What You Need to Know About Fostering

Fostering is one of the most important and rewarding things a person can do. Every year, thousands of children across the UK need the safety, stability and care that a foster family can provide. But what does fostering actually involve, and could it be right for you? This guide covers everything you need to know to get started.

What Is Fostering?

Fostering is when a child who cannot live with their birth family is placed with a trained and approved carer, known as a foster carer. Foster carers provide a safe, nurturing home on a temporary or longer-term basis while the child's future is decided. Fostering is distinct from adoption. Foster carers do not become the child's legal parent, and most fostering placements are intended to be temporary.

Who Can Foster?

One of the most common misconceptions about fostering is that only a certain type of person can do it. In reality, foster carers come from all walks of life. You can foster if you are:

• Single, married, in a civil partnership or cohabiting

• Renting or owning your home (subject to space requirements)

• Working full-time, part-time or not working at all

• Of any ethnicity, religion or cultural background

• A parent yourself, or without children

• Aged 21 or over (there is no upper age limit)

The key requirements are that you have a spare bedroom, a stable home environment, and the commitment, resilience and warmth to care for a child who may have experienced trauma.

What Types of Fostering Are There?

There are several different types of fostering, each meeting different needs:

• Short-term fostering — caring for a child for days, weeks or a few months while their longer-term plans are made

• Long-term fostering — providing a permanent family home for a child who cannot return to their birth family and is not being adopted

• Emergency fostering — providing a safe placement at very short notice, often within hours

• Respite fostering — giving another foster family or a child with disabilities a short break

• Parent and child fostering — supporting a young parent and their baby together

• Sibling group fostering — keeping brothers and sisters together in the same placement

What Are the Responsibilities of a Foster Carer?

Fostering is a professional role with real responsibilities. As a foster carer, you will be expected to:

• Provide a safe, stable and nurturing home environment

• Support the child’s education, health and emotional wellbeing

• Work as part of a professional team including Social Workers, teachers and health professionals

• Maintain accurate records and logs of the child’s progress and significant events

• Support the child’s contact with their birth family where it is safe and appropriate to do so

• Complete ongoing training and professional development

  

How Much Do Foster Carers Get Paid?

Foster carers receive a weekly allowance made up of two parts: a maintenance payment (to cover the costs of caring for the child) and a professional fee (recognising the skill and commitment of the carer). At Futures Group, our weekly payments currently start from £401.24 per child, with higher rates available for children with more complex needs. In addition, carers receive allowances for birthdays, school holidays, festivals and internet provision.

What Is the Fostering Approval Process?

Becoming an approved foster carer involves a structured assessment process. The key stages are:

1. Initial enquiry and information gathering

2. Initial home visit from a Social Worker

3. Statutory checks (DBS, health, references)

4. Skills to Foster preparation course

5. Form F assessment carried out by your Assessing Social Worker

6. Fostering panel and approval decision

The process typically takes between 6 and 12 months from first enquiry to approval. Throughout this time, your Supervising Social Worker will be available to guide and support you every step of the way.

Ready to Find Out More?

If you’re curious about fostering and want to find out whether it could be right for you, get in touch with the team at Futures Group today. There’s no obligation — just an honest conversation about what fostering involves and what we can offer you as a foster carer.