The new Form F (Prospective Foster Carer Report): Focusing on the child’s needs and how carers can meet them

Form F (Prospective Foster Carer Report) 2025 (England) is an assessment framework which encapsulates the work that has been done with the assessing social worker and the prospective foster carer/s. The social worker completing a Form F will assess the capacity, experiences, motivations and skills applicants bring and also prepares them for the task of fostering. The form has undergone a substantial revision. 

The revision has been informed by feedback from practitioners, foster carers, care experienced adults and other stakeholders within the sector. The revisions are designed to make the assessment strengths-based and trauma-informed as well as to streamline the process. There is a new section about children’s needs to consider how the prospective foster carers will be able to meet these.

Included with Form F: 

• Form F (Prospective Foster Carer Report) England (2025) 
• Guidance notes and additional resources 
• Form F - Example for foster carers (2025) 

Additional documents:

1. Application form (2018) 
2. Assessment agreement (2018) 
3. Stage 1 decision sheet (2018) 
4. Chronology (2018) 
5. Preparation and training record (2018) 
6. Parent and child report (2018)
7. Permanent fostering report (2018) 
8. Second opinion report (2018) 
9. Panel member notes (2018) 
10. Qualifying determination (2018) 
11. Fostering applicants weekly schedule (2025)

Depending on your forms licence you will also be able to access ten documents included in the Checks and References Resources (2017, partially updated 2019 and 2022). For more information about the documents that are included, visit our frequently asked questions page.

Accessing the form

From 14 May onwards, the new Form F (2025) will appear in your download files replacing the Form F (2018) which will no longer be available for download. There is no need to switch forms where a Report has already been started, however we advise moving to the new Form F as soon as you can. New cases should be started on the Form F (2025) version. 

If your organisation has the relevant forms licence, a member of our team has been in touch with your designated forms contact to share the new form. From 14 May onwards, the new Form F (2025) will appear in your download files replacing the Form F (2018) which will no longer be available for download. There is no need to switch forms where a Report has already been started, however we advise moving to the new Form F as soon as you can. New cases should be started on the Form F (Prospective Foster Carer Report) 2025 version.

Join our briefing sessions

For more information about the new Form F and the assessment process, join our free briefing sessions. Book your place to: 

• understand the key objectives underpinning the development of the new Form F 
• receive an overview of the development work that informed the design of the Form F and how we learnt from feedback   
• feel confident in knowing the structure of the new form and what has changed

4 June | 9am - 9.55am

19 June | 12pm - 12.55pm

Do you have any queries?

We recommend you take a look at our 'Frequently asked questions’. If you can’t find your answer, and your question is a practical one about forms access and/or licence agreements, please get in touch. 

If you have a specific question about a practice matter that you need support with, you can contact our Member Advice Line.

Emma Fincham, Fostering Consultant, CoramBAAF.