Foster Care Information for Prospective Carers

Have you been considering life as a foster carer? If fostering has caught your interest and you want to find out more about it, you’ve come to the right place! It can feel like there’s tons of information out there when it comes to foster care and fostering agencies, and we know that can be overwhelming! However, if you’re just beginning to research the role and want to gather a bit of information to help make your decision, then check out our five essential facts about fostering to help get you started!

Of course, if you’d rather just have a chat with a professional who can answer your questions directly, our doors are always open! Please feel free to use our live chat service to speak to a fostering advisor straight away. Alternatively, you can call us or drop us a quick message, and a member of our team will get back to you.

1. Anyone can foster if you’re over 21 and have a spare bedroom in your home!

That’s right; anyone can become a foster carer if they meet the essential criteria. This means that you must be over 21, have a spare bedroom in your house, have leave to remain in the UK and have enough time in your life to take on the responsibility of full-time childcare. Gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, religion, and race don’t affect your eligibility to foster. We believe that diverse carers from all walks of life help enhance our offering as a fostering agency and meet the needs of many different children from different backgrounds - allowing us to provide a safe and happy home for all of them!

2. Foster carers are paid a generous allowance and receive tax benefits 

Of course, when it comes to a career change, money is always an important consideration. We pay all of our carers a competitive fostering allowance to ensure they have the resources they need to provide for their foster children, including all essentials such as food and clothes and other expenses such as Christmas, holidays, and pocket money. We pay all of our carers a professional fee in recognition of their hard work and commitment, furthermore, our unique “Be There To Care” scheme ensures that more people can offer safe and loving foster homes, by offering financial support during the transition period before your first placement. Additionally, as foster parents are classed as self-employed, they are eligible for specific tax relief schemes. More info on this is provided during your application.

3. You don’t need any specific qualifications or job experience to foster 

We mean it when we say anyone can foster. The application does not require any formal training or qualifications as a prerequisite for the role. Whilst experience in childcare is always welcomed, it is not necessary. When looking for new carers to join our incredible team, we look for certain qualities, including confidence, patience, approachability, friendliness, and a positive can-do attitude!

4. Full training is provided to all carers with opportunities for further development. 

All carers must attend a 3-day course called ‘Skills to Foster’, designed to provide you with all of the skills and knowledge you need to make a fantastic foster parent to any child. This is an excellent opportunity to learn more about the role and prepare for your first placement. We also offer further training in the form of our Core Training Programme, which provides more detailed information around the fundamentals of therapeutic care and the attachment-based approach.

5. You’re never alone. Support is available 24/7!

Are you feeling nervous about choosing to foster? Don’t worry. You’ll never be on your own with Family Fostering Partners! All carers are appropriately supervised and supported from the moment they contact us throughout their entire career as a carer - anything you need, we are here! Our support package ensures all your worries, questions, and concerns are always answered, and you feel confident in your role and skills. We believe in you and are here to support you!

Think fostering could be the right path for you? We’re here to support you in your decision and make sure it’s the right choice for you! If you’re ready to take the first step, then don't hesitate to get in touch with a member of our team who can help you begin your application, and if you just want to ask a few questions before you make your mind up, that’s fine too! You can call 03300 948816, email info@familyfosteringpartners.co.uk, or choose an option from our form here.