Lots of people can foster. Foster carers come from many backgrounds. They have different life experiences and family set-ups. There is no upper age limit.
What do foster carers have in common?
- A strong desire to help children.
- A commitment to do their best for the children they care for.
Requirements
- You can be from any ethnic, cultural or religious background.
- You must be 21 or over.
- You can be any gender, sexual orientation and identity.
- Ideally a spare bedroom, however, not essential for care of babies, or to be one of our flexi-carers. Individual circumstances will be discussed at your initial enquiry.
- Ideally have the right to live in the UK, however, if your legal status is stable, and you have the right to work in the UK you can enquire with us to discuss individual circumstances.
- You must not have any convictions for offences against children or other serious crimes.
- You can be single, a couple, separated, divorced, or widowed. Your marital status is not important. However, if you apply as a couple, we will want to talk to you more about your relationship.
- You need to be patient, caring, empathetic, nonjudgemental, and open-minded.
- You should be adaptable, resilient, and resourceful.
- You need to value diversity and be prepared to look after children from any background.
- If you foster children under 5, there must be no smokers living in the home (this includes vaping and e-cigarettes).
- A good sense of humour is definitely required.