Undertaking a fostering assessment in England

NOTE: A new version of Form F (Prospective Foster Carer Report) England (2025) has been published. A revised version of this book will be published soon. Provide your details here to be informed as soon as it is published.

This guide helps social workers to manage and complete a comprehensive and evidence-based assessment of prospective applicants who want to foster a child or children. It is to be used by assessing social workers to complete a Prospective Foster Carer’s Report using the CoramBAAF Form F (England).

The guide is primarily based on Section B of Form F, which brings together information about the applicant’s history, family and lifestyle; an assessment of their fostering capacity; and the applicant’s preparation for the fostering task. Each section presents a list of trigger questions that can facilitate further discussion and encourage exploration of different areas and suggestions as to how this can be analysed to assess an applicant's suitability, or not, to foster.

The guide includes worksheets to help assessors to plan and keep track of ongoing assessments, and useful checklists about safer caring, completing ecomaps and health and safety issues.

This guide is for all those undertaking fostering assessments. The guide will be of particular use to those who are new to the task, or concerned about covering all necessary aspects.

Read the contents page and introduction

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