Frequently Asked Questions about Fostering
It can be hard to decide to be a foster carer and it is natural to have questions. This article therefore looks to cover key questions.
What are the key requirements to become a Foster Carer?
If you are asking yourself this question, well done!!
You are on the verge of making a difference in the lives of several children and young people in need of a stable family home. The key requirements are that you must have spare bedroom to accommodate a child in your home and must have time and availability to foster, as it would help to promote a sense of consistency of care in the minds of children and young people.
There is a shortage of foster carers across England, with an estimated 7,000 currently required.
What does the assessment process look like?
You will have dedicated support from your fostering agency throughout the assessment process. In Line with Fostering Regulations 2011, you fostering agency will undertake a telephone screening with you once you call us, following which we will undertake an Initial Visit to further discuss your interest in fostering and invite you to our 3 days Skills to Foster training programme. This is delivered virtually and face to face. Local training courses and support groups are held regularly.
The assessment process involves Stage 1 and 2. Stage 1 is basic information gathering, which entails completing your application pack, processing the statutory checks such as DBS, Medical, Local Authority checks, personal and professional references and Stage 2 encompasses your interviews with your Fostering assessor to build an overall view on your suitability based on your personal and professional life experiences, which are transpirable to fostering. You will attend Beacon’s Fostering Panel on completion of your assessment to receive recommendation on your suitability to foster. The entire process takes 3 to 6 months and you would receive tailored trainings to you during the assessment process to ensure you feel confident to embark on your fostering journey. Your assessor would visit you locally at your home.
Can I foster on a rented property?
Yes absolutely, you can foster, if you live in a rented property. However, you would need to provide your fostering agency with your landlord’s consent to foster in the property. You would need to be on a long term tenancy to ensure residential stability to a foster child as frequent house moves, could disrupt children’s continuity of education in their school and with their peer network.
Can I foster if I am not a British Citizen?
As per the Government Guidance in order to foster:-
You must have the right to work in the UK and be able to take care of a child or young person and offer them with sense of permanency.
It is recommended that you to check your visa status with Home Office, if you can foster and your prospects of living and working indefinitely in UK.
Can I foster if I am a single parent and also work full time?
Yes, you can foster as a single parent. Children and young people need a living and caring environment and this is what is imperative to fostering. It is important to recognise that due to work commitments, your availability to foster full time may be impacted and therefore, we encourage you speak to members within your family network, who can act as your support network and support you in fostering, whilst you are at work.
It is recommended that you to speak to your employer about your interest in fostering, to manage your working hours to fit fostering as your way of life, like you would do in terms of being available for your own children, friends and family members. It would be best to speak to your own children to ascertain their wishes and feelings around your intention to foster.
What is the difference between fostering and adoption?
Fostering is looking after children and caring for them until they transition into adulthood or rehabilitate within their own family network. At times, children move into residential units from foster care, if certain thresholds are met in terms of their level of needs requiring specialist input.
As a foster carer, you will not have legal parental responsibility for the children in your care. In Fostering, the legal parental responsibility is retained by birth parents and if the children are subject to Care Orders, then the legal parental responsibility is shared between the birth parents and the Local Authority.
As an adoptive parent, you will have legal parental responsibility for the chid. In Fostering, you will look after the children in line with their Care/Permanency Plan and work alongside Beacon and the placing Authority of the child.
Can I Foster if I have a pet?
Yes, absolutely, you can foster with a pet. Children and young people may find it stimulating, playful and soothing to live with a pet. However, your pet is subject to a pet assessment as a part of your fostering assessment process to ensure that they do not pose risk of injury to foster children and are fully vaccinated against infectious diseases.
Will I be paid as a Foster Carer?
Yes, you will receive competitive fostering allowances when fostering, which are payable when you care for children in your home. The allowances range from 450 a week to 750 a week for more complex placements, including parent and child placements. You will be exempt from tax as a foster carer. However, you must disclose to HMRC about your status as a foster carer, once you are approved.
How long will the children remain with us?
You will care for the children to ensure that they receive relational stability and consistency of care until they move on towards independence or within their family network. In some cases, children live with you for a shorter period known as respite, whilst their primary foster carers are on a break.
There are different categories to foster care, which are long term, short term, emergency, respite, kinship care and bridging placements. This will be discussed with you during your assessment process. It would be important to be able to offer children stability until they reach adulthood and help them transition from your care in line with their Care Plan formulated by their placing Local Authority.
Will I be receive information on the child, we would be caring for?
Yes, prior to every visit your social worker from fostering agency, will share with you a referral information form on the child, this would be looking to place with you. You will know about their background information, including information on their current routines, educational facility they attend, children’s legal status and level of contact with birth family and their long term transition plans.