Can I Foster?

We’re also often asked “who can foster?”

…and how foster care fits around work and other commitments.

There are very few barriers to taking on a foster child. If you are over the age of 21 and are in good health, you’re likely to be able to become a foster parent. So, whatever your reason for wanting to become a foster parent, we will only pass on your enquiry to the local Therapeutic Fostering Service in the region in which you live.

We partner a number of Therapeutic Fostering Services across the UK to provide essential foster care services to children and young people in need.

Please take our fostering quiz

The following 13 questions will only take you a few minutes to answer but will see if you have the right circumstances to apply to foster. There are many incorrect beliefs and myths surrounding who can and cannot be considered to foster:

Get started

Do you believe you are the right age to foster a child? *

I think I’m too old to foster
I think I’m too young to foster
My partner may be too old to foster
I think my age does not stop me applying to foster

Almost 50% of people think if you’re over 55 you can’t be a foster parent.

As a rule, fostering service providers prefer foster parents to be over 21 years old but legally you can apply to foster from the age of 18 years dependent on your ability and circumstances. There is no upper age limit and many foster parents continue well into their 70s. What is important is that you are fit enough to care for a child or young person who is placed with you. The majority of foster parents are in the 40 to 60-year age bracket.

Do I need to be married to foster? *

There is no regulation or requirement that you need to be married to foster.

You can be married, in a civil partnership, single, separated, divorced or living together. If you are living together, then most fostering providers would want like you to have been together for at least a two-year period.

Can I foster if I am lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender? *

Your sexual orientation or gender identity has no bearing on your ability to provide a loving nurturing and safe environment for a child or young person.

The above should never be a barrier to you applying to foster.

Do I need a spare room to foster? *

Most fostering service providers will require you to have a spare bedroom for a child or young person that you foster.

There is however no regulatory requirement for foster children over the age of 3 to have their own bedroom. National Minimum Standards states that a child over the age of 3 years should have their own bedroom where this is possible, taking into account the child’s wishes and feelings.

Do I need to own my own home? *

Your accommodation, be it owned or rented will be an important part of your fostering assessment process, but you do not need to own your own home.

You will need to have the necessary space and stability to offer a nurturing and safe environment for children and young people placed with you.

Can I foster if I have children of my own? *

You can foster if you have children of your own. Fostering involves the whole family and will affect and impact on your children in different ways.

The children of foster carers play a key role and depending on their age and ability, they will be included in the fostering assessment process. Sometimes it can be tough for children who find themselves sharing their parents with other children and young people. Many children say they have enjoyed being part of the fostering household and learnt a lot from it. Many fostering providers provide support group meetings and events for foster carers own children as well.

Can I foster if I or my partner has a disability, medical condition or has suffered a mental illness? *

During the fostering assessment process, you will be required to undergo a medical which will indicate whether you are fit to foster.

This will usually be undertaken by your own GP. The medical will cover general health and fitness, plus any long- or short-term health issues you may have had. They will also be asked about any current medication that you are being prescribed. Your medical assessment report will also be reviewed and commented on by the fostering services own Medical Advisor. As long as you are deemed to be well enough to undertake the fostering role, a medical condition should not prevent you from fostering.

Can I foster if I am not a British Citizen? *

You do not have to be a British Citizen, but you will need to have the right to reside in the UK.

Children from a wide range of backgrounds, including those seeking asylum in the UK need foster carers who can reflect their cultural or ethnic background. If you are resident in the UK for a specific period, this would need to be taken into account.

Can I foster if I have current or previous financial problems? *

Your financial situation will be discussed as part of the fostering assessment.

You will need to be able to show that you are financially secure enough to provide a stable home for any child that is placed with you. You will be paid a fostering allowance and you will need to demonstrate that you can manage financially.

Can I foster if I have been convicted of a criminal offence? *

All fostering applicants and those living in the fostering household are required to complete an enhanced disclosure with the DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service).

The outcome of this will indicate whether you or members of the household have committed any offences which would prevent them from working with children. You must declare any criminal convictions when you first apply to foster and the fostering service dealing with your application will be able to advise you as to whether you are likely to be approved as a foster carer.

Can I foster a child if I have pets? *

Like any family, many foster families also have pets.

Pets can support an environment for children and young people to thrive. However, all pets within the home will also be assessed in terms of the risk that they may present. There is specific legislation regarding dogs, and you will not be allowed to foster if your household has any breed of dog which is highlighted within the Dangerous Dogs Act or you have more than three dogs.

Can I foster a child if I smoke? *

The health needs of any child or young person that you may foster needs to come first.

Fostering providers do accept parents that smoke. Although you would not be able to foster children under the age of five years old or those with certain disabilities. The key aspects that fostering providers will focus on is that it is essential that foster homes are smoke free and that no-one smokes in the home, that foster parents are in a position of trust and a position as a positive role modelling and should therefore lead by example, that smoking in a car where a child is present is illegal. Most fostering service providers would encourage you to stop smoking for your own health and to minimise the effect of passive smoking on any child or young person, as well as presenting a positive role model for any child you look after.

How many children can I foster? *

One
Two
Three
More than 3

Fostering service providers would approve you to care for a certain number of children, and this will depend on the space you have in your home and your experience.

Most families are approved to care for one, two or three children. Each year the approval is reviewed and it is possible to change the approval if the circumstances in the foster home change, such as an extra bedroom becomes available.

What will be your next step? *

Apply to foster with U-Choose-2-Foster using our online form?
Come back to U-Choose-2-Foster in 3 – 6 months?
I need more time to discuss with my family.
I don’t think fostering is right for me

Please answer this final question

Full Name *

Email *

Website

Fostering Quiz

1/14

Do you believe you are the right age to foster a child? *

I think I’m too old to foster
I think I’m too young to foster
My partner may be too old to foster
I think my age does not stop me applying to foster

Almost 50% of people think if you’re over 55 you can’t be a foster carer.

As a rule, fostering service providers prefer foster carers to be over 21 years old but legally you can apply to foster from the age of 18 years dependent on your ability and circumstances. There is no upper age limit and many foster carers continue well into their 70s. What is important is that you are fit enough to care for a child or young person who is placed with you. The majority of foster carers are in the 40 to 60-year age bracket.

Fostering Quiz

2/14

Do I need to be married to foster? *

There is no regulation or requirement that you need to be married to foster.

Fostering Quiz

3/14

Can I foster if I am lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender? *

Your sexual orientation or gender identity has no bearing on your ability to provide a loving nurturing and safe environment for a child or young person.

The above should never be a barrier to you applying to foster.

Fostering Quiz

4/14

Do I need to be married to foster? *

There is no regulation or requirement that you need to be married to foster.

Fostering Quiz

5/14

Do I need to own my own home? *

Your accommodation, be it owned or rented will be an important part of your fostering assessment process, but you do not need to own your own home.

You will need to have the necessary space and stability to offer a nurturing and safe environment for children and young people placed with you.

Fostering Quiz

6/14

Can I foster if I have children of my own? *

You can foster if you have children of your own. Fostering involves the whole family and will affect and impact on your children in different ways.

Fostering Quiz

7/14

Can I foster if I or my partner has a disability, medical condition or has suffered a mental illness? *

During the fostering assessment process, you will be required to undergo a medical which will indicate whether you are fit to foster.

Fostering Quiz

8/14

Can I foster if I am not a British Citizen? *

You do not have to be a British Citizen, but you will need to have the right to reside in the UK.

Fostering Quiz

9/14

Can I foster if I have current or previous financial problems? *

Your financial situation will be discussed as part of the fostering assessment.

Fostering Quiz

10/14

Can I foster if I have been convicted of a criminal offence? *

All fostering applicants and those living in the fostering household are required to complete an enhanced disclosure with the DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service).

Fostering Quiz

11/14

Can I foster a child if I have pets? *

Like any family, many foster families also have pets. Pets can support an environment for children and young people to thrive.

However, all pets within the home will also be assessed in terms of the risk that they may present. There is specific legislation regarding dogs, and you will not be allowed to foster if your household has any breed of dog which is highlighted within the Dangerous Dogs Act or you have more than three dogs.

Fostering Quiz

12/14

Can I foster a child if I smoke? *

The health needs of any child or young person that you may foster needs to come first.

Fostering Quiz

13/14

How many children can I foster? *

One
Two
Three
More than 3

Fostering service providers would approve you to care for a certain number of children, and this will depend on the space you have in your home and your experience.

Fostering Quiz

14/14

What will be your next step? *

Apply to foster with U-Choose-2-Foster using our online form?
Come back to U-Choose-2-Foster in 3 – 6 months?
I need more time to discuss with my family.
I don’t think fostering is right for me

Please answer this final question

Full Name *

Email *

Message

Ready to become a

Foster Parent?

Get Started