www.wiltshire.gov.uk
Steps to becoming a Short break Foster Carer
If you have decided that short-break fostering is for you, there are a number of stages you will need to go through. If you are approved, vulnerable children and young people will be staying in your home; for this reason you will be asked to go through a thorough process of preparation and assessment.
You will need to show that you have the qualities and skills required to care for other people’s disabled children. Wiltshire County Council aims to complete this whole process within 6 months.
A Family Placement Officer (FPO) from the Family Support (Disabled Children) Team will arrange to visit you and your family, at your home. This is called an ‘initial visit’. The FPO will talk to you about your interest in becoming a carer and will give you details of the assessment process. The FPO will answer all your questions and will ask a little about you and your family. You will need to tell them about any health problems you may have or any criminal convictions.
You will be asked to fill in a detailed form about yourself and other members of your household. This form gives the council permission to carry out various checks. We will undertake CRB checks to make sure that no one in your family has committed any offences that would automatically disqualify you from caring for a child. You will be asked for proof of your identity (, passport, driving licence, birth and/or marriage certificate, utility bills).
You will be asked for the name and address of your GP so that we can write and ask about anything that we should know in relation to your health.
You will be invited to attend a preparation course, where you will learn more about what is involved in fostering. You will also meet other people who are going through the process, and will talk to experienced carers.
The next stage is your assessment or home-study. This is when the FPO will need to get to know you and your family very well and will arrange regular appointments to meet with you and your family. During these sessions a range of subjects will be explored, such as, relationships, family history, past experiences and your lifestyle. You’ll discuss the needs of disabled children and will decide, with your FPO, the numbers and ages of children you could care for. The FPO will consider what skills you have and discuss any further training or extra support you might need.
All the information from your assessment is put together and the FPO compiles a detailed report, which outlines your skills and experiences. Part of this report is written by you, the rest by the FPO. Once compiled and completed, the FPO will share the report with you so you can comment on it.
The FPO presents the report to the Fostering Panel. The Panel will decide whether or not to approve you as a carer, they will invite you to attend.
If you are approved a child/children or young person can now be placed with you. The length of time you wait for a child, their age, numbers and pattern of stay will depend on what you have agreed to offer.
Short-break Foster Carers are reviewed and re-approved every year, or when there is a significant change in circumstances (though this process does not require a full re-assessment). The Council will update your CRB and health checks every three years.
Contact Details
By Post
Family Support (Disabled Children)
Trowbridge Resource Centre
53 Rutland Crescent
Trowbridge
Wiltshire
BA14 0NY
By Email
By Telephone
01225 752198
By Fax
01225 775334
By Hand
Family Support (Disabled Children)
Trowbridge Resource Centre
53 Rutland Crescent
Trowbridge
Wiltshire
BA14 0NY
Opening Hours
Monday to Thursday 8:50 am - 1pm then 2pm - 5pm
Friday 8:50 am - 1pm then 2pm - 4pm
