Without knowing what to expect of the fostering application process, it can be daunting to take the first step.
Karen, current Supported Lodgings Host, shares her experience of the application process, and explains what applicants can expect at each step.
Initial Enquiry
Initially finding out about Fostering Leicestershire online, Karen went on to call the team to talk through the type of fostering that would suit her and her circumstances.
Ways to contact the fostering recruitment team for more information:
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Call 0116 305 0505 (lines open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, 8.30am - 4.30pm, Tuesday and Thursday, 8.30am - 8pm)
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Email fostering@leics.gov.uk
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Book a chat for a time that suits you
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Attend a 'Find Out About Fostering' event
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Sign up to receive the 'Thinking about Fostering' newsletter
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Follow the Fostering Facebook page
Home Visit
After initial contact, and at a time that suits you, one of our Social Workers will visit you at your home.
The lady that spoke to me during my initial enquiry came to visit me at my home. The visit lasted a few hours, and she told me about the scheme, got a general impression of me, and checked that the house would be suitable for fostering - in my case, for Supported Lodgings.
That lady has stayed as my Support Worker and my first point of contact, which I like.
Person:Karen
Application
A written application is then required, which gives more insight into the applicant, including their background, their skills and their motivations to foster. Checks and references are also requested at this stage, and initial foster carer training begins.
You have to do a fair bit of writing. The form is split into different sections, with various questions and prompts. For each question, you need to be writing a few paragraphs.
In effect, it’s writing your life story. It’s sometimes very difficult to write about yourself to promote yourself, but it’s well-structured to guide you through.
Person:Person:Karen
Approval and matching
Once the written application has been submitted and references approved, a panel interview is the final step to becoming an approved foster carer for Leicestershire.
Once your written application has been approved, you’ll then go onto a panel interview. I had 3 people on my panel, and they asked various questions and posed situations that you need to respond to. The whole thing took around an hour, and you get told on the day if you’d be suitable or not.
Once you’ve been approved, you wait until a young person is interested in you. The team show the young people some photos of your home and a bit about you, and they decide if they would like to meet you.
After I had been approved on the panel, it was only a couple of weeks until there was a young person who was interested. Her Social Worker brought her around to my home and we had a couple of hours chat. She moved in a couple of weeks later.
Although it was quick, I felt prepared. The council team were very informative, very thorough, very professional and friendly - it certainly helped me.
Person:Karen
If you are interested in learning more about the fostering application process at Leicestershire, you can visit our website.
If you would like to find out more about fostering, contact the team directly on 0116 305 0505, or fostering@leics.gov.uk.