Becoming a foster parent is one of the most rewarding things you can do. If you have a spare room, and room in your heart, we'll guide you through every step, from your first enquiry, through your fostering assessment, to welcoming a child into your home.
Who can foster
People from all walks of life make wonderful foster parents. You may well be able to foster even if you think you can't.
You're single, married, unmarried, divorced or separatedYou rent or own your homeYou're LGBTQ+ or in a same-sex relationshipYou're over 21, with no upper age limitYou work full-time or part-timeYou already have children, or none of your ownA few things are needed for everyone. You can read the full requirements on our Fostering Assessment page.
The journeyStart with a friendly, no-obligation chat about fostering and what it involves.
We carry out your fostering assessment, known as the Form F Assessment, getting to know you and your household.
You'll take part in preparation training that helps get you ready to foster.
An independent panel considers your report and makes a recommendation on your approval.
Once approved, we support you as you welcome a child into your home.
Take the first step today. Tell us a little about yourself and we'll be in touch, with no pressure and no obligation.
The qualities that count
There's no such thing as a perfect foster parent, but certain qualities make a real difference to a child. Here's what matters most.
Compassion and empathyKindness and understandingRespect for every child's background, culture and identityBeing non-judgementalA genuine desire to help children thrivePatience and understandingEmotional resilienceRemaining calm under pressureA positive attitude and sense of humourRealistic expectations of fosteringGood listening skillsExcellent communicationBuilding trust with childrenWorking effectively with social workers, schools and other professionalsConfidence in managing difficult conversationsProviding a safe and secure homeReliability and consistencyMaintaining healthy routinesSetting clear and appropriate boundariesCommitment to safeguarding and promoting a child's welfareEncouraging education and learningPromoting confidence and self-esteemHelping children develop independence and life skillsCelebrating achievements, big and smallSupporting healthy emotional developmentFlexibility and adaptabilityStrong problem-solving skillsBeing dependable during uncertaintyWillingness to ask for help when neededSupporting children through changeCommitment to ongoing trainingUnderstanding trauma and adverse childhood experiencesRespecting confidentialityKeeping children's best interests at the heart of every decisionBeing open to feedback and continuous learningHaving a supportive family or personal networkSupporting appropriate family contactCreating positive relationships within the homeWorking as part of a wider support teamHelping children feel they belongCommitment to making a lasting positive differenceFinancial responsibility and stabilityStrong organisational and time management skillsBeing a positive role modelHelping children achieve their full potentialThe difference you make
Every child deserves a safe, stable and loving home. As a foster parent, you give a child exactly that, at a time when they need it most. It isn't always easy, but watching a child grow in confidence, feel secure and begin to thrive is a reward like no other. And you'll never do it alone: you'll have training, your own supervising social worker and a network of support around you at every step.
Good to knowBecoming a foster parent starts with a simple enquiry and a friendly, no-obligation conversation about fostering. If you decide to go ahead, we arrange an initial home visit, then carry out your Form F assessment, which gets to know you, your household and your ability to care for a child. Alongside this you'll complete preparation training. Your assessment is then presented to an independent fostering panel, which recommends whether you should be approved. Once approved, we support you as you welcome your first child. The whole journey usually takes around three to six months.
Start with an enquiry and an informal chatComplete your assessment and preparation trainingApproval at panel, then your first placementFoster parents come from all walks of life, and there is no single type of person who fosters. You can foster whether you are single, married, unmarried, divorced or in a same-sex relationship, and whether or not you already have children. Your gender, sexual orientation, religion and ethnicity are not barriers. What matters is that you can offer a child a safe, stable and caring home, and that you have the patience, resilience and commitment that fostering asks for. A few practical requirements apply to everyone, but beyond these, the door is open to far more people than many realise.
People from all backgrounds fosterRelationship status and identity are no barrierWhat counts is a safe, caring homeThe core requirements are straightforward. You'll need to be at least 21, have a spare bedroom available for a foster child, and have the right to live in the UK on a long-term basis. Your home should be safe, stable and suitable, whether you rent or own it, and you'll need the time and energy to care for a child, including for school runs, appointments and support. You'll also have a medical and enhanced background checks as part of the assessment. Beyond these essentials, there is very little that automatically prevents someone from fostering.
Over 21 with a spare bedroomThe right to live in the UK long-termA safe home, time, and background checksYou are very likely eligible if you are over 21, have a spare bedroom and the right to remain in the UK, and can offer a child a safe and stable home. Many people wrongly rule themselves out, assuming that being single, renting, working, being LGBTQ+, being older or claiming benefits would stop them, when none of these is a barrier. Even a health condition or a minor, older criminal record does not automatically prevent you from fostering; these are simply discussed as part of the assessment. If you are unsure, the best thing to do is get in touch and we'll talk it through.
Over 21, spare room, right to remainRenting, working, single or LGBTQ+ is fineUnsure? Get in touch for a chatNone. You do not need any formal qualifications or previous professional experience to become a foster parent. Far more important are your personal qualities: patience, empathy, resilience, a sense of humour and a genuine commitment to a child's wellbeing. Any experience of caring for or working with children can be helpful, but it is not essential. Everything you need to know is provided through preparation training before you begin, and through ongoing training and support once you are approved. Fostering is something you learn and grow into, with a team around you every step of the way.
No formal qualifications neededPersonal qualities matter mostTraining and support are providedYou need to be at least 21 to foster in the UK. Most fostering services set this as the minimum age, as it helps ensure carers have the maturity and life experience to meet a child's needs. Beyond that, there is no single right age; people become foster parents in their twenties, their fifties and every decade in between. What matters far more than your age is your ability to provide a safe, caring and stable home, and to have the energy and commitment fostering requires. If you meet the minimum age and the other requirements, your age itself is not a barrier.
You must be at least 21People foster at every age after thatAbility matters more than ageNo, there is no upper age limit for becoming a foster parent. As long as you are fit and healthy enough to care for a child and meet their needs, your age is not a barrier, and many people come to fostering later in life when they have more time and experience to offer. As part of the assessment you'll have a medical, which simply helps confirm that you are well enough to foster over the long term. Life experience is often a real asset in fostering, so being older can be a genuine strength rather than a limitation.
No upper age limitFitness to care is what mattersLife experience is an assetYes, absolutely. You do not need to be part of a couple to foster, and many excellent foster parents are single, including single men, single women and single parents. What matters is that you can provide a stable, loving home and meet a child's needs. If you are single, your assessment will explore your support network, such as family and friends who can help, since a strong network is valuable for any foster carer. Being single is no barrier at all, and for some children, a single, dedicated carer is exactly what they need.
Single people foster successfullyYour support network is exploredA dedicated carer is what countsYes. Couples are welcome to foster together, whether you are married, in a civil partnership, or living together as an unmarried or same-sex couple. When you apply as a couple, you will both take part in the assessment and, if approved, be approved together, because fostering affects the whole household. Assessors look for a stable, committed relationship that can offer a child security. Most services like to see an established relationship, often around two years of living together, though your circumstances are always considered as a whole. Fostering as a couple means you can share the rewards, and the responsibilities, together.
Married, unmarried and same-sex couples welcomeYou're assessed and approved togetherA stable relationship is what's neededFrom your first enquiry to approval, becoming a foster parent usually takes around three to six months. This includes your fostering assessment, preparation training, background checks and references, and your presentation to a fostering panel. The timescale is deliberate rather than slow: it gives you the space to be sure fostering is right for you, and allows a thorough, careful assessment. Some approvals happen more quickly, and if you are transferring from another fostering service it can be faster still. We'll always give you a realistic idea of timescales, and keep you informed at every stage.
Usually around three to six monthsCovers assessment, training, checks and panelDeliberate, thorough, and kept on track