Being a foster carer is not always easy. It takes hard work, dedication and patience.
Throughout the fostering application process, we’ll be there to educate you on life as a foster carer in Bradford - and you’ll soon realise all the positives will outweigh the hard moments!
Fostering children is a vocation and you will make a huge difference by opening your home and your heart to a child or young person.
Becoming a foster carer requires both emotional and logistical commitment from you and your family. The Recruitment Initial Visit will help you prepare for the assessment process and beyond.
What happens as part of an initial visit appointment?
The second step to becoming a foster carer is something called an initial visit. We will arrange to visit you (and your partner if you have one) at your home to talk about fostering in more detail and learn more about your personal circumstances.
These sessions are designed to help you understand what will be expected of you as a foster carer and what you need to do to get ready to become a foster carer.
During the visit, we’ll ask you questions about yourself and your household. These questions are to help us understand if you are mentally, physically and emotionally ready to start your fostering journey.
We understand that some of the questions we ask may make you feel uncomfortable. We ask these questions to help us understand if you are in a position to foster now and if it is safe for children to be placed in your care, so it is important that you answer these questions openly and honestly.
Our team is highly experienced in conducting these sessions, which will be carried out in a professional, confidential and sympathetic manner.
Depending on your individual circumstances, some visits may take up to 2 hours.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, some of our visits are taking place via video call.
Who needs to be present?
You and your partner, if you have one, must be present during your visit. Some potential carers find it easier to talk openly if their children are not at home while the visit is taking place.
What will my social worker talk about during the visit?
Your social worker will discuss the following:
The Bradford Fostering difference
We'll discuss what we look for in our foster care community, and how you and your skills can contribute to our overall care goals. You'll also discover more about the various types of fostering and the age/number of children you may be qualified to foster.
Fostering benefits
You'll learn more about the fees and allowances you may receive as a foster carer, alongside our extensive training and support schemes.
Child protection
Keeping our children and young people safe is of highest priority, so we'll explain the extensive legal checks we complete before your application is approved.
These include police checks, medical, employer and personal references and a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
If you have worked in the armed forces; a school; as a childminder or with vulnerable adults, there may be some additional checks we need to complete before your application can be progressed.
Some of our children and young people may have experienced abuse or trauma in their lives. You will learn about how this impacts behaviour, and what you can do to help.
Would you like to hear more about fostering for Bradford?
Foster carers change lives. If you'd like to learn more about fostering in Bradford, download an information pack today and see how you can make a difference.
