Most assessments will be carried out in English or Welsh. However, consideration will be given to carrying out assessments in other languages, depending on the availability of an assessor.

The assessment is a detailed process and is based on the Form F, a copy of which will be given to you at your first meeting.

The social worker will need to know a great deal of personal information relating to:

• Your childhood
• Your relationships
• Your children and their upbringing
• Your extended family and friends and level of support they will offer
• Your lifestyle
• Your ability to work with people from a range of different backgrounds with diverse lifestyles and beliefs.

The assessment is competency based which means that we will be assessing you according to the number of skills that foster carers need.

These are the four main headings:

• Caring for children and young people
• Providing a safe and caring environment
• Working as part of a team.
• Professional development

You may already have many of the necessary skills, but there may be other areas in which you need to develop additional skills. The assessment identifies your ability to gain these skills and you will not be turned down because you cannot meet all the criteria at this stage.

In order to make a fair assessment, we ask you to be fully involved in the process. You will be asked to complete some exercises between visits, for example, about child development, and identify people who may be able to give evidence of your skills.

This could include:

• A friend whose children you have looked after
• A work colleague who could evidence your ability to work in a team
• A teacher who could tell us about how you have supported your child’s education
• An older child who has used you as a confidante
• A neighbour who can tell us that you have kept some private information confidential.

The social worker may suggest observing you while you are looking after children in a home or work setting as another means of gathering evidence about your skills.