How old do I have to be to be a Foster Carer?

At Perpetual Fostering we accept applications to be a Foster Carer from anyone over the age of 21.

I have Health Issues can I be a Foster Carer?

Conditions such as Asthma and Diabetes may not stop you from becoming a Foster Carer, however, you must be in good health.  Your general mental health must be good and you should not have any major physical disabilities. 

Can I foster if I have my own children at home?

Having your own children will give you the knowledge of childcare which is always an advantage in becoming a Foster Carer. However, at Perpetual Fostering we would not proceed with an application if you had children under the age of 2 living at home.

Can a foster child share a room with my own child?

The simple answer to this is NO.  As children grow and become more independent they tend to need their own space, this is particularly important with children in care and for that reason Perpetual Fostering would only continue the application process if there was a spare room available for a foster child.

I have a speeding offence can I foster?

Speeding offences do not preclude you from becoming a foster carer, however offences against children and vulnerable adults or offences of violence would. You would need to contact team members to discuss this matter further.

I work at home as a childminder, can I still foster?

There are implications of safety involved with fostering and childminding which would need to be discussed further with a member of the Perpetual Fostering team.  Whilst being in employment would not stop you from becoming a foster carer we would like the main carer to give up their employment when they have a stable placement.

I don’t drive will this stop me from becoming a foster carer?

Not being able to drive would not stop you from becoming a foster carer, however, there are situation such as transportation to school or contact visits which would need to be undertaken by the Foster Carer, so being able to drive is always and advantage.

I don’t have a partner, can I still Foster a child?

Yes, you do not have to be in a relationship to become a Foster Carer, but you need to bear in mind that if your circumstances change you would need to be reassessed as a couple.

I have recently moved to the UK and do not speak very good English, will this affect my application?

Possibly, to become a foster carer you need to have had British Citizenship for at least 12 months, and have established good links within your community.  The ability to speak and write good English is essential due to the various meetings which take place when a Foster Child is in placement.

I am currently in the process of refurbishing my home will this affect my becoming a foster carer?

A health and safety checklist is completed during the assessment process and therefore it is essential that a decision to become a Foster Carer be put on hold until your refurbishments are completed.  This would be the same if you were planning to move house.

IF YOU ARE STILL UNSURE AFTER YOU HAVE LOOKED AT THESE QUESTIONS PLEASE CONTACT A MEMBER OF THE PERPETUAL FOSTERING TEAM WHO CAN ADVISE YOU REGARDING YOUR APPLICATION.