If you’re considering fostering and you, or someone in your household, has a criminal record, it’s natural to wonder whether that rules you out before you’ve even started. It’s one of the most common questions prospective foster carers ask, and the honest answer is: it depends on the conviction, not simply on whether one exists.
Does having a criminal record automatically stop you from fostering?
Not in every case. UK fostering regulations set out certain offences, particularly those involving harm to children, and certain serious sexual or violent offences, that result in an automatic bar from fostering. Outside of that specific list, having a criminal record does not automatically disqualify you. Many people with a conviction in their past go on to become approved foster carers.
The exact list of automatically disqualifying offences is set in law and can be updated, so rather than us listing specifics here that could go out of date, your fostering agency or local authority will confirm exactly where you stand as part of your application.
What checks are involved?
Every adult living in the household applies for an enhanced DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check, not just the person applying to foster. This check reveals convictions, cautions, reprimands and warnings, and is a standard, required part of every fostering assessment in the UK.
What if my partner or someone else in my household has a criminal record?
This is a question we hear often, and the answer is the same whether it’s you, your partner, or another adult member of the household with the record: everyone over 18 living in the home is checked, and any conviction is considered as part of the overall assessment. Your partner having a criminal record does not automatically prevent you from fostering either, unless their specific offence falls into the automatically disqualifying category described above.
What happens if a conviction isn’t an automatic bar?
Where a conviction doesn’t fall into the disqualifying category, your social worker will assess it as part of your overall suitability, alongside everything else in your application. Factors that are typically considered include how long ago the offence took place, the nature and circumstances of it, and evidence of change since then. This is a individual, human assessment, not a tick-box exercise, and having a difficult past does not mean you can’t offer a safe, stable home now.
Does this apply to adoption too?
Yes, adoption assessments follow a similar principle: an enhanced DBS check for every adult in the household, an automatic bar for specific serious offences, and an individual assessment for anything else. If you’re exploring adoption rather than fostering, our adoption medical assessments page covers the medical side of that process.
What should you do next?
If you’re unsure where a specific conviction stands, the most reliable next step is to speak directly with a fostering agency or your local authority’s fostering team, they can give you a definitive answer based on your individual circumstances, which general guidance like this can’t replace.
If you’ve already started your application, or you’re at the stage of arranging your medical assessment, you can find out more about what’s involved on our fostering medicals page, or go ahead and book your fostering medical directly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I foster if my partner has a criminal record?
Yes, in many cases. Every adult in the household is checked via an enhanced DBS check, and a conviction belonging to a partner is assessed the same way as one belonging to the applicant, it does not automatically rule out an application unless it falls into the specific list of automatically disqualifying offences.
What convictions automatically disqualify someone from fostering?
UK fostering regulations set out a specific, defined list of serious offences, mainly those involving harm to children and certain serious sexual or violent offences, that result in an automatic bar. Because this list is set in legislation and can be updated, your fostering agency or local authority is the best source for a definitive, current answer for your specific situation.
Does a caution count as a criminal record for fostering purposes?
Yes. An enhanced DBS check reveals cautions, reprimands and warnings as well as convictions, and all of these are taken into account as part of your fostering assessment.
Can you foster with a spent conviction?
Spent convictions are still disclosed on an enhanced DBS check used for fostering assessments, unlike for most other jobs. This doesn’t mean a spent conviction will prevent you from fostering, it will simply be considered, along with how long ago it occurred and the circumstances, as part of your overall assessment.
This article provides general information and is not a substitute for individual advice from a fostering agency or local authority, who can assess your specific circumstances.