We positively welcome foster carers from all parts of the community so we can find the best match for every child. You can be considered for fostering if you are: - Single - male or female
- Married or living with a partner
- An adult, over 21
- A family with or without children
- Gay/lesbian or straight
- Black, White or bi-cultural
- A person who is disabled
- Employed or unemployed
- A house owner or tenant
What matters most is that you have the time, space, commitment, patience and skills to work with children and their parents.
What accommodation is needed
Foster carers do need to be either the legal tenants or owners of a property.
Although you don't need a big house, the child in care must have a room of his/her own, and this must be a room that is naturally available, ie not one created by proposing to move a child of your own into the bedroom of a sibling or parent.
Can I foster if I smoke ?
If you are interested in children up to and including 5 years of age you must be a non-smoker. For any child older than that you will still not be able to smoke in the house as there must be a healthy living environment for the child or young person in care.
What skills and qualities do foster carers need?
Foster carers have particular skills and abilities which help them to provide and maintain a good standard of care to the children and young people they look after. You will need to be able to:
- Build a child's sense of self-worth and identity
- Stick with a child through good and bad times
- Promote a child's health and education
- Encourage a child to develop and maintain friendships
- Understand the many different needs of children
- Respect and accept a young person's identity, sexuality, religion, culture, race, language and any individual needs
- Show flexibility in handling a range of sometimes challenging behaviour
- Encourage and support contact with a child's parents and family, as appropriate
- Develop your own skills through preparation and training
- Have a sense of humour!
What happens next?
If you would like more information about becoming a foster carer you can either:
- Download an information pack by clicking the 'Thinking about Fostering' link in the 'Read More' box on this page
- Phone or e-mail as per the 'Contact information' on this page
All prospective foster carers have to undergo a process of rigorous checks, assessment and preparation training.