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What happens after my enquiry?

Once you’ve submitted your initial enquiry about fostering with us, we’ll give you a call and arrange to visit you in your home. This page talks you through the process step by step.

The enquiry and application process

1. Initial enquiry

However you contact us, by phone, email, online or in person. One of our fostering team will be in touch to have a conversation with you and to answer any questions you have, so you can decide whether fostering is the right path for you.

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2. Home visit

After that initial conversation, one of our fostering social workers will come out to visit you in your home. This is another opportunity for you to ask questions and to explore whether fostering is right for you, your family and your home.

3. Application form

If you decide that fostering is right for you, we’ll leave an application form with you, for you to complete.

We’ll be here to guide you and help you through this process and offer support if you need it.

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4. Stage 1  assessment

This stage covers all the checks that we have to do, such as statutory checks, health and safety, medical and DBS checks. We will also check your personal references. This is sometimes run alongside Stage 2. We will be in touch with you throughout.

5. Stage 2 assessment

We meet you in your home at least eight times to complete this stage. During this time, you will complete the ‘Skills to Foster’ training, which prepares you to become a foster carer. You’ll also put together your portfolio of evidence, which you need for the final stage.

6. Foster panel

This is the final hurdle! You and your social worker will go to fostering panel. You will present your portfolio of evidence and they will ask you questions and discuss your preparations to get to this stage.

The panel then make a recommendation to the ADM – the agency decision maker –  who will then approve you as a foster carer.

Ready to foster?

"You can make a world of difference even in a short space of time."

Are you already a foster carer? Come and foster with us.

All approved foster carers have the freedom to change the fostering agency they work with, as we appreciate carer’s situations can change. These rights are enshrined in the Transfer of Foster Carers Protocol which provides guidelines for when a foster carer wishes to transfer between agencies. There are different procedures depending on whether you have a child in placement or not. At Brighter Futures for Children, the first step is for one of our social workers to visit you at home to discuss your situation and explain the process. We will work with you at all times to ensure the transfer is as seamless as possible. Find out more below.

Transferring to us

It can take about 3-4 months and we would aim to complete it as quickly as possible.

Most training is transferrable as all fostering agencies must follow fostering regulations.

Yes, you can. You can learn more in Section 5 of the Transfer of Foster Carers Protocol.

In line with Section 10 of the Transfer of Foster Carers Protocol, we would continue paying your current rate for your current child in placement. For future children placed with you, the Brighter Futures for Children payment scheme would apply.

  • We are Reading’s local, not-for-profit fostering agency. We are committed to keeping local children and young people in our town, close to their friends, family and school
  • We have a 24/7 phone line support
  • Foster Carers’ Association Reading, a support group of local foster carers, is well established and meets regularly
  • Our trauma-informed practitioner is on hand to help
  • We have a brilliant team of supervising social workers.

You can give our fostering team a call on 0118 469 3020 or email foster@brighterfuturesforchildren.org.

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