Frequently Asked Questions about Fostering

Depending on the terms of your approval criteria this can vary from just a few days to many years! Every child will have a care plan that details how long a foster placement is needed. You should have an idea of what is expected, but you should also be aware that these plans and timescales may change. A foster carers approval criteria can include: long term, short term or respite.

The average time from making an application to completing Form F and being approved as a foster carer is around six months. It can be shorter or longer, depending on individual circumstances.

Under the Children Act 1989 Schedule 7, the number of children fostered by a foster carer is limited to three children. As part of the assessment process a recommendation will be made with regard to the number of children that may be fostered based on your individual circumstances.

Yes. People with all kinds of experience and backgrounds are needed to foster. The greater the variety of foster carers, the better chance we have of finding a suitable match for the many different children needing foster homes.

People often feel that their foster child and their own children are more likely to get on if they are close in age. Whilst this may happen, in practice, we find that they are more likely to clash, and that the needs of a foster child are more easily met if there is an age gap of at least 18 months between them and any other child in the home.

Yes, but we prefer it if you didn’t. No child under the age of five will be placed in a foster home where anyone smokes. When it comes to older children, we require you to ensure that nobody smokes in the home, including visitors. These restrictions also apply to any car in which a foster child travels.

No, you can work and you will not have to give up your job, however, a level of flexibility is required for school holidays and occasional meetings. Also bear in mind that some young people may not always manage school, so there is a need for someone in your household to be available to a young person. We have foster carers who successfully work and foster, and they are still able to provide great care for school age children whilst also having a career.

It’s not essential, but life can be difficult if you don’t have access to a car. School runs, meetings to attend at school or social work offices, training with us, and dropping off and collecting the foster child after contact with their family are all things that may be problematic without a car.

Fostering is best suited for those over the age of 21, and there is no upper limit. What matters most, is that you are healthy and fit enough to care for a child or young person.

Only in so far as you will need to rely more on your own resources or support network than a couple might. We operate an Equal Opportunities Policy and welcome applicants from all sectors of the community.

Yes, a child will need their own bedroom.

Generally, your benefits will not be affected if you become a foster carer. However, if you claim disability allowance, there may be some medical or health conditions that could affect the type of foster care you could do.

Form F is a document produced by your appointed assessing social worker. This assessment gives us a clear picture of how your family works, your interests and hobbies, skills and competencies, and what you can offer as a foster carer. The Form F is used to match each foster carer to the child needing to be cared for. On completion, it will be presented to a foster panel to consider the recommendation of your approval as a foster carer.

A qualified social worker carries out a Form F assessment using the competency format published by the British Association for Adoption and Fostering (BAAF). This assessment will be supervised by a senior social worker or registered manager.

Once completed the assessment will be shared with you, taking into account the confidentiality of references.

• The document will be sent to panel members to read approximately 2 weeks prior to panel taking place.

• You will be invited to attend panel with their assessing social worker

• The panel makes their recommendations on your suitability suitability and the range of approval status

• Your Form F alongside the panel recommendation will then be sent to the Agency Decision Maker (ADM) who makes the final decision about your approval/appointment on behalf of the agency.

All the information is held on file and can be viewed on request, with the exception of the references from external agencies and personal references. It is conditional that all foster carers complete and sign a Foster Care Agreement