FAQs

Yes. As with any other application to foster from someone who has children of their own, the fostering service will want to discuss how you would balance the needs of your own child with those of the child you might foster. They would also want to explore with you what the impact of fostering (having other children in the home) might be on your own child.

The Fostering Services Regulations (England) 2011 require the health of prospective foster carers to be considered as part of their fostering assessment. Although smoking is not banned, it will need to be discussed as part of this process. This is because the health and wellbeing of children is paramount, and the government wants children to be protected from the harmful effects of smoking.

All fostering services have their own policies around smoking which take into account the impact on the health of any children that you might foster, and the importance of foster carers as role models for young people in care. This may mean that prospective foster carers who smoke are given support to stop smoking, or that they will be unlikely to be approved to foster children under the age of three, and older children with certain health conditions. It is important that you discuss this with any fostering service that you want to foster for, to make sure that you are aware of their policy around smoking.

Previous financial problems should not prevent you from fostering. Your financial situation will be discussed as part of the fostering assessment process. You will need to be able to show that you are now financially secure enough to provide a stable home, and that you are able to manage the fostering allowances paid to you.

Many children in foster care don't speak English as their first language and living in a home where their first language is spoken can be very beneficial for them. But you will need an adequate level of spoken and written English to be able to communicate with professionals, support children’s education and to make notes and keep records.

If you have any particular communication needs, such as needing an interpreter or help with keeping records, your fostering service should be able to make the appropriate provision for you.

It is possible to work and foster, but all fostering services will have a policy about this arrangement. For example, if you are fostering as a couple, some fostering services may require at least one carer in the household to be available at all times.

It's also important to consider the flexibility of your employment, as foster carers are required to be available to care for children (including when they are not at school), attend meetings and training, and to support children with contact/family time arrangements. This may be impacted by the age of the children in your care and the support network and community resources you have available to you (for example, after-school clubs). 

If a foster carer is working alongside fostering, and they want to access free childcare hours for the child in their care, they would need to meet the basic requirements for accessing this support and have the agreement of the local authority that this is part of the child's care plan.

Part-time fostering roles such as short breaks foster care may work best alongside other employment.

It is unlikely that a fostering service would begin the approval process if you are moving as your home forms an important part of your assessment. You should wait until you have moved into your new home before making an application to foster.

If your assessment has started and you decide to move house, your assessment may be suspended until you have moved into your new home.

Schedule 7 to the Children Act 1989 limits the number of children who may be fostered by a foster carer. The “usual fostering limit” is set at three. This means that no one may foster more than three children unless:

• the foster children are all siblings in relation to each other, or
• the local authority within whose area the foster carer lives exempts the foster carer from the usual fostering limit in relation to specific placements (in which case they must set out the terms as detailed below), and
• the foster carer’s terms of approval allow it (any terms of approval must be compatible with the number of children the foster carer is caring for even if an exemption to the usual fostering limit has been granted, unless the placement is in an emergency and for less than six days).

An exemption from the usual fostering limit can be made at the discretion of the fostering service provider that you are approved by.

A child who is not looked after does not count towards the usual fostering limit. Nevertheless, the needs of all children within the household must be taken into account in deciding whether to grant an exemption from the usual fostering limit. This will be pertinent, for instance, if the foster carer is also offering parent and child arrangements.

Most fostering services use the BAAF Form F as the Report used to recommend suitability or otherwise of foster carers to the Fostering Panel. Foster Carers should always see and sign a copy of their Assessment prior to it being submitted to Panel and some Fostering Services automatically provide a copy for the foster carer to keep.  However, the assessment has been done by the fostering service and therefore the Form F belongs to them, rather than the foster carer.

The Foster Carer can request a copy of their Form F/Assessment Report by making a Subject Access Request under the General Data Protection Regulations 2018. The Organisation then has one month in which to provide the information requested and make may a small charge for any photocopies. The maximum amount that can be charged is set by the Information Commissioner’s Office.

If a foster carer wants a copy of their Form F in order to transfer between fostering services, the assessing fostering service should make a request in writing to the current or previous fostering service for this. The Form F should be shared with the assessing fostering service in line with revised guidance under Regulation 32(6) of the 2011 Regulations which require fostering services, to share information to support the assessment of a person’s suitability to foster or adopt, if requested to do so by the fostering service undertaking the assessment.  In these circumstances the foster carer should give written consent for this information to be shared and can also request a copy of the information provided.

You do not have to be a British Citizen but you do have to have the right to reside in the UK. Children from a wide range of backgrounds, including those seeking asylum in the UK need foster families who can reflect their cultural or ethnic background. 

 If you are in the UK for a limited time, this would be taken into consideration due to the length of time the approval process can take and the implications/disruption for a child. 

Age is generally not a barrier if you are committed to being a foster carer, it depends on a whole range of other factors.

The Fostering Services Regulations do not set recommended ages for foster carers although some fostering services prefer that applicants are over 21. 

There is also no official upper age limit for foster carers and many older people make excellent carers, providing they are fit and well and able to look after a child or young person.  

Foster Carers have the right, under General Data Protection Regulations 2018 to see and to request a copy of all information held about them, whether on paper files, or electronically.

In order to do this they need to make what is called a Subject Access Request either verbally or in writing. If the request is made verbally it is recommended to follow this up in writing to provide a clear trail of correspondence. The Organisation then has One Month in which to provide the information requested. For complex requests the organisation may take an additional month or two but will need to inform you within the original month that they will require more time and the reason why it will take longer.

A copy of your data should be provided free of charge but the organisation may make a small charge for additional copies. The organisation can only charge a fee if the request is `manifestly unfounded or excessive` and would be a reasonable fee for administrative costs associated with the request.

There are some exceptions to the information that can be shared; this includes:

• information about another person and the other person has not given permission for their information to be shared, or
• if by complying with the Subject Access Request a criminal investigation would be put at risk, or
• is likely to cause serious harm to the physical or mental health of the individual or someone else.

Further information is available by visiting Information Commissioner’s Office

In general, you cannot apply to become a foster carer with a UK-based fostering service if you are living outside the UK. There are exceptions to this including family and friends foster carers looking after a specific child and British Armed Forces families who are posted overseas. For more information about fostering overseas, please see the International Foster Care Organisation (IFCO) website.

Generally speaking, the assessment, training and approval process should take around four to six months on average, but can take longer.  The National Minimum Standards for Fostering Services 2011 state that the suitability of a prospective foster carer must be decided upon within eight months of their application to foster.

Most fostering services prefer you to have a spare bedroom if you are going to foster children over the age of 3. The National Minimum Standards (10.6) states that a looked after child over the age of 3 should have their own bedroom where physically possible and some fostering services may have a policy that exceeds this minimum requirement. Any decision to agree a room share would need the consent of the local authority taking into account the child's wishes and feelings, their known history and any risk factors (such as sexualized behavior or bullying). If you have space for a cot in your bedroom and wish to foster young babies this will depend on whether there is a need for this type of foster carer currently in your are. It may be helpful to contact more than one fostering service in your area to identify any that are recruiting for this type of foster carer currently. Other options to consider may include respite or short break fostering that might involve day care or occasional overnight care.

The term “Local authority” refers to the local council for each area. This could be a town or city or a county (for example Birmingham City Council, The London Borough of Brent, Kent County Council).  Each local authority usually has their own fostering service, and some have formed clusters to work together to provide a single recruitment hub service.

In addition, there are numerous independent fostering providers. These may be run by charities or private companies, and they provide foster placements for children on behalf of local authorities.

Children come into the care of the local authority where they live. That local authority will place the child in the most appropriate type of care (foster care, residential care or other arrangement). The local authority will look for available foster carers within their own fostering service and with independent fostering providers.

You may choose to foster either for a local authority or an independent fostering provider (agency). It may be helpful to research local fostering services before deciding who you wish to apply to as you can only be approved with one fostering service. 

The assessment process is rigorous, and can sometimes raise emotions in relation to events of the past. Fosterline is available to help applicants understand the process and provide emotional support. In the event of the caller needing further support the adviser can, with the callers consent, make a referral for free phone based counselling sessions. Details of the Fosterline counselling service can be found here.