Connected person assessment

Initial enquiry

After making an enquiry to become a kinship carer, or after being contacted to become a kinship carer, you will be allocated to a social worker. The social worker will carry out an assessment to determine if you are able to meet the needs of the child or young person. This is known as a 'connected person assessment'.

A connected person assessment should take 16 to 24 weeks to complete. Your social worker should stay with you for the duration of the assessment and will get to know you, your routines and support network. They will visit your home and speak with all members of the household.

The social worker will:

• explore your experience of being parented
• discuss your family history and experience of caring for children, and your family relationships and support networks
• speak to all members of the household
• meet with two referees who are able to comment on your potential ability to look after the child
• speak to the school of any school-age children in the household

As part of the assessment, you will be asked to complete an enhanced disclosure (DBS) which will require you to provide information of any previous convictions.

You will need specific forms of ID for this including passport, driving licence, marriage and birth certificate and recent proof of address. We will also carry out local authority checks and you will be asked to provide a list of previous addresses.

There are circumstances such as criminal history, health issues and child protection concerns that may preclude a family member or friend from caring for a child or becoming a kinship foster carer. These will be looked at and discussed individually.

You will be kept up to date with the assessment as it progresses, and the social worker will keep you up to date via a two-way dialogue to explore any areas of concern. If you disagree with any elements of the assessment report, you will have access to the Gateshead Council complaints procedure and legal advice if you wish.

Once the assessment is complete you will have the chance to read and agree to its terms. The report will then be presented at our fostering panel, which is made up of people who have a personal or professional connection with fostering. You will be invited to attend and may be asked about your motivations for kinship care or aspects of the report. Your social worker will attend the panel with you and prepare you for possible areas of discussion. The panel will result in a recommendation to the agency decision maker.

The final decision to approve you as a kinship carer, or otherwise, will be made by the agency decision maker, who is a senior member of Gateshead Council staff. They review the report and recommendations made by the panel and hold responsibility for the final approval of foster carers and kinship carers.

What happens next?

After you are successful in your assessment, if the child or young person does not currently live with you, a plan will be made for them to move into your household. Each plan is tailored to the needs of the child or children and will be made by you, your social worker and the child/young person's social worker.

As part of your role, you will be required to undertake ongoing training. Training is offered specifically for kinship carers and foster carers and covers a range of topics aimed to assist you in your caring role. See 'support for kinship carers' for further information.

You will have an annual review which will be carried out by an independent reviewing office (IRO). Your fostering social worker and the child's social worker will provide information for the review. The review will capture progress throughout the year and determine your continued approval or otherwise.

Approved connected foster carers do not always remain under this status. Sometimes, if a child or young person's plan is to remain with you for a longer period, a special guardianship order (SGO) or Child arrangements order (CAO) may be considered.

Your social worker will be able to support you to understand these orders and if they would be more suitable for you. If one of these orders is made, you will be de-registered as a kinship foster carer and supported in a different way.