible. By ‘significant’ we mean where the applicant has been married to, lived with and/or had children with, or where the relationship spanned a number of years. Your assessor will discuss with you what would be classed as ‘significant’ if you are unsure, so it is best just to share information about all previous partners.

Where there is good reason not to contact an ex-partner (i.e. where the relationship was abusive or contacting them may cause emotional harm to an applicant or a member of their family), then third party verification of that relationship would be sought instead and we’ll work with you to identify this.

Pet assessment

Pet assessments are completed for all pets (including fish!) A separate dog risk assessment is needed for dogs and where there are 2 dogs or more in the household, a specialist vet assessment will be requested by us. Applicants will just be asked to provide details of their vet and also any vet reports / record cards that they have for their pets.

Other checks

If your home is rented, we will require written permission to foster from your landlord. This will need to be provided very early in the assessment so please ensure that landlord details are provided on your application form.