The final stage of assessment
Fostering Panel and Approval: What Happens Next?
Fostering panel is an important final stage of assessment. It gives an independent group the opportunity to review your report, meet you and make a recommendation about your suitability to foster. You will be prepared for the meeting and supported by your assessing social worker.
Independent scrutiny
What is a fostering panel?
A fostering panel provides independent scrutiny of assessments and reviews. Members may bring experience from social work, health, education, safeguarding, fostering and lived experience of care.
The exact membership varies. Panel's role is to consider the evidence fairly, ask questions and make a recommendation.
Preparing
Before panel
Your assessor completes the Form F report and discusses its recommendation with you.
On the day
What happens on the day?
- 1
Welcome and questions
The chair explains the meeting and introduces those present. Panel may ask about your motivation, strengths, support network, learning, responses to difficult situations and the ages or needs you may be able to support. Questions help panel reach an informed recommendation; they are not designed to catch you out.
- 2
Panel discussion and recommendation
You and your assessor may leave while panel discusses the application. Panel may recommend approval, approval on particular terms, deferral for further information, or that the applicant should not be approved. Panel recommends; it does not make the final decision.
The decision
Who makes the final decision?
Organic Fostering's agency decision maker considers the assessment, panel recommendation and other relevant information, then confirms the formal outcome and terms of approval.
Your approval
What are terms of approval?
Approval may describe the number of children, age range, type of fostering or particular needs a carer is approved to support. Terms reflect your household, experience, skills and the assessment recommendation.
Next steps
After approval
Approval begins your work as a foster carer. You will be allocated a supervising social worker, complete induction and ongoing learning, discuss household capacity and consider suitable referrals.
The first match should not be rushed. The child's needs and your household's capacity remain central.
Talk it through
Nervous about panel?
That is understandable. By this stage, your assessor knows you well and will help you prepare. Ask direct questions beforehand; understanding the process usually makes it more manageable.
Take the first step
Your fostering questions can start with one conversation
Tell us what you are thinking and ask what matters to you. A member of our Manchester team will explain the next step without pressure or obligation.