Frequently Asked Questions
What is Form F?
Form F is a document produced by your appointed assessing social worker. This assessment gives us a clear picture of how your family works, your interests and hobbies, skills and competencies and what you can bring to foster care.
Form F is used to match each carer to an appropriate child. On completion, it will be presented to the Outlook Panel for your approval as a foster carer. It is also shown to placing social workers so that they are confident that a child is being matched with the right family.
Who completes Form F?
A qualified social worker carries out a Form F assessment using the competency format published by the British Association for Adoption and Fostering (BAAF). This assessment will be supervised by a senior social worker or registered manager of Outlook Fostering Services.
What will happen once my Form F assessment has been completed?
How long will it take to become a foster carer?
The average time from making an application to completing Form F and being approved as a foster carer is up to six months. It can be shorter, depending on individual circumstances.
Will I be able to work and be a foster carer?
Outlook expects the primary foster carer not to work, although individual cases will be considered. As long as the carer’s work does not impinge on the requirements of the fostering task, an agreement may be found. It is important that foster carers are available at all times to carry out their duties of caring for the child/young person placed in their care.
How many children can I foster?
Outlook Fostering predominantly makes single placements, especially when carers are new to fostering.
The maximum number of children allowed under National Minimum Standards regulations is three placements. This does not apply to sibling groups.
You must, of course, have the necessary accommodation for the placements before it would be considered.
Can a single parent become a foster carer?
Yes. Outlook operates a robust equal opportunities policy and welcomes applicants from all sectors of the community.
Form F is a document produced by your appointed assessing social worker. This assessment gives us a clear picture of how your family works, your interests and hobbies, skills and competencies and what you can bring to foster care.
Form F is used to match each carer to an appropriate child. On completion, it will be presented to the Outlook Panel for your approval as a foster carer. It is also shown to placing social workers so that they are confident that a child is being matched with the right family.
Who completes Form F?
A qualified social worker carries out a Form F assessment using the competency format published by the British Association for Adoption and Fostering (BAAF). This assessment will be supervised by a senior social worker or registered manager of Outlook Fostering Services.
What will happen once my Form F assessment has been completed?
- The completed assessment is shared with the applicant, taking into account the confidentiality of references
- The document is sent to the panel members and has a minimum of 10 days’ reading time
- The prospective foster carers attend the panel with their assessing social worker
- The panel makes their recommendation about the applicants’ suitability and the range of their approval status
- The general manager receives the recommendation and on behalf of the agency makes the final decision about the approval/appointment
- All the information is held on file and can be viewed on request, with the exception of the references from external agencies and personal references. It is conditional that all foster carers complete and sign a foster care agreement in line with Care Standards Regulations 28(5)(6) and Fostering Service Regulations 2001 Schedule 5.
How long will it take to become a foster carer?
The average time from making an application to completing Form F and being approved as a foster carer is up to six months. It can be shorter, depending on individual circumstances.
Will I be able to work and be a foster carer?
Outlook expects the primary foster carer not to work, although individual cases will be considered. As long as the carer’s work does not impinge on the requirements of the fostering task, an agreement may be found. It is important that foster carers are available at all times to carry out their duties of caring for the child/young person placed in their care.
How many children can I foster?
Outlook Fostering predominantly makes single placements, especially when carers are new to fostering.
The maximum number of children allowed under National Minimum Standards regulations is three placements. This does not apply to sibling groups.
You must, of course, have the necessary accommodation for the placements before it would be considered.
Can a single parent become a foster carer?
Yes. Outlook operates a robust equal opportunities policy and welcomes applicants from all sectors of the community.