clinical expertise dedicated to fostering & adoption

Consulting Well is a specialist, clinically led service dedicated exclusively to adult health assessment and medical adviser pathways for fostering and adoption.

This is our sole area of work. We combine general practice, safeguarding expertise and practical understanding of fostering and adoption systems to provide proportionate, high-quality clinical assessment and clear advice for decision-makers.

Our specialist focus means we understand both the clinical purpose of the assessment and the wider context in which fostering and adoption services, applicants, medical advisers and panels are working.

Consulting Well was founded and is clinically led by Dr Lorna MacColl, a GP with extensive experience in safeguarding and children’s services.

Lorna spent 12 years as Lead GP for Safeguarding within an Integrated Care Board. That experience, combined with Consulting Well’s exclusive focus on fostering and adoption health assessment, informs how we consider health: looking beyond diagnoses to understand function, caring capacity, strengths, vulnerabilities and support needs.

Consulting Well began in 2020, initially supporting local authorities experiencing difficulties maintaining foster carer health assessments during the pandemic.

What began as a practical response developed into our sole area of clinical practice: specialist adult health assessment and medical adviser pathways for fostering and adoption.

More than five years and 1,500+ assessments later, the model continues to develop around the same principles: clinically robust assessment, proportionate advice, reliable delivery and a positive applicant experience.

Because fostering and adoption health assessment is our sole clinical focus, our approach is designed specifically around the purpose of these assessments rather than adapted from a general medical service.

We consider how health relates to caring capacity, function and support needs. We recognise strengths, effective self-management and resilience alongside areas that may require further consideration, preparation or support.

Applicants should also understand why their health information is required, how it will be used and what information is relevant to the decisions being made.

We work with local authorities, regional fostering arrangements, regional adoption agencies, independent fostering and adoption providers, commissioners and partners.

We bring specialist clinical expertise to an organisation’s pathway, whether supporting an established service or helping develop a more consistent local or regional approach.

Children are at the centre of everything we do. 

Although our assessments are of adults, the purpose of the work is always connected to the wellbeing, safety and stability of children. Our clinical advice is therefore grounded in a clear understanding of the responsibilities of fostering and adoptive parenting, while treating applicants with respect, fairness and transparency.

We aim to provide assessments that are clinically robust, proportionate and supportive, helping applicants understand how their health relates to the caring role and helping organisations make well-informed decisions.

Help others to grow
We support applicants to understand their health, build confidence, strengthen self-care and prepare realistically for the demands of fostering.

Strength in collaboration
We work alongside you and your applicants to create a joined-up, proportionate and effective health pathway.

Respect each other and the world around us
We provide a compassionate, inclusive and respectful service, recognising individual circumstances and handling sensitive health information with care.

Take pride in doing a great job
We apply specialist clinical judgement, thorough preparation and clear reporting to deliver a service that is reliable, consistent and useful for decision-making.