How to become a foster carer in the UK

Thinking about fostering is a big, generous step, and the process is more straightforward than many people expect. This guide walks through what fostering involves, who can do it, and each stage from first enquiry to approval, so you know what to expect before you start.

Fostering means giving a child or young person a safe, stable home for as long as they need it, while their own family cannot care for them. You are supported throughout by a fostering service, and you are paid an allowance to cover the cost of caring for a child, usually with a fee on top.

Who can foster?

Far more people can foster than assume they can. In general you can apply if you:

• are over 21,
• have a spare bedroom for a child,
• have the right to live and work in the UK.

Beyond that, there are very few hard rules. You can usually foster whether you rent or own your home, whatever your relationship status, sexuality or gender, whether or not you have children of your own, and whether you work full time, part time or not at all. Each fostering service assesses your individual situation, so if you cannot tick every box above, it is still worth a conversation. Many people who were unsure go on to foster.

Step 1: Decide who to foster with

There are two kinds of fostering service in the UK:

• Local authorities, the council's own fostering service.
• Independent fostering agencies, which recruit and support carers and work with local authorities to place children.

Both approve and support foster carers to the same national standards. Independent agencies often offer smaller caseloads and extra support, while fostering for the council can mean caring for children from your own area. It is worth talking to more than one before you decide. You can find Ofsted-registered fostering agencies near you to compare, or send an enquiry and we will help you find a suitable local service.

Step 2: Make an enquiry

The first step is simply to get in touch. You share a few details, and a fostering advisor calls you back to talk things through. There is no commitment at this stage. It is a friendly conversation about your situation, the children who need homes, and whether fostering could be right for you.

Step 3: An initial visit

If you want to go further, a social worker visits you at home to talk in more detail and see where a child would live. This is a two-way conversation: a chance for them to get to know you, and for you to ask anything you want about the role, the support and the realities of fostering.

Step 4: Application and assessment

When you are ready, you make a formal application and the full assessment begins. A supervising social worker gets to know you and your household over a number of visits and writes an assessment report (often called a Form F). Alongside this you will have:

• an enhanced DBS (criminal record) check for you and other adults in your home,
• personal references,
• a health check with your GP,
• a home safety check.

You will also complete preparation training (commonly the Skills to Foster course), which helps you understand the needs of children who are fostered and how you will be supported. The assessment usually takes around four to six months, though it varies.

Step 5: Fostering panel and approval

Your completed assessment goes to a fostering panel, an independent group that reads your report, meets you, and makes a recommendation. The service's agency decision maker then makes the final decision on your approval, including the ages and number of children you are approved to care for.

Step 6: Your first placement and ongoing support

Once approved, your supervising social worker works with you to find a child whose needs match what you can offer, so the placement has the best chance of working for everyone. You are not on your own: you have regular supervision, ongoing training, and support from your fostering service throughout.

What foster carers are paid

Foster carers receive a weekly fostering allowance to cover the cost of caring for a child, and most also receive a fee for their time and skills. The government sets a national minimum fostering allowance, which varies by the child's age and by region and is reviewed each year, and many services pay above it. Because the figures change, check the current rates and how payments work on the official guidance at gov.uk. A fostering service will explain exactly what you would receive before you commit.

How long does it take?

From your first enquiry to approval is typically around six months, depending on the service and your circumstances. It is a thorough process, by design, because it is about a child's home.

Ready to take the first step?

The best way to find out if fostering is right for you is a no-pressure conversation. Start your enquiry and a fostering advisor will be in touch, or browse fostering agencies in your area first.

This guide is general information, not advice about your specific circumstances. Fostering rules and payments are set nationally and can change, so always confirm the current position with a fostering service or at gov.uk.