What to expect in your Home Visit
For anyone starting a dialogue with Fostering Together, whether being new to the fostering world, or a registered family looking to make a transfer to a new fostering service, the home visit can be somewhat daunting if you're not sure what to expect!
Fortunately we can assure you that the Home Visit exists to be an informal step allowing both the fostering service and the family to discuss intentions, and ask questions before making any commitments to going forward with the next steps. That being said, it is helpful to have some preparedness, such as questions you have about the Fostering Together service.
Home Visit Topics:
- What is your understanding of Fostering?
We'll discuss your understanding of foster care and the role of foster carers. You need not be an expert, but you should have a grounded understanding. Please consider reading through our website, and note down anything that is of interest to you. We'll ask what got you interested in becoming a foster carer, and what you think you could bring to make a difference and create positive outcomes for children.
- Your Home and Accommodation
All foster children must have a safe and nurturing space to call their own at home. At a home visit we'll ask you to walk us through your home, and we may make some observations. We will also need to ask some details about all household members, including children and other family members, lodgers or visitors to the household who regularly stay overnight. If you're comfortable with this, we may take some pictures to support your application, though you can submit some of these yourself during your application if you prefer! We will ask about other household member's views about fostering, and whether you have discussed this new lifestyle with them. If you have any pets at home it would also be great to meet them - we have quite a few dog and cat lovers at Fostering
- Your Availability and Employment
We will ask about your current employment and how this might be impacted by the fostering lifestyle. Foster Carers are able to have paid employment alongside their fostering role, though this needs to be thought about early alongside your current employer. Carers need to be flexible and have availability to attend meetings related to the fostering role so ideally your family will have a full time foster carer at home.
- Your Support Network
Do you have anyone local to you that you can depend on in an emergency? This may be friends or family members who you can depend on for emotional and sometimes hands-on support.
- Lifestyle & Health
We will ask you about your lifestyle and health and whether you feel there would be any barriers to fostering. We will also ask if you or any household members smoke or vape. You will also have the opportunity to talk about your interests, such as sports or voluntary roles you have, and where you think you might be able to nurture an interest of a foster child if possible.
Virtual Home Visits and Fostering Assessments for families who are shielding
As the times we are living in have necessitated many businesses to adapt, we have also needed to innovate in the recruitment and assessment of foster carers. Because of our robust recruitment processes which we've designed from our experiences in the sector, we're able to complete home visits, and even fostering assessments using video technology.
We are currently completing one of our first assessments with a family who have needed to shield a vulnerable household member. Our staff team, the family and their independent assessor are finding this approach working really well.
Where this approach is not needed, we will always prefer an in-person visit giving you the opportunity to meet a member of the team; but we have embraced adaptations where we can.
We happy to arrange a Home Visit at a time that suits you. Please don't hesitate to get in touch!
