Application Process
The application process is thorough in order to ensure that children are offered the best standard of care and that carers are fully prepared for the role they are undertaking. Below is a summary of the recruitment process but full details can be found in our Foster Carer Recruitment policy.
Potential carers can make an initial enquiry to Oak Fostering via the phone, email or using the Oak Fostering website. This enquiry will be responded to promptly by a supervising social worker and details of the discussion will be recorded on an Initial Enquiry Form. If following this initial enquiry, it is considered that the basic requirements are met then an initial visit will be arranged.
Your fostering journey begins with an initial enquiry to our office, where you will have the opportunity to speak with a member of our team. At this stage, we will provide advice, guidance, and clarity about the fostering application process.We will ask some initial questions about your motivation to foster, your living arrangements, and your current commitments. If appropriate, the next step will be to arrange an initial visit.
A Supervising Social Worker will carry out the initial visit, which provides an opportunity to discuss the fostering role in greater detail. During this meeting, we will explain what is expected when fostering with Oak and outline the assessment process.The Social Worker will explore your motivation to foster, as well as the skills and experience you bring. They will also explain the training and development required to become an approved Foster Carer. As part of the visit, a tour of your family home will be completed.Following the visit, the Social Worker will assess whether you are suitable to progress in the process. A written record of the visit and the decision will be made.
If your initial visit is successful, you will be invited to complete an application form, which is a requirement for everyone seeking approval as a Foster Carer. Alongside this, you will be asked to complete several additional forms that allow Oak to begin the necessary references and checks. Once we receive your completed application, an Assessing Supervising Social Worker will be allocated to you and will begin the assessment process.
Over a period of several months, you will meet regularly with an Assessing Social Worker to explore different aspects of your life. This will include discussions about your childhood, education, employment, and adult experiences. Many applicants wonder whether certain life experiences will affect their suitability to foster. We encourage you not to let this deter you. Both positive and challenging experiences can provide valuable insights and strengths, and these can be explored fully during the assessment.
It is important to understand that this is a thorough assessment and transparent process. There are two stages to the assessment, stage one is the Safer Recruitment references and checks and stage two is the completion of the report which evidences the discussion and analysis from the Assessing Social Worker. It allows Oak to consider your organisational skills, commitment to fostering, understanding of the journey for Looked After Children, and your ability to reflect and continue learning. At the conclusion of the process, the Assessing Social Worker will make a formal recommendation. If there are any discrepancies, whereby Oak requires further understanding, then this will be shared with you at the time. The assessment is also an opportunity for you as an applicant to take part in training, demonstrate your skills, ask questions, meet other Foster Carers, and participate in Oak activities. For more details on the different stages of our assessment, please contact a member of our team.
Drawing on many years of experience in Social Care, the Oak team has developed Roots to Foster — a tailored, engaging, and inclusive two-day programme designed to help you begin your fostering journey. This training provides the foundation for developing the knowledge and skills needed to foster successfully. Delivered in a small group setting with other applicants, the programme offers the chance to hear real examples, take part in discussions, and gain valuable insight into the fostering role.
Roots to Foster is a mandatory part of the application process and must be completed before attending the panel.
At Oak, we value the importance of understanding your personal journey. As part of the assessment process, your Assessor, Manager, and our Consultant Therapist will meet together to reflect on your experiences and how these have shaped you, supporting both learning and self-reflection.
Following this, the Consultant Therapist will meet with you directly to discuss your motivation to foster and highlight any areas that may be important to consider once you are approved.
This stage also provides you with the opportunity to benefit from the insight and guidance of experienced professionals within the fostering sector.
Once the Assessor has concluded your report and it has been quality assured by the Registered Manager, it will be shared with you to read and approve. Once all parties are happy, this is then sent to an Independent Social Worker who then undertakes a visit. This will take approximately 2/3 hours where they will draw upon the main points within the report. They too will complete a short report to evidence the discussion and to make an independent recommendation.
All applicants, as well as approved Foster Carers, are required to attend the panel process. This takes place at the point of first approval and again at each subsequent re-approval (Annual Review). Our central panel list consists of approximately 14 members, with a minimum of 5 taking part in each panel. Panel members bring a wide range of experience from fostering, social care, education, policing, health, and other related sectors. Prior to your panel date, you will receive information about the members who will be attending.
The panel’s role is to review your assessment report and any accompanying documents, before meeting with you and your Assessor to ask questions and explore your application further. At the conclusion of the meeting, the panel will share their recommendation with you verbally. Formal minutes are then recorded and passed to the Agency Decision Maker, who makes the final decision.
The Agency Decision Maker (ADM) is responsible for making the final decision on each application. This decision is based on the panel’s recommendation, the full assessment of the applicants, and any supporting evidence.
A decision will be reached within seven working days of receiving the panel’s recommendation and final minutes. Applicants will be informed verbally of the decision within two working days, followed by written confirmation within five working days.
Further information about how panel meetings are conducted can be found in our Panel Policy.
While most applicants and Foster Carers are satisfied with the panel process and the decisions made regarding their suitability, we recognise that this may not always be the case.Oak Fostering has a formal complaints process, details of which can be shared with you.
If you are unhappy with the decision about your suitability to foster, or with any terms of approval, you have the right to make representations to the fostering panel. Alternatively, you may request for your case to be reviewed by an independent body known as the Independent Review Mechanism (IRM). If this applies to you, we will ensure you are provided with full information and guidance on the next steps.
Fostering Changes Lives, Including Yours.
Becoming a foster carer with Oak Fostering means joining a community that’s committed to giving children a safe, stable home, and supporting you every step of the way.
