About criminal record checks
As part of their responsibility for the safety and wellbeing of children in foster carer, fostering services across the UK have an obligation to undertake statutory checks on all fostering applicants and other household members aged 18 (and over 16 in Scotland).
There is no legal requirement for a fostering service to repeat criminal records checks within a set period (apart from in Scotland where regulations state that local authorities should seek up-to-date enhanced disclosures every two years). However, services should have a policy about how often they will routinely update criminal records checks for their approved foster carers and other adult household members. Services should also have a rigorous and consistent system for ensuring that checks are carried out thoroughly and to high standards.
A criminal conviction does not necessarily disqualify an applicant from becoming a foster carer. The circumstances of the crime, how long ago the criminal activity took place, and the type of offence are all factors considered during the application process.
There are slightly different rules for criminal records checks across the UK:
- Disclosure Barring Service for DBS checks (formerly known as CRB checks) in England and Wales. Members can download this Summary guide to DBS checks and eligibility for fostering services (England).
- Disclosure Scotland
- Access Northern Ireland
Criminal records checks are only one aspect of ensuring effective and safe recruitment and workforce practices, and other mechanisms should be considered alongside them to ensure as far a possible a sound judgement about suitability to foster and care for children. Some other checks should be undertaken as good practice, including:
- verification of identity
- public records check
- overseas checks
- school references
- previous applications to foster
- health and safety checks
- personal, medical and employment references.
As the UK's leading fostering charity we offer practice support to member fostering across the UK.