What Questions Are Asked in a Fostering Assessment?
Fostering assessment determines your eligibility to become a foster carer in the UK. Learn about the questions the social worker will ask you to prepare yourself for the initial assessment.
Soon after you apply to become a foster carer, you will be assessed on your eligibility to become a foster carer in the UK.
The fostering assessment questions are often straightforward and honest answers are expected for you to qualify to become a foster carer.
Where are the questions asked?
For your preparation, you might want to ask the foster agency where the questions will be asked. It could be through an informal house visit or an invitation to a meeting with the agency’s representatives.
Either way, understanding the questions and how to answer them form the core of this discussion.
Top questions to expect and how to answer them
Basic questions about your eligibility to become a foster carer
• Do you own the property you live in?
The social worker will seek to determine the nature of the property you are living in. You don’t need to own a house to foster. The question targets the stability of your stay there when fostering.
• Do you have pets?
This question will help the social worker create a profile and match you with children who are not allergic to pets that you own.
• Do you have medical issues?
This question will be framed differently but the key idea is to know our general level of health. As a requirement, you will need a medical statement to support your answer.
• Has anyone in your family been a foster carer before?
This question is procedural to know your family’s interest in fostering or adoption.
• Who are you living with?
You must tell the social worker your living arrangements and anybody else who lives in your home, including your children.
• Do you have children not living with you?
This is a direct question that seeks to know if you have children who are not living with you. You will need further explanations if there is a minor who is not living with you.
• Who are your referees?
You will need to provide names of people who can act as your referees. You will need to provide references for other adults living with you as well.
Questions about your personality
Here are a set of questions that will be asked about your personality.
• What kind of a person do you consider yourself to be?
It is an open question that allows you to share your personality traits with the social worker.
• What are your religious beliefs?
You will need to discuss your religious beliefs with the social worker.
• What is your cultural background?
This is a question that seeks answers about your race, culture, and languages you speak.
• Can you care for a child of a different race, religion, or cultural background?
The expectation is that foster carers can care for a child whose background is different from their own. It is also required for matching purposes.
What are your hobbies?
It is another routine question that helps to create a perfect match with a foster child’s interests.
What are your standards of living?
You will need to explain your standards of living. It is an open question that seeks an explanation about what your financial stability.
Do you have any skills that are relevant to fostering?
You will also be asked if you have relevant skills that might boost your fostering work. For example, you might have experience of working with children as a teacher or you have a medical background.
Summary
As you can see, the questions are easy and you can always respond to them easily. You must be honest when answering these questions.
If you have any queries about any of these questions and how to answer them, please contact us today.
