How to become a Foster Carer
The Assessment Process to become Foster Carers
Stage 1 - Application form and screening process
- Prospective Foster Carers request a Foster Care Information Pack from MercyCare.
- Interested persons can attend an Information Evening - these are held regularly.
- The Application Form is completed.
- A social worker then contacts the applicants to arrange a time to meet them in their home and answer their questions.
- Applicants provide consent to conduct screening such as medical clearance, police and Department for Community Development record checks, and for two referees to be contacted.
Stage 2 - Assessment Process
- A comprehensive family assessment is made by making several visits to the family in their home.
- The social worker who makes the assessment collates all the required information. A recommendation is then made about the applicant's suitability to foster.
- The applicants attend a one hour Selection Panel interview. A final decision is then made by the Selection Panel.
- The assessment process takes about 3 to 4 months.
Training and learning
All applicants participate in preparation training with the Department of Community Development. Preparation training provides a learning environment for applicants to build on their skills and practice skills necessary for caring for foster children. This takes place over the equivalent of a 2 day period.
Foster Carers are expected to participate in ongoing training, which advances their skills in caring for foster children.
Information evenings
Information evenings are held every fortnight by the Department for Child Protection; Fostering Services. These informal sessions try to answer the queries of people interested in becoming foster carers, however are not specific to Mercy Family Services Foster Care Programme. If would like to choose MercyCare as your fostering agency, please contact 9208 4457 to speak with us.
For session times and locations please download DCP's 2011 Calendar by clicking here
or contact us.