fostering and past history

[myidentitymycrisis]

I'm considering looking into foster caring, either short breaks or placement.
I'm open to being asked anything about my background, but I wonder what things they will ask about? Do they ask about your medical history? family dynamics; mine were difficult and I actually lived for 2 years with extended family members myself, will this go against me?
I am already enhanced DBS checked.

Yes the assessment is very vigorous. They will want to speak to your family and even partners you have lived with. They will look at your full medical history and any records the local authority has on you.

But they recognise that no one is perfect so dont let it put you off.

They will look into everything; it’s very intrusive but difficult life experiences don’t count against you. It’s more about what you’ve learnt from that and what that brings to fostering. Sometimes difficult life experiences can make you a better foster carer as you can use those experiences.

Social workers don't look at your full medical history! How on earth would they be qualified to read and understand it?
You will most likely have a medical assessment with your GP which will be sent to the medical bod for the fostering panel. This will have the GP'd recommendations as to whether there is anything in his/ her opinion that would prevent you from providing safe care to a child.
There are some things that will prevent the panel from accepting you, a few are if you have had a child in care yourself ( not that you were in care yourself although they would speak to you about how this experience has affected you) The assessing SW will be trying to see how you have made sense out of your life experiences. They will not be looking at a perfect life. If you have children they will speak to your children to see how they perceive their childhood has been and how they perceive it will change once you foster. Basically the assessing SW wants to see that you have an understanding of the difficulties associated with children living outside of their own family and how this will impact on their behaviour. They also will want to see that you have an understanding of the differences of caring for someone else child

An extremely detailed history will be taken covering all aspects of your life. I think we had eight sessions of three hours with the sw and the eventual report was over 70 pages. Life experience and how difficult situations are dealt with are prized. Someone who has led a priveleged "easy" life may have no idea how to relate to children who, by the fact they are in care, have clearly faced great challenges. Don't hide anything. Wear your trials and difficult times with pride ! These are what you will need to draw on if you have foster kids !

Thanks for the replies, some of them conflcting - re medical notes -
If I have successfully brought up my own child and no concerns there I would hope that would be positive. I dont have much contact with my extended family and that is how we all are its not like they all go on holidays together and I don't join in. I am NC with my mother.

Our assessment was very detailed. We had to go for a medical and the dr. had to fill in a form with questions on it about your medical history.
Our children were interviewed.
We needed to supply 2 referees each who knew us well. They were interviewed.
Our ex partners were interviewed.
We had to give details of our support network.
Our finances were checked, we had to supply 3 years of bank statements.
After giving all of this info everything went smoothly and we passed panel 5 months after our initial enquiry.
We have been fostering for 7 years

I am fit and healthy, but will my history of depression go against me.
Also, I don't keep in contact with my past partners, and my DS Dad passed away.
Children and referees, finance will be fine I hope.
I wonder if I am suitable.
I have loads of experience working with children with SEND and their families, I'd like to offer overnight short breaks.