Hiya. Last November we too made contact with our LA and this is a brief summary of what has happened so far:
Assessing social worker came out for a couple of chats - nothing too indepth at this stage. She had a meeting once a month with her manager, and put us forward to attend the "Skills to Foster" course. Her manager approved this.
February 2010 - very intensive 4 full day course with about 8 other couples. If you are a couple don't be suprised at being split up on the course - its very 'interactive' and there will be someone taking notes on what you do/say.
Passed the course and contact was made with us in April by our assigned social worker. She has made roughly 10 visits to see us - both together and alone and has took us right back to our childhoods - and how anything in our lives has affected how we are today. Must say we didn't find it intrusive, quite theraputic really.. suprising what comes out and gets you thinking.
CRB's and medicals done. References sent out to 3 people and she has visited all of them for a face to face chat. She came to observe me at work (I work with children) and observed us both with our grandchildren.
As I type, hopefully she is putting the finishing touches to her report - she has to submit this to the panel meeting by next Tuesday - it is her suggestion to approve us - and the panel meeting is 31st August. We have had to create a "portfolio" as our submission - just an overview of us/house/dogs/family and why we want to be foster carers.
So - I think we've done really well - made the initial call in November & hopefully be approved August...
We didn't have any forms to fill in - other than our part of the medical.
All in all, we've really enjoyed the process, and the timeframe suited us perfectly - you need the time to prepare yourselves and make sure not only that its what you want to do, but on who you want to help - we're asking for approval for upto 2 children 0-18 yrs old, but initially starting with 0-8 - to break us in gently!!
SW says probably will already have someone lined up for us, by the time of the panel meeting, so quite exciting/frightening really.
Enjoy the process, be honest and think carefully of what will be best for you, your family and the foster children.
Hope this helps - sure that other people have vastly different experiences, think it all depends on your Sw, your availability and the LA.
Finally, good luck and keep us all posted.
:o :)