how to become a foster parent

How to become a foster parent

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Fostering a child is arguably one of the best things you can do. It is also a serious commitment, so it is crucial that you gather and consider all of the information before you commit. If you are interested in how to become a foster parent then here's some tips on how you can do it:

The Process

Contact your local council, or a fostering agency. After this initial contact, they will begin to collect information from you and anyone in your household over the age of 18, which includes a health check and a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). Your suitability as a foster parent will then be assessed, which can up to six months. Your application will be sent to an independent fostering panel, which will suggest whether you are suitable or not however your fostering service will make the final decision.

The Different Types Of Foster Care

Emergency – When children need somewhere to stay for just a few nights.
Short-Time – When a child stays for a few weeks or months whilst more solid plans are made for the child's future.
Short-Breaks – This applies to children with special needs, a disability, or behavioural difficulties taking short breaks from their permanent home in order to give their parents or constant carers a break.
Remand – If a child is remanded by court to be cared for by specially trained foster carer.
Long-Term – If children don't want to be adopted, they can be placed into a long-term foster home.
'Family and Friends' or 'Kinship' – When a child is placed with a relative or someone the child is familiar with.
Specialist Therapeutic – For complex needs and/or challenging behaviours.

Training and Support

As a foster carer you will be reviewed annually by the local council or fostering agency. A supervising social worker will also visit you often and will be able to offer you advice and support.

Tax and costs

fostering To cover the cost of a foster child, carers are given an allowance which ranges from between a minimum of £116 – £135 per week for babies, up to a minimum of £175 to £205 per week for 16-17 year olds. The allowances provided are dependent on the age of the child and where in the country you live, with London and the South East paying a slightly higher allowance. You may be eligible to receive more money if:

The child has specific needs.
You have certain skills.
You make a particularly large commitment to fostering.

There are also tax exemptions of up to £10,000 per year, which is shared equally amongst all foster carers in a household. This means you don't have to pay tax on the first £10,000 you earn whilst fostering.

In addition to the £10,000 exemption you may also be eligible for tax relief for every week that a child is in your care. This means you don't have pay tax on some of your earnings over £10,000. So if you have a child under 11, you could get a tax relief of £200 per chil and £250 per child that is over 11. Also, if you are on your pension, you may be able to get National Insurance Credits.

Fostering may affect the amount of benefits you receive unless they come from a local council, a voluntary organisation or a private organisation on behalf of your local council. Benefits that may be affected however include job seekers allowance, income support and Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).

For more information on fostering a child visit Foster Carers at GOV.UK.