Form F (Prospective Foster Carer Report) 2025 (England) is an assessment framework which encapsulates the work that has been done with the assessing social worker and the prospective foster carer/s. The social worker completing a Form F will assess the capacity, experiences, motivations and skills applicants bring and also prepares them for the task of fostering. The form has undergone a substantial revision. 

The revision has been informed by feedback from practitioners, foster carers, care experienced adults and other stakeholders within the sector. The revisions are designed to make the assessment strengths-based and trauma-informed as well as to streamline the process. There is a new section about children’s needs to consider how the prospective foster carers will be able to meet these.

The new Form F (Prospective Foster Carer Report): Focusing on the child’s needs and how carers can meet them

Form F (2025) has been updated to improve its language and tone, making it more accessible for both carers and assessors. One of the most important changes is the addition of a new section focused on children’s needs—and how prospective carers can meet them.

Read more

Upcoming briefing sessions

Reserve your spot at a briefing session. These webinars are designed to help you understand the key principles behind Form F, provide an overview of the development work that shaped its design and updates, explain the structure of Form F, and introduce how to use the form alongside the accompanying guidance.

4 June | 9am - 9.55am | Zoom

Free to all

19 June | 12pm - 12.55pm | Zoom

Free to all

Open courses and commissioned training

Browse our open course programme or get in touch about our commissioned and bespoke training opportunities. Take a look at the training below to develop your skills and knowledge in regards to completing a undertaking a fostering assessment.

 

Fostering assessments (Form F) - best practice 

This two-day course will provide practitioners and particularly those who may be new to undertaking, quality assuring or considering fostering assessments with an opportunity to develop knowledge, skills and practice in completing fostering assessments. This course may also provide a refresher for those wanting to reflect and build on knowledge skills and best practice in the completion of fostering assessments.

Find out more