Parents will be asked if they would like to put any family or friends forward to be assessed to care for their children. If they are unable to do this, the social work team may contact family or friends.
A social worker will complete an initial screening. These are normally done over the phone but can be completed in person.
During this stage, we will discuss:
- any previous social work involvement with the individual, their children, or a member of the household
- the applicant's understanding of the situation and the full assessment process
The social worker may recommend not progressing further with an assessment. If this is decided, the applicant will be informed in writing and given information on how to contest the decision.
If the social worker does recommend progressing, the applicant will then complete a stage 2 viability assessment.
A stage 2 viability assessment is a short assessment which should last around 2 hours and is usually done at the home of the potential carer.
The child's social worker will begin by talking about any worries they have about the child's safety with the applicant. This is to get an understanding of what they already know and what they think about these concerns.
The aim of the viability assessment is to get an overview of the potential carer's life.
The social worker will ask about things such as:
- the applicant's relationship with the child, the child's family, and your own family
- the applicant's experience of parenting and being parented
- criminal history
- employment
- education
- health
- personal relationships
- support network
You do not have to have experience of childcare to be assessed.
The social worker will produce a written assessment and make a recommendation for next steps. This will be shared with the potential carer before it's submitted.
If the recommendation is not to progress with a full assessment, the written assessment will be sent to the potential carer with a letter explaining how to contest the decision.
If the recommendation is to progress with a full assessment, this will begin.
A full assessment is completed by a social worker. It may not be the same social worker who carried out the viability assessment.
The full assessment is more detailed than the viability assessment. It can take up to 3 months and will involve regular assessment visits.
The following checks will also be completed:
- medical/GP checks
- a DBS check (criminal record check)
- 3 personal references
- an employment reference
- references from the applicant's children's schools
- references from previous partners (if appropriate)
- references from any adult children
- checks with any previous local authority an applicant has lived in
- armed forces check (if appropriate)
- health visitor (if appropriate)
When the assessment is finished, the social worker may recommend that the child should:
- not live with the potential carer
- live with the potential carer under a special guardianship order
- live with the potential carer as temporarily approved kinship foster carer
The decision is made in the family court.
There is usually an initial hearing to set a court timetable, followed by a full hearing where the judge considers the case, reads the assessments, and makes a decision.
Your social worker will support you through this and will answer any questions you have about the process.
The judge will make the final decision over where a child should live.
If the judge decides that a child should live with an applicant under a special guardianship order, they will award this order to the carer during the court process.
Find out more about the rights of a special guardian.