the condition of the fostering home

Fostering homes are expected to be cleaned regularly so that there is no built-up dirt or grime. Bedding should be washed and the home should not have an unpleasant smell. Any building work would need to be completed during the assessment and the home should be safe for children (e.g. there shouldn’t be any exposed electrical wiring). A full health and safety assessment is completed as part of the fostering assessment: If the health and safety assessment isn’t passed, the home cannot be approved for fostering.

Some untidiness in the home is not a problem; indeed, if the fostering applicants are highly concerned about mess, untidiness and/or potential damage to items in their home, they may not be suited to caring for children looked after. Whilst we would not expect the children placed to cause intentional damage, it is expected that anyone, especially children, could accidentally damage items in the home. Younger children may cause damage because they don’t know better, or they were poorly disciplined, or they are expressing their feelings in this way. Specialist foster carers of children with complex needs would be prepared and trained to handle the potential for the children they are looking after to cause some damage to their home. On the whole, children who are placed into care do not cause damage to property.