Fostering FAQs
No, we will help and prepare you to understand the issues that you will face as a foster carer. We also offer support and advice once you are approved. We are looking for people from a variety of backgrounds and experience who have a common interest and commitment to helping young people. You will need to enjoy the challenges of looking after children and it will certainly help if you have childcare experience and have qualities like patience and a sense of humour.
No. You may own your own home, rent from the council or rent privately. What is more important is that you can provide enough space to accommodate a child or children in your home, in most cases this will require you to have a spare bedroom. Babies may sleep in a cot in the foster carers’ room but will need a room of their own at 12 months.
We would need to consider your individual circumstances and the type of fostering you are interested in doing, along with the ages of any children you would be caring for. We also need to ensure that your health enables you to meet the needs of the child. If you wish to care for children under 2 years we do not approve people who smoke (currently being looked at and may soon change to 5 years). You (and your partner) and all members of the household must have been in the UK for 5 years in order for us to be able to carry out the relevant local authority and police checks. The youngest member of your family must be at least 12 months when applying for fostering.
We welcome people from a variety of different backgrounds, experiences and circumstances. We need people who are able to offer a genuine commitment to children and young people for shorter or more permanent periods of foster care.
We welcome interest from people regardless of race, religion, gender, class, sexuality or disability. It does not matter about your martial status. You may be employed or unemployed but there are certain types of fostering that may need you (or if with partner) to give up work due to the needs of the children and young people in care.
As many of the children are from dual heritage backgrounds, we particularly welcome applications from African-Caribbean, Asian and dual heritage individuals and couples. The important thing is that you meet the needs of the child placed with you. It is unlikely we will consider an application from couples who have been together for less than two years.
If at any stage of the fostering process you feel that you no longer want to continue with your application, we hope that you will discuss this with us. We also sometimes have to advise applicants that being a foster carer would not be suitable for them.
