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Enquiry

When you decide to take the first step and speak to us about fostering, we’d love to speak with you to find out a bit more about you and your interest in fostering. We will answer any questions you have, send you an information pack and dates of our future information events, where you can meet some of the fostering team and hear from some of our foster carers.

You can contact us by calling 0151 515 0000, complete an enquiry form or email enquire@fosteringforliverpool.co.uk

Registration of interest

When you decide you’d like to have further conversations and find out more, we’ll ask you a few questions over the phone to gather some initial details such as if you have a spare room, who else lives in the house etc.

Initial home visit

We’ll arrange a time for one of our fostering colleagues to come and meet you, to get to know more about you. We’ll talk in more depth about your thoughts around fostering and what’s involved. We’ll provide all the information you need about the application process so you know what to expect.

Skills to foster

Is a really informative and interactive 3 day pre-approval training course, which gives you an insight into what being a foster carer, and a child in care is like. It is a good opportunity to meet other people going through the application process and gain great insight into fostering, in a supportive group environment. Many of our foster carers are still in touch with people they met on their training days!

Application pack and assessment

At this next stage you will meet your assessing social worker, who will review the information gathered so far in the process. If everyone is happy that the time is right to proceed with an application, we will invite you to complete an application form. Your assessing social worker will be there to guide you through the process and will visit you a number of times, to talk in more detail about your life experiences, past relationships, work history, interests and lots of things that would play a part in your parenting skills and the type of children you feel you would be best suited to fostering. Friends and family members and your support network will also be contacted at this point. We will also complete all the necessary police and medical checks and obtain references.

Panel

Once your application is completed, we’ll send you a copy in advance of attending a fostering panel. This is where a group of fostering professionals review and discuss the report with you, and will make a recommendation regarding your approval as a foster carer

Approval

Once you are approved, you’ll be assigned a fostering social worker and family support worker, who will keep in touch about children who we need foster carers for, who we think would be a suitable match for you. Then it won’t be long before you’re actually a foster carer.

Ongoing training and support

During your role as a foster carer, we will provide you with all the necessary training, specialist support and guidance to build your skills and confidence. Your training needs may vary depending on the needs of the children you are looking after, so we’ll always look for the most relevant training for your circumstances.