Fostering Assessments
Sensitive, thorough fostering assessments of prospective and existing foster carers — exploring capacity, motivation, and ability to provide safe, nurturing, trauma-informed care.
What Is a Fostering Assessment?
A thorough, relational assessment of foster carers
A fostering assessment — often known as a Form F assessment — is a comprehensive evaluation of a prospective or existing foster carer's capacity to provide safe, stable, and nurturing care to a child. HAPii's assessments go beyond a checklist approach, exploring the carer's motivation, resilience, family dynamics, and understanding of trauma-informed, attachment-based care.
Our assessors bring both statutory rigour and genuine relational warmth to the process, recognising that becoming a foster carer is one of the most significant decisions a family can make.
Fostering assessments are commonly required for:
- Prospective foster carer applications (Form F)
- Foster carer reviews and reassessments
- Kinship and relative foster care assessments
- Respite carer assessments
- Reassessment following a change in circumstances
- Specialist or therapeutic foster placement assessments
- Panel-ready reports for fostering agencies
What the Assessment Covers
Motivation & capacity
Exploration of the carer's motivation to foster, resilience, and capacity to meet the emotional and practical demands of caring for a child who is not their own.
Home environment & support network
Assessment of the home environment, household members, and the wider network of family and community support available to the carer.
Trauma-informed understanding
Evaluation of the carer's understanding of attachment, trauma, and the particular needs of children who have experienced loss, disruption, or adversity.
The Assessment Process
Initial engagement
HAPii meets with the prospective carer(s) to explain the process, timelines, and what to expect, and to agree the scope of the assessment.
Home visits & documentation
Home visits, Garda vetting, references, and health checks are gathered alongside relevant background documentation.
Structured interviews & observation
Multiple sessions exploring the carer's history, relationships, and parenting capacity, including observation where children are already present in the home.
Form F report & recommendation
A comprehensive Form F report presenting findings, analysis, and a clear recommendation, ready for panel presentation.
The Fostering Assessment Report
The report addresses:
- Background, motivation, and family history
- Summary of vetting, references, and health checks
- Findings from interviews and home visits
- Analysis of parenting capacity and understanding of trauma-informed care
- Strengths and areas for development
- Evidence-based conclusions and recommendation
Recommendations may address:
- Suitability for approval as a foster carer
- Recommended type and number of placements
- Training or support needs identified
- Conditions or timescales for review
- Panel presentation and next steps
HAPii assessors are available to present findings to fostering panels where required.
Fees & Referral
Fees
Fees are agreed in advance and reflect the scope of the assessment, whether it is a first Form F, a review, or a kinship/respite assessment, and any panel presentation requirements.
Payment terms:
- 50% deposit on receipt of referral
- Balance invoiced on report delivery
- Panel presentation fees agreed separately where applicable
- Invoices and receipts provided
Referral Process
- Referral received from the fostering agency, Tusla, or the prospective carer directly.
- HAPii confirms availability, scope, and timelines within 2 working days.
- Assessment commences on receipt of all required documentation and signed consents.
- Draft report shared for factual accuracy check before finalisation.
Required documentation:
- Referral form or agency instruction
- Signed consents from all household members
- Garda vetting and reference details
- Relevant background or case documentation
Ready to make a referral?
Contact HAPii to discuss a fostering assessment, confirm availability, and agree timelines and fees.