Who can become a Foster Carer?
When it comes to becoming a foster carer, there is no such thing as an ‘ideal’ type of person. We welcome people from all walks of life, as everyone will have something unique to offer.
People who become foster carers come from as wide a range of backgrounds and circumstances, which is the same for the children that they look after. Just as there is no typical foster carer, there is no typical foster child, either. This is really important as our foster carers have the skills and experience to help the child to fit in well with their family, allowing them to thrive and fulfil their potential.
There are so many myths surrounding who can become a foster carer, and we’d like to set these straight today! Here are the answers to some of the most common questions we hear about becoming a foster carer. If you are interested in fostering, the requirements you will need to meet in order to be considered are listed at the bottom of the page.
Is there an age limit for fostering?
There is no upper age limit for foster care. Instead, we base our decision on your experience and ability to keep up with the demands of an active child.If you are healthy and active enough to keep up with the demands of caring for a young child, then you should definitely get in touch! Some people ask about the age limit for foster care because they are wondering if they are too young to foster. If this sounds like you, you should get in touch with our team to find out more. Our only age limit for foster care is that you should be over the age of 21. Provided you are over the age of 21 and have a spare room, you are eligible to become a foster carer.
Do I need to own my home to become a foster carer?
Owning your own home is not a requirement for becoming a foster carer. Whether you own your home, rent from a private landlord or from your local authority doesn’t matter. All that we ask is that you have a spare bedroom so that the foster child has a space to make their own.
Do I need to have my own kids before becoming a foster carer?
No! Fostering is a popular path for parents whose children have left home and they are looking for a way to help out while filling empty rooms in their home. However, you don’t have to have your own children in order to be accepted. If you have any experience working with children, either in a professional or voluntary capacity, this will be beneficial. But if your only experience with kids is taking care of your younger relatives or friend’s children, this is fine too. We offer a wide-range of training and support so you needn’t worry about feeling alone in your journey.
Can a single person foster?
Of course! A lot of people wonder if a single person can foster. You don’t have to be married or even in a relationship to become a foster carer. We are most focused on making sure you are emotionally prepared for the challenges of fostering.
Can I foster if I’m in a same-sex relationship?
Absolutely! You can be single, married, living together as a couple and be any sexual orientation. All that matters to us is that you are passionate about helping others and ready to make a real difference in a young person’s life.
Can I foster if I work full-time?
This will depend on your circumstances, but we have found employers to be very flexible in these circumstances. Ideally, you would foster on a full-time basis if you live alone, or one person in a couple would foster full-time. If you’re curious to know if you have enough time to become a foster carer, get in touch with our team today!
Can I become a single male foster carer?
Of course! We have many single male foster carers who make excellent role models to the young people that they care for. You can foster if you are single, married, living with your partner and male or female.
What are the Requirements for Becoming a Foster Carer?
- You MUST have a spare bedroom for a foster child to use, and make their own – it doesn’t matter if you own your own home or rent a property, as long as you have been there long enough and know you are going to be there for quite some time.
- You have to be over 21 years old to foster but there is no upper age limit.
- You will need to have the patience, empathy and resilience to be able to support a child who may have complex emotional needs. However, the most important qualities for us are commitment and a sense of humour!
- You don’t need any qualifications or even any experience in childcare. You just need to be able to act professionally in meetings and work as part of a team.
- You can be a single female or male, married or living as a couple.
Anyone of any ethnic group or culture, and of any sexuality can foster. - Ideally you (or one of you if in a couple) will have to be available to foster on a full-time basis, however, we can work around it if you work part-time and your employers are extremely flexible.
- You will need to have British citizenship or have been granted permanent residence/indefinite leave to remain in the UK.
If you have any more questions, get in touch by calling Rachael on 07938 575 738 or emailing foster@lorimerfostering.com. Alternatively, you can request a callback using the form below and one of our friendly team will be in touch.