If you are interested in fostering, find out more by reading our step-by-step guide:

1. Get in touch

Read through our information to find out if you are eligible to become a foster carer. You can then get in touch with us or register to attend one of our information events.

We will answer any questions you may have about fostering with the Royal Borough of Greenwich and ask you about your circumstances. If you like what you hear and we think that you meet our basic criteria, we will then arrange an initial home visit.

You can call us on 0800 052 1499

2. Initial home visit

At the initial visit we will run through what we are looking for in a foster carer in detail. You will be able to ask any questions about fostering a child and the assessment process.

If we think you have the potential to become a foster carer, we will give you an application form to complete, so that we can start our checks. These include local authority, employment, medical and police checks. Personal references will also be taken from your friends and family on your suitability to foster a child. These checks are a legal requirement and are to safeguard the children.

3. Fostering preparation group

We will invite you to attend the next fostering preparation group.

The preparation group training gives you an opportunity to meet other prospective foster carers. It explores in detail what it means to you and your family to foster a child. The preparation group training forms part of your assessment and it lasts for three days.

4. Post-preparation group meeting

We will offer you a meeting after the preparation group. You can let us know what you learned from the training and whether you feel ready to start your assessment.

5. Assessment begins

The assessment process begins with us taking up your checks and references.

6. Fostering panel

The process continues until your assessment report is completed and presented to the fostering panel by your assessing social worker.

The fostering panel consists of a group of professionals from healthcare and social work backgrounds and independent people who have experience of fostering or the care system. You are invited to attend the panel.

The panel's role is to consider the report and decide whether to recommend that you are approved as a Royal Greenwich foster carer. Its recommendation is then passed to the agency decision maker, the divisional director for safeguarding, who will make the final decision on behalf of the service.

7. Approval

The agency decision maker confirms the fostering panel's recommendation and you are now an approved foster carer.

Our aim is that the above assessment process will take no longer than four to six months from the date we receive your completed application form.

8. Allocated social worker

Once you have been approved as a Royal Greenwich foster carer, you will be allocated your own social worker from the Fostering team. They will support you in your fostering career.

The children or young people that you will be caring for will have their own social worker.

9. Setting up and support

When you first become a foster carer, we will pay you a setting up grant. This is to make sure that you are properly equipped for when a child or young person is placed with you.

You will be paid a weekly allowance to cover the child's costs and we pay our foster carers a weekly fee for themselves. This increases as you develop your knowledge, skills and experience.

We offer an extensive ongoing training and development programme to all foster carers, as well as ongoing support from other professionals.