We need supportive and caring foster carers of all ages, from all backgrounds and ethnic groups. Fostering today involves a variety of tasks and skills and our carers work closely as a team, not only with other professionals in planning for the child or young person but also in supporting each other.
Becoming a foster carer for us will mean that you will have to go through an assessment process to ensure that you have the skills and ability to take on such an important role.
This will take approximately eight months to complete. Various legal checks will also be undertaken, including the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB), and we will ask for both personal and employer references. We will also contact any significant previous partners and children living independently from you to form a picture of your parenting skills as part of the assessment.
We will offer you support and guidance throughout the process and we offer all our carers a full support package on approval which includes financial allowances to cover the cost of caring for the child.
All our foster care households are subject to an annual review and health and safety checks.
If you would like to know more, please contact us to request an information pack.
Who can foster?
Foster carers can be:
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Single, married or living with a partner
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Male or female
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People who have children of their own - and people who don't have children of their own
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Employed, unemployed or retired
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People who own their own home, people who rent a home, and people who receive housing benefits.
What is important is that you have plenty of time and space in your life to care for someone else's child or young person. You need lots of energy and the ability to demonstrate a mature, responsible attitude. There is no upper age limit although it is important to be in good health.
In addition, our expectations are that:
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you are aged over 21 years
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if a couple, you have been living together in a relationship for more than two years
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the children in your family are over the age of one year
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you are not pregnant, undergoing or have recently undergone fertility treatment.
People with offences against children or violent offences will not be considered for fostering.
