These are some of the more common questions that people have about fostering - if you need any more information, please don't hesitate to contact us and we'll be happy to help.
How long would a child be placed with me?
This can vary from a few days to many years! Every child should have a care plan which details for how long the foster placement is needed. So you should have an idea of what is expected, although you should also expect some changes to these plans.
I don't have children of my own. Can I still foster?
Yes. People with all sorts of experience and backgrounds are needed to foster. The greater the variety of foster carers, the more the chance that we can find a good match for all the different children needing foster homes.
Can I have a child placed with me who is the same age as my own children?
People often ask this question because they feel that the foster child and their own children are more likely to get on if they are close in age. Whilst this may happen, in practive, we find that they are more likely to clash and that the needs of a foster child are more easily met if there is a clear age gap of at least 18 months betweemn them and any other child in the home.
I smoke. Can I foster?
Yes, but we prefer it if you didn't. No child under the age of five will be placed in a foster home where anybody smokes. Also, even with older children, we require you to ensure that nobody smokes in the home, including visitors. These restrictions also apply to any car in which a foster child travels.
I work. Do I have to give it up to foster?
No, but... Is your work flexible enough to allow you to foster? For example, unscheduled time off school is more likely to happen, school holidays cannot usually be covered by the foster child being cared for in play schemes or with relatives and friends, and you'll have occasional meetings and training sessions to attend. We would need to discuss your circumstances carefully if you wished to continue working.
I can't drive. Is this a problem?
Again, it's not essential to drive, but life can be very difficult if you don't have access to a car. School runs, meetings to attend at school or social work offices, training with us, dropping off the foster child and collecting after contact with their family are all things that may be difficult without a car.
Am I too old to foster?
You need to be fit and energetic and we've seen some 21 year olds that don't fit the bill on this score! However, as applicants approach their late 50's we find that local authorities become increasingly reluctant to consider placing children with them because of worries that the lifestyle of the new carers would not be able to adapt sufficiently to meet the needs of the foster child. We would therefore only assess someone in this age bracket in exceptional circumstances.
I am single, does this matter?
Only insofar as you will need to rely more on your own resources or support network than a couple might. Single male carers are often very successful in coping with some young people.
