Frequently Asked Questions About Fostering

Fostering provides a child or young person with a safe family home when they cannot live with their birth family. A placement may last from one night to several years, depending on the child's care plan.

Adoption permanently transfers parental responsibility to the adoptive parent. Foster carers do not permanently acquire parental responsibility and work within the child's care plan and agreed delegated authority. Foster carers receive payments to support the cost and professional responsibilities of caring for a child.

Foster carers provide everyday care, routines, emotional support and encouragement. They also attend meetings, keep records, advocate for the child, complete training and work with social workers, schools, health professionals and birth families.

The legal minimum in England is 18, although most services require applicants to be at least 21. There is no fixed upper age limit. Health, energy and the ability to meet a child's needs are assessed.

You will usually need a bedroom dedicated to a foster child. Ask the team about the bedroom space you can offer, and about arrangements for babies or parent and child placements.

No. You may be able to foster if you rent, although you will normally need secure accommodation, a suitable spare bedroom and any permission required under your tenancy.

Yes. Single people can foster. Assessment considers availability, financial stability and the network of people who could provide support.

Yes. Marital status, gender and sexual orientation do not prevent someone from fostering. Couples are assessed together and should be able to show that their relationship is stable.

Yes. Services need carers from varied cultural, ethnic, linguistic and religious backgrounds. Applicants must also be willing to support a child whose identity may differ from their own.

Yes. Your children's views, ages, needs and the possible effect of fostering on family life form part of assessment. Include them in age-appropriate conversations early.

Previous experience can help but is not always essential. Life experience, personal qualities, willingness to learn and the ability to follow professional guidance also matter.

Possibly. It depends on your hours, flexibility, support network, household and the child's needs. Foster carers may need to attend training, meetings, school events and appointments during working hours. There is no general statutory right to time off work to care for foster children.

Yes. There is no fixed upper age limit. Health, energy, lifestyle and capacity for consistent care will be considered.

A disability, medical condition or mental-health history does not automatically prevent fostering. Medical information helps assess how the condition is managed and whether fostering could affect you or your ability to care.

Usually. Pets are assessed for temperament, care, safety and likely response to a child. Tell the team about any pets in your household when you enquire, and they will explain what applies.

Driving is not a universal legal requirement, but carers often take children to school, family time, appointments and activities. Talk to the team about how you would manage travel from where you live.

Complete the online enquiry form or call 0161 241 1332. The first step is an informal conversation, followed where appropriate by a home visit and formal application.

GOV.UK says the process can take up to eight months. Checks, references, availability and individual circumstances all affect timing, so no completion date can be promised.

Ask your fostering adviser about any costs before you apply. The team will explain what is involved at your first conversation, so you know where you stand before going any further.

Checks normally include enhanced DBS for applicants and adult household members, local authority checks, medical information, personal and professional references, home safety, pet assessment where relevant and other enquiries required by individual circumstances.

Not necessarily, although some offences may legally prevent approval. Every relevant history must be disclosed and assessed in context.

Previous relationships and parenting experience may be relevant to assessment. Tell the assessor if contact would be unsafe, impossible or inappropriate so the agency can consider what other evidence is required.

It is the detailed report prepared during assessment. It covers background, household, relationships, health, experience, support, checks, references, strengths and suitability.

Panel reviews the assessment, meets you and makes a recommendation about suitability and proposed approval terms. The agency decision maker makes the final decision.

The team considers the child's needs, care plan, identity, location and relationships alongside the carer's skills, experience, household, approval and availability. The child's local authority makes the final placement decision.

You can discuss the ages, placement types and needs you feel able to support. These are considered during assessment, approval and matching. You do not select a child from a list.

There is no guaranteed timeframe. It depends on referrals, approval terms, matching, household circumstances and children's needs. The priority is a suitable, stable match.

Support includes a supervising social worker, regular supervision, out-of-hours advice, learning, peer contact and specialist help where required. Ask the team what would be available in your circumstances.

Yes. Payments are intended to meet the costs of care and may include a professional fee. The amount depends on the service, the child's needs, the placement and the carer's experience. The highest advertised amount is not guaranteed.

For tax purposes, foster carers are generally treated as self-employed and normally register with HMRC and complete Self Assessment. Qualifying Care Relief may reduce or remove tax on fostering income.

Respite or short-break arrangements depend on the child's care plan and agency policy. Ask the team how breaks would work alongside the placements you are considering.

Existing carers can ask about transferring. You do not need to resign merely to have an initial conversation.

Potentially, but the child's welfare and stability come first. Your current service, Organic Fostering and the child's local authority must follow the relevant transfer process.

Yes. Organic Fostering must assess and approve you through its own process. Existing reports, training and experience may inform the assessment, subject to lawful information sharing.