Fostering Regulations Bedroom Sharing

Prospective foster parents often have a lot of questions regarding the rules surrounding children’s bedrooms and bedroom sharing. It can seem like there are a lot of regulations to follow, but this is because a child’s room is very important.

A bedroom is a safe space where a child or young person can go to feel comfortable, relaxed, and secure. It is a place of their own where they can be alone and where they can feel protected. Foster children need to have this space as they may not have had such a space in their previous home. Additionally, children who have suffered abuse or neglect will rely on this space to help them recover. A safe and cosy bedroom is the perfect place to create a new sense of normality for the child and for them to begin to build a new, happy, and loved family life in their foster home.

Please read below for answers to some of the most frequently asked questions around bedroom regulations: 

Do I need a spare bedroom? 

Yes, you must have a spare bedroom to foster. A spare room is a mandatory requirement for all new carers and you will need to prove you have one available as part of the assessment process. If you do not, you will not be approved as a carer. 

We’re also often asked if it matters whether your property is your own or whether it is rented. This is not important to us and won’t affect your application. Neither does the type of accommodation you live in, be it a house, flat, bungalow, or other. What does matter is that your home is secure and that it is large enough to accommodate an additional person, i.e. has a spare room.

Can foster children and birth children share a bedroom? 

Your own children will not be allowed to share a room with foster children. This is for the benefit and safety of both. As an independent fostering agency, we care about all children, including your own. Fostering a child is a big decision and even if your birth children are on-board, they shouldn’t have to sacrifice their room to accommodate them. Similarly, moving to a new home can be scary and is completely new for looked after children. Having to share a room with someone they have only just met could be a daunting prospect for a foster child, especially those who have had negative past life experiences. 

We ask that anyone looking to become a foster parent who has their own children also has an additional spare room solely for use of the foster child. 

Can foster children share a bedroom?

Again, this is not a likely occurrence. You will only be able to foster children and young people who you have a suitable amount of space to accommodate for, meaning one room per child. In certain circumstances, foster children who are siblings of the same gender may be allowed to share a room but this would be up to the child’s responsible authority and the social worker appointed to the child.

If you’re thinking about becoming a foster parent and are worried about bedroom regulations, we can help settle your concerns. Please speak to a member of the team by calling 03300 948816.