Can You Foster With a Criminal Record? What UK Foster Carers Need to Know

If you're considering fostering and you, or someone in your household, has a criminal record, it's natural to

Diabetes and Fostering or Adoption: What the Medical Assessment Really Looks At

Diabetes is one of the most common health conditions we encounter when assessing prospective foster carers and adopters.

Can I Foster or Adopt if I Have Mental Health Issues?

If you’ve been thinking about fostering or adopting a child but have a current mental health condition or

Can I foster if I have HIV or Hepatitis?

What you need to know ahead of your fostering medical or adoption medical. Living with a blood-borne infection

UK Fostering and Adoption Statistics

Copy the code atthe bottom of the page to embed the infographic on your site Behind every statistic

Adopting With a Long-Term Health Condition

A question that prospective adopters will often ask is, ‘Can I adopt if I have a long-term health

The Reality of the Form F Journey: From Assessed to Assessor

When you apply to foster or adopt, you step into a process that will quite literally open up

Small Signs of Trust: A Foster Carer’s Experience of Emotional Healing

When a seven year old girl came into my care, one thing quickly stood out. If she fell

Fostering Medical and Adoption Medical Assessments – How to Strengthen Your Application

So, you’ve made the brilliant decision to become a foster carer or adoptive parent. Congratulations! It’s an incredible

Adopting When Overweight, How BMI Affects Adoption Medicals

Adopting a child in the UK involves a rigorous assessment process. This helps to ensure that prospective adopters

Cardiovascular Risk in Fostering and Adoption Medicals Explained

If you are going through a fostering or adoption assessment, you may hear terms such as cardiovascular risk

Timely Medical Reports in the Fostering Process

With foster carer recruitment top of the UK government’s agenda for 2026, today we’re taking a look at

How to Access Your Medical Records For a Fostering Medical

Here in the UK, potential foster carers undergo a rigorous assessment process before being approved to foster. Part

Introduction to Attachment Theory

Attachment theory is one of the most influential frameworks in understanding child development, and it plays a particularly

Confidentiality in Fostering and Adoption Medical Assessments

Confidentiality is key within the field of medicine, and this applies to fostering and adoption medical assessments too.

What People Don’t Realise About a Fostering or Adoption Medical

As a GP, I carry out fostering medicals and adoption medicals every week. Many people arrive expecting a

Foster Carer Recruitment Top of Government Agenda For 2026

The government has pledged to take action to reverse declining foster carer numbers in the UK, according to

Orr Medical – Celebrating 15 Years in Business

We’re delighted to share with you that 2025 marks Orr Medical’s 15th year! To celebrate, we’re taking a

How Can Orr Medical Help Your Fostering Agency?

With 32,270 children entering the care system in England between 2024 and 2025, the vital work of fostering

Fostering in England Statistics For 2024/2025

Last week, the government released its accredited official statistics for Fostering in England from the 1st of April

World Adoption Day 2025

The 9th of November is World Adoption Day 2025. To mark the occasion, we’re taking a look at

Adopting Again? The Process For Approved Adopters

If you’re thinking of adopting again, you’re probably wondering how the process differs from the first time around.

Smoking & Fostering: What Potential Foster Carers Need to Know

If you’re thinking of fostering, you may be wondering what are the rules and guidance around smoking and

Mental Health, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Foster Care

Children in the UK who are in foster care experience mental health difficulties at significantly higher rates than

Temporary Medical Adviser Cover For Fostering and Adoption Agencies

Temporary medical adviser services are a way of ensuring that your agency is able to continue working seamlessly

Getting Ready to Foster – What to Consider

Deciding to foster is a big decision, and there's a lot to think about beyond simply wanting to

Staying Well During Back to School Season

For many families, September means a return to school and nursery. Unfortunately, the beginning of a new term

Getting Ready to Adopt – What to Consider

Deciding to adopt is a life-changing decision. There’s so much to think about, including practicalities, such as getting

Mental Health, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Foster Care

Children in the United Kingdom who are in Foster Care experience significantly higher rates of mental health difficulties

Government Pledges Support to Recruit and Train More Foster Carers

In its 2025 Spring Statement, the UK government pledged support to recruit and train more foster carers. Let’s

Family Days Out for Fostered and Adopted Children

The summer holidays are just around the corner, and for many families that means planning ways to keep

How Medical Advisors Support Fostering Panels

Fostering panels are an essential part of the fostering assessment process, and help to ensure that vulnerable children

The Role of GPs in Fostering and Adoption Medicals

General Practitioners (GPs) are uniquely placed to play a significant role in the fostering and adoption processes. Not

Common Health Concerns Addressed in Fostering Assessments

Fostering medical assessments are an essential part of the fostering process. A thorough medical assessment ensures that potential

Mental Health Awareness Week 2025

Led by the Mental Health Foundation, Mental Health Awareness Week takes place in May each year. The campaign

Understanding the Medical Assessment Process in Fostering and Adoption

If you’re applying to foster or adopt, it’s important that you understand the medical assessment process involved. In

World Health Day 2025, Healthy Beginnings and Hopeful Futures

World Health Day marks the anniversary of the founding of the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 1948.This day,

The Role of a Medical Adviser in Fostering & Adoption

When it comes to fostering and adoption, ensuring that prospective carers and adopters are in good health is

From Foster Carer to Shared Lives Carer

In this latest blog Carolyn Moody MBE talks about her lifetime of experience as a foster carer and

Shared Lives, Fostering for Adults, A Guide to Becoming a Carer

Shared Lives, Fostering, But for Adults Shared lives is the name given to the type of fostering where

Obesity and Its Relevance in Adoption and Fostering Assessments

Obesity is a growing public health issue that sometimes raises questions in fostering and adoption assessments. How much

Alcohol and Drugs, Their Effects on Health and Parenting

Alcohol and drug use are significant factors in Fostering and Adoption Medical Assessments. Their impact extends beyond immediate health

Vaping and Its Implications in Fostering and Adoption Medicals and Assessments

Vaping has rapidly gained popularity as an alternative to smoking. While it is often marketed as safer than

Why Medical Assessments Are Important in Fostering, Adoption, and Special Guardianship

When considering fostering, adoption, or special guardianship, prospective carers often face a range of assessments to ensure they

Why Is an Assessment Needed for Kinship Foster Care?

Fostering, even within the family, is a legal responsibility. When you foster a child, you are agreeing to

The Shift from Mainstream Foster Carers to Family Placements in the UK

In recent years, there has been a significant shift in the UK’s approach to fostering, with a growing

Protecting Foster and Adopted Children from Second-Hand Smoke

Becoming a foster carer or adopter is a profound way to positively impact a child’s life. Yet, providing

Understanding the Different Types of Placements for Looked After Children

Children and young people who are unable to live with their birth families often require alternative care arrangements