We won't keep you waiting.
It usually takes 4 - 6 months to become an approved foster carer

How do I become a foster carer?

We understand that starting your journey to become a foster carer can seem daunting. You may feel anxious about what you will be
asked or what we are looking for. We believe in looking for the strengths that you have and supporting you in any areas where you may need to develop. Our friendly team will be happy to reassure you and answer any questions you have. We can also put you in touch with one of our foster carers to find out what’s its really like to foster. Just ask!


We can also start the process virtually to ensure your safety during the Covid19 pandemic.

  • Step 1 - Get in touch

    Give us a call on 0208 496 3437 or complete our online enquiry form. If you give us a call, one of our friendly team members will have an initial chat with you, answer any questions you have and take some details. If you make an enquiry on our website, we will call you back to have the initial chat. You will be invited to an information event or we will come out to see you in your home.

  • Step 2 - Home visit

    A social worker from our fostering and permanence teams will contact you to discuss your interest and arrange a convenient time to visit you and your family and talk though any questions you may have. 


    On the home visit, we will talk about your background, skills and experience and your reasons for wanting to become a foster carer. We will also have a look at your living space to see what space you have available for a child. 

    If Covid 19 risks are high, we can conduct this meeting virtually to ensure everyone's safety.

  • Step 3 - Registration of interest

    Hopefully after having a home visit, you will have decided fostering is right for you. You will need to complete an application form which gives us permission to start obtaining your checks and references including from the police, your local authority, medical, employment, school, and personal references. You will be supported at every step of the process.

  • Step 4 - Skills to foster training

    To prepare you for the role, you will attend training. 


    The course covers:

    • Understanding the role of the foster carer, the child’s social worker and other agencies

    • Training, support and development standards for foster care

    • Child development

    • Separation and loss

    • The impact of early childhood experience on attachment and behaviour

    • Positive approaches to managing behaviour

    • Health needs of children and young people

    • Diversity and identity

    • Child protection and handling disclosures of abuse

    • Safer care practices

    • Maintaining links and moving children on


  • Step 5 - Assessment

    A social worker will visit you several times to get to know you, your family, any frequent visitors, your home, and your experiences to make sure you can offer a safe, secure and stable environment for a child. If Covid 19 risks are high, these visits can take place virtually to ensure eberyone's safety.


    The social worker prepares a detailed report covering all the information you have shared, outlining your abilities and attributes. You will see this report and can add your own comments in writing.


  • Step 6 - Attending fostering panel

    Your detailed assessment report will then be presented to the fostering panel. The fostering panel comprises of members who have experience in fostering or may have spent time in foster care themselves. You will not be alone and will have the support of your assessing social worker who will attend with you. 


    The panel decides whether to recommend your approval to the Agency Decision Maker, who then considers their recommendation to reach a decision. You will then receive a letter confirming this.


    If you haven’t been approved, your assessing social worker will explain why, and you may be able to reapply in the future.


  • Step 7 - Post approval

    Once you are approved, you will be allocated a supervising social worker from our team. They will help you settle into your new role and help guide you with your first placement with a foster child and beyond.

Already an approved foster carer?
You can transfer to us

We have had many existing carers join us for many reasons. Some felt they weren’t being offered many placements and wanted to join Tower Hamlets as we prefer to place our children with our carers. Others felt they weren’t getting the support and training they needed and felt we offer more.
All approved foster carers have the right to change agencies and any placements you have can transfer with you as long as there is no detriment to any child placed. To find out more about your rights, please have a look at the Fostering Network Transfer Protocol.

If you choose to join Tower Hamlets, we will fast track your application if you are an existing foster carer to help make the transition as easy as possible. We would encourage you to attend the Skills to Foster course but it is not mandatory for existing foster carers.

We will renew your Form F assessment and undertake all the necessary checks such as disclosure and barring service (DBS) checks, medical and personal references. You will also receive a £1,000 bonus once you have been successfully approved at panel and have your first placement.

We can consider foster carers who have children in placement from another local authority. Please get in touch to talk about your specific circumstances.

Enquire now!