How to Become a Foster Carer in Wales
Every week, children in Wales enter the care system with nowhere safe to go. Local authorities across the country are actively short of foster carers — the Fostering Network reported in 2026 that children are facing growing instability as foster carers continue to leave the system. If you have been thinking about fostering, that pull you feel is both real and needed.
But the process in Wales is its own thing. It is not the same as fostering in England. Wales operates under the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014, governed by Care Inspectorate Wales, and delivered through 22 local authorities united under the "Foster Wales" brand. Understanding the Welsh system before you apply makes the difference between a smooth process and months of confusion.
Here is exactly how it works.
Who Can Apply to Foster in Wales
The requirements are deliberately broad. You do not need to own your home, be married, be Welsh-speaking, or have children of your own. You do need:
- To be at least 18 years old (most agencies prefer 21)
- A spare bedroom for the child
- Legal right to reside in the UK
- Willingness to undergo an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check for all adults in the household
Single people, same-sex couples, renters, and people who are retired all foster successfully in Wales. If you have a dog or a disability history, do not self-reject — contact an agency and let them assess your situation properly.
The one hard rule: you cannot be on the sex offenders register, and certain serious criminal convictions are automatic bars. But a minor conviction from decades ago is not necessarily disqualifying. The system under the SSWBA is explicitly "strengths-based" — it looks for what you can offer, not reasons to say no.
Step 1: Choose Your Route — Foster Wales or an IFA
Before you fill in any paperwork, you need to decide whether to apply through Foster Wales (your local authority) or an independent fostering agency (IFA).
Foster Wales is the unified brand for all 22 Welsh local authority fostering teams. Children placed with Foster Wales carers are typically local — they stay in their community, school, and social network. Because the Welsh Government has a clear policy of moving away from for-profit care, Foster Wales is the "first port of call" when a child needs a placement. Local authority carers often get matched first.
Independent Fostering Agencies (IFAs) like Compass Fostering Cymru, Family Fostering Partners, and Barnardo's Cymru also operate in Wales. They are regulated by Care Inspectorate Wales under the Regulated Fostering Services (Wales) Regulations 2019. IFAs often specialise in therapeutic placements or sibling groups with complex needs.
Both routes lead to the same approval process — the difference is in who supervises you once you are approved.
If you want to care for children from your own community and work directly with local social work teams, Foster Wales is the natural choice.
Step 2: Make Your Initial Enquiry
Contact your local authority's fostering team, or fill in the online Foster Wales enquiry form at fosterwales.gov.wales. You can also contact an IFA directly.
Within a few weeks, a social worker will visit your home for an initial home visit. This is not an inspection — it is a conversation. They want to understand your motivations, your household setup, and your availability. You should use this meeting to ask questions too. It is a two-way process.
If you want to conduct any part of this process through the medium of Welsh, you are entitled to do so. The "Active Offer" principle under Welsh law means the service should be available in Welsh without you having to ask.
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Step 3: Stage 1 — Background Checks
Once you decide to proceed, Stage 1 begins. This covers the factual groundwork:
- Enhanced DBS check for every adult in the household, including a check against the children's barred list
- Medical assessment — your GP completes a health report, reviewed by the agency's medical adviser
- Personal references — at least three character references, plus references from former significant partners and anyone who has seen you in a caring role with children or vulnerable adults
- Local authority checks — the agency checks records held by children's services
Stage 1 typically takes six to eight weeks. The agency cannot move forward until all checks are returned.
Step 4: Stage 2 — The Full Assessment (Form F)
Once Stage 1 clears, you move into the Form F assessment. This is the substantive part of the process — a series of in-depth interviews with a qualified social worker conducted over several months.
The Form F (formally the CoramBAAF Prospective Foster Carer Report) covers:
- Your personal history and upbringing
- Your current household and relationships
- Your motivations for fostering and your expectations
- Your parenting experience, transferable skills, and resilience
- A detailed home safety inspection
The assessment is not designed to catch you out. It is designed to understand you — including the difficult parts of your life — so that you can be matched with a child whose needs you are best placed to meet. The social worker writes a comprehensive report, which you are invited to read and sign.
Alongside the Form F, you will attend the Skills to Foster preparation training — typically three full days or six evening sessions. This is where you meet other applicants and experienced carers, and get a realistic picture of what fostering involves day to day.
Step 5: The Fostering Panel
When the assessment is complete, your case goes to a Fostering Panel. Under the Fostering Panels (Establishment and Functions) (Wales) Regulations 2018, every fostering service must maintain a panel with an independent chair, a qualified social worker, and other independent members.
You are usually invited to attend the panel in person. The panel reviews the assessment report and makes a recommendation to the Agency Decision Maker (ADM). The ADM makes the final legal decision on your approval.
If you are not approved, you have the right to challenge this via the Independent Review Mechanism (IRM) in Wales.
What Happens After Approval
Once approved, you are matched with a child when a suitable placement arises. You will be allocated a Supervising Social Worker — not the child's social worker, but someone whose job is to support, mentor, and supervise you.
Wales requires most carers to complete at least 15 hours of ongoing training per year. You will also be expected to work through the All Wales Induction Framework, a structured professional development programme for the first phase of your fostering career.
How Long Does It Take?
Most applicants in Wales are approved within four to six months of making their initial enquiry. The timeline depends on how quickly DBS checks return, your availability for assessment sessions, and when a panel date is available.
If you want to understand the whole process before you pick up the phone — the legislation, the assessment, the financial support, and what life looks like once you are approved — the Wales Fostering Approval Guide covers every stage in detail, written specifically for the Welsh system.
The children who need you are already waiting. The process is thorough, but it is manageable — and you do not have to figure it out alone.
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