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Fostering - Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need to own your own home?
Not at all. You must have a separate room for the child if they are over two years old, and your current accommodation has to be deemed as suitable for fostering.
Do you need a certain income level to foster?
We pay an allowance which covers the costs of looking after the child. This allowance doesn't affect any benefits you may receive.
Who makes the decisions regarding health issues?
We are guided by a specialist medical adviser on all health matters. You are initially asked to undertake a full medical to be completed by your GP. This is forwarded to our specialist medical advisor for fostering who comments on health matters.
If you are looking after a teenager, how long will they remain with you?
Most teenagers go on to independent living by 18 years old. A lot of your work as a foster carer will involve preparing teenagers for leaving care.
Do I need to be physically fit or what if I'm disabled?
We will need to contact your doctor to ensure that you are able to manage the physical demands of caring for children, but being disabled does not necessarily stop you from fostering.
How does fostering affect your own children?
Fostering can effect your children in many ways, and we continually address this throughout your training, assessment and supervisory support. However, many of these children go on to become foster carers themselves.
Can you foster if you work?
Ideally, we need foster carers who can provide a full-time commitment to fostering a child or children. Having a job would not exclude you from fostering, but you do need to have enough time to adequately take care of the child, and this will vary from placement to placement. You can foster if you are unemployed.
If your time commitments would not allow you to become a full-time foster carer, you may like to consider respite fostering.
Can you foster on your own?
Yes. Foster carers can be single, married, gay, divorced, widowed or living in a long-term relationship.
How long does it take for a child to be placed once your application is approved?
This varies on the type of fostering you will be undertaking, and the matching required.