What checks will be done on my adult son during my fostering assessment?

[migsgirl]

My Dh and I are about to start being assessed as foster carers. It's something we have considered for a long time and are fully prepared for. We realise that we will be fully checked out, finances, medical checks, DBS etc However, our 19 year old son still lives at home, he attends college and has a part-time job. He is fully supportive of our fostering plans but is concerned about how he will be involved in the assessment process. He does not mind being interviewed by a Social Worker and realises he will be questioned about his childhood, what kind of parents we are and will also have to have a DBS check - all of which he is happy about, but will he also be required to have a medical check, will they want to look at his medical records and his bank statements and will they approach his college and employer for references on him? I would be grateful for any advice as I cannot find the answers to any of these questions online and obviously, living at home, fostering is going to affect him also. We live in the Lancashire area.

[sparklyandhungover]

He will need a dbs and will be interviewed.

He will not need a medical check and he will also not have to show his bank statements as his finances do not support the household.

[helforddreams]

My adult children who still live at home required a dbs and in my area need a medical also (and that needs renewing every three years). However as my son's are ASD then maybe that is the reason for the medical. If your son is old enough to drive and may occasionally have the foster children in his car then proof of MOT, insurance and road tax. Also every year they are required to fill in forms about the experience and so on. Other areas may of course differ.

[migsgirl]

Thank you both so much for your replies. My ds has no financial problems and does not drive, also, he will not be looking after the foster children. However, he has recently visited our GP about depression symptoms (this relates to girlfriend problems and problems with his college course) and I know he would not want to discuss all this with our Social Worker. He is in favour of our fostering wishes, we have asked him how he feels and he assures us he is fine with it. He is a very quiet, private person. He has never been in any kind of trouble, but just recently has had a few problems with his college course and has had to delay Uni and also recently had a few problems with his girlfriend and is finding it hard to see a way for the relationship to continue. Obviously, his happiness comes first, but we had planned on starting the fostering assessment process in the next few weeks but do not want to put him in a position where he has to discuss all this with a stranger.

[woodfires]

There is a chronic shortage of fc so it's fantastic you want to do this but I would sound a word of caution about asking any dc with depression who is quiet and private to be part of the fostering process. In addition to the new dc in the house there is also likely to be a steady stream of other professionals in and out of your house. This idea might be better parked until your dc has left home.