Anyone considering becoming a Foster care will naturally have a whole series of questions. Becoming a foster carer is life changing. In part 1 we provide answers to some of the basic questions that are frequently asked.

What is the difference between adoption and foster care?
When a family is unable to look after their child (children), Fostering can be a solution. Sometimes it is a temporary arrangement on a short term basis. Many children are able to return to their own families: where this is not possible, but a child wants to keep in contact with their family, they can be placed in long term foster care. In this case, they will still receive ongoing support from the local authority. Carers never assume the parental responsibility for a child in their care.

Adoption differs as it is the means by which a completely new family can be provided when a child’s own family cannot have them. When a child is adopted, it is a legal procedure, meaning the adopters will then assume full parental responsibility. Once adopted, a child loses all legal ties with their natural, or “birth parents”. They usually then take the name of their new family.

Will I need to have specific qualifications to foster?
The short answer is No. Before you became an approved foster carer, you will be given training to enable you to develop the skills you already possess. The ‘Skills to Foster course is a fairly universal course that applicants will undertake to see if fostering will be right for them. Once approved, carers are expected to participate in training opportunities that their IFA or local authority will offer. These are designed to boost the skills as well as the confidence of foster carers.
Specialist training covering looking after children with complex needs or disabilities, is usually available as there is a particular demand for foster carers to provide homes for such children.

I don’t have a spare room – can I still foster foster?
Whether fostering for a local authority or an IFA (independent fostering agency), you will need to have a spare room. This is to ensure that the foster child has their own personal space and the privacy that goes with it. If a child is of school age, this is where they can study. Carers are expected to support a child in achieving their educational goals.

The exception to the rule is made in relation to babies: they can, in most instances, share a foster carer’s bedroom.

Am I allowed to foster if I have pets?
Yes, but certain considerations will be made. As part of the assessment process your pet will be assessed to ensure they do not pose a risk to a child. In some circumstances a vets report will need to be obtained. This is required to check that an animal does not have an unsuitable temperament.

What support is available if I decide to foster?
Once you are approved to be a carer, support will be made available. There are different forms of support: you will be assigned your own supervising social worker who you will have regular progress meetings with. They are there to deal with any problems or issues that might arise. They will also organise any additional training that you might want.

Do I have to be a British citizen if I want to foster children?
There is no current requirement to be a British national should you decide to be a foster carer. You will be expected to be a full-time resident in the UK by the local authority or independent fostering service provider.

Can I foster if I have a police record?
You may be able to but this will depend on the nature of the conviction. The law is quite clear – stating that the only convictions that will bar people from fostering are those that relate to an offence against children or a sexual offence. When applying to be a foster carer the process will include an enhanced criminal check. This means any convictions will need to be disclosed.

Can I still apply to foster children before I move house?
It is not usual that you will be assessed to be a carer if you are in the process of moving house or flat This is because the type of accommodation you live in, and especially what you are able to make available for a child or young person, forms an important part of the assessment process.

Can I foster if I suffer from a long-term health condition?
As part of the process of applying to be a your health will be assessed. If you are suffering from a long term condition this will be taken into account. It is important to realise that fostering a child can be a demanding process calling for both resilience and energy. A foster carer needs to be physically and psychologically fit to look after a child or young person.

And the good news at the end of this rainbow…our music sessions are going from strength to strength – a big thank you to all our children for their enthusiasm.

If you are a carer (s): check our news section
Do please take the time to visit our special news section on Rainbow’s web site. There are articles of interest if you are a foster parent (and even if you aren’t) Simply visit http://bit.ly/2e8PrIK

Feel free to contact us with your own views or fostering experiences. We would love to hear from you whatever type of fostering you do.

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