Get started with an online account if you're a foster carer

Get access for yourself or someone else

If you're a foster carer with Norfolk Fostering Service, we'll email you to get the account setup process started. You'll also need access to the accounts of the foster children in your care.

To hold a Children's Services Online account, you'll need:

• A My Norfolk account. You may already have one if you've used the Norfolk County Council website before. For example, you've applied for a scaffolding license or made an appointment to register a birth.
• A landline or mobile phone number which has good signal. This is because you'll receive a verification text or phone call every time you log in.

Your Children's Services Online account enables you to:

• Send or receive messages
• Submit your foster carer recordings

It also allows us to send you forms to complete and share documents with you. If it's appropriate for you to hold the account, we'll send you an email to get the process started.

Initial email

You'll receive an email titled 'Set up your Children's Services Online account'. The email will contain a unique code, which you need to quote to your worker.

Second email

Next, you'll get an email titled 'Accept Children's Services Online Account Invitation'. This email contains a link inviting you to either login to your My Norfolk account or, if you don't have one, set one up.

Registering for a My Norfolk account

If you do not already have a My Norfolk account, select 'Sign up now'.

Enter the same email address you received the two emails to and select 'Send verification code'. You'll get an email containing the verification code.

Put this into the Verification code box on the Register screen and then select 'Verify code'. You'll now see a message on the 'Register' screen telling you your email address has been verified. Select 'Continue'.

Now you need to give your name and create a new password. A strong password usually has eight to 16 characters. It also usually contains three out of four of the following:

• Lower case characters
• Upper case characters
• Digits (0 to 9)
• One or more of the following symbols: @ # $ % ^ & * - _ + = [ ] { } | \ : ' , ? / ` ~ " ( ) ; .

Once you've done this and confirmed the new password, select 'Create'.

You'll now see the 'Confirm your identity' screen. Type in the phone number you want the codes sent to in future to verify your account each time you want to login.

If the system has not automatically selected United Kingdom (+44) in the Country Code box, you can change it from the drop-down menu.

Then select 'Send Code' (for a mobile phone number) or 'Call Me' (for a landline or mobile number).

This system is to verify who you are and to ensure the data about you and the child or children in your care is secure.

If you choose 'Send Code', we'll send a code to your mobile phone. Type the code into the box on screen.

If you choose 'Call Me' you will receive an automated call and you need to press the # key when requested.

If you do not pick up the code for whatever reason, select 'Send new code'.

As this is the first time you have set up an account, you'll have to repeat the verification code/call process twice. The first time is to set up the account and the second is to verify it.

Account setup

You'll now go to the 'Account Setup' screen. This shows all invitations currently awaiting approval.

You need to tick the checkbox for all the names of people you are expecting to have access to. In the 'Do you wish to continue with setting up your account?' dropdown, select 'Yes'. Now select 'Confirm' and, in the 'Confirm' pop up box, select 'Yes'. You may now log out of your account.

Account activation

Once your account is active you'll receive an email to confirm this. The email will have the title 'New Children's Services Online activation'. It may take a few days to arrive.

This means that your account is now ready to use. The email will contain a link you can you to log in to your account.

Download a version of this guide

We have produced an illustrated PDF version of how to set up access to a new Children's Services Online account.

Download the guide  (PDF) [443KB]