Fostering is a way of offering children and young people a home while their own family is unable to look after them. Fostering can be a temporary arrangement, and many fostered children return to their own families.  

Adoption is a way of providing a new family for children who cannot be brought up by their own parents. It's a legal procedure in which all the parental responsibility is transferred to the adopters. Once an adoption order has been granted it can't be reversed except in extremely rare circumstances.

Yes, as long as you have sufficient time to devote to the child's needs.

Yes, your availability will be reviewed if your employment circumstances change. Being at home can provide stability and consistency for a child in care.

Absolutely! There is no stipulation that you must be married or in a relationship to foster.

We require you to have a spare bedroom, to ensure the child you foster has the privacy and space they require. 

If you are approved to become a foster carer there are various sources of ongoing 24/7 support available to you. The most important will be your supervising social worker, and the support team allocated to you, who will meet regularly with you to discuss any concerns you have, offer you supervision, and arrange ongoing bespoke training.

We welcome anybody from the LGBTQ+ community to apply to join our fostering.  Rest assured, you'll be treated just like any other applicant.

Having pets does not prevent you from fostering, in fact, they can be an asset to a foster family. However, every animal is different and your pets will be assessed as part of the process of becoming a foster carer, taking into account factors such as their temperament and behaviour.

It does not matter what your religion is and this should not affect your application to foster. Children should be placed with foster families that can meet their needs, including religious needs. However, you would need to consider how you would feel about discussing issues such as alternative religious beliefs with a child.

A large number of children in foster care do not have English as a first language and being placed in a home where their first language is spoken can be very beneficial for them. You will need a good level of spoken and written English to be able to communicate with other professionals, support children’s education and make notes and keep records.  Please call us on 0800 246 5111 to find out more.

Your health will be considered when applying to foster and any long-term conditions are taken into account. The most important factor is whether you are physically and psychologically fit enough to cope with the demands of caring for a child – this may vary depending on the age of the children that you are approved for.

Yes, you need to show that you can provide a safe, secure environment, whether you own or rent your home.

Yes, but it’s important to discuss fostering with your children to ensure they are happy with your decision.

While experience with children may be beneficial,  it's not essential as we provide all the training and support you'll need to make a big difference.