Simply Fostering

Criteria To Be A Foster Carer

Fostering Criteria List

Here are the Fostering criteria;

  • You need to be to 21 years of age
  • You need to have a spare bedroom in your home that has adequate space for children and teens
  • You have to be living in the UK
  • You have to have the time to care for foster children
  • You have to be fit enough to pass a fostering medical examination
  • You need to be financially stable
  • You need to be able to set up a good support
  • You have to some experience of caring for or working with children.
 

What Foster Carers Need

Here are the attitudes and skills you need;

  • A sincere interest in the welfare of children not your own
  • To have good interpersonal skills
  • Ability to be sensitive and show understanding
  • To be able to deal calmly with stressful situations
  • To be able to manage change
  • To accept positive criticism, opinions and ideas
  • You will need to work well under pressure
  • To have good thinking skills to solve problems, make decisions
  • Reasonable computer or hand-held device skills
 

Applying to Foster

Don’t worry if you’re not sure if you meet the criteria, the Agency you decide to go with will discuss them with you from the start and then you will get specific training before and as part of your fostering assessment which will cover all of the requirements.

The Assessment

  • You’ll be visited at home by a Social Worker
  • Your Agency runs your background checks
  • If an Assessment is agreed, you attend a three-day training course
  • If all goes well, you start the fostering assessment
  • On completion, you attend the Fostering Panel
  • Providing it’s agreed, you’re an approved foster carer
  • Congratulations! You start your fostering career

The Report will cover:

  • If a couple, your childhoods, jobs and relationships
  • If you are a single applicant as above
  • All your childcare and parenting experience
  • Your potential to be a foster carer
  • References
  • All other safeguarding checks such as schools, probation, friends and family

Read about the Regulations for Fostering.

UK Wide Fostering Network

Try these: South WestDevonExeter

If you live in the UK… We’ve got you covered.
We cover the length and breadth of the UK with our unique Agency Network. Finding an Agency near you and supporting your move into foster caring.

 

free fostering handbook

Free Fostering Essentials Handbook

By contacting us you are entitled to the Simply Fostering Essentials Handbook, a wall to wall guide to fostering.

An A-Z comprehensive guide to a range of useful fostering terms. Essential reading for any newbie foster carer. Includes subjects as varied as:

  • Parental Responsibility
  • Managing Behaviour
  • Human Rights
  • Reviews
  • Eat Disorders

Form Only Takes A Minute To Complete.

The Best Start in Fostering

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