How to become
You can get into this role by applying directly.
Direct Application
You can apply to foster with your local council or with an independent fostering agency.
Local councils and agencies recruit a diverse range of foster carers regardless of sexuality, ethnicity, religion or marital status. The main requirement is that you can provide a stable and loving home for the child or young person.
Training and assessment
Once you've applied to become a foster carer, you'll go through a training programme followed by an assessment. This is to make sure you can meet the needs of the children you'll foster.
Each council and agency has slightly different training and assessments. For example, you might:
- learn skills on a pre-fostering course
- attend groups to talk to existing foster carers
- spend time with a social worker who will ask questions about you and your home situation
If you're a couple, you both have to complete the training and pass the assessment.
Panel
Once you've successfully completed the assessment, your social worker will write a report and present this to a panel who will decide if you can become a foster carer.
The report will outline your skills and any areas where you need more training or support. You can see the report and add your own comments before it's submitted to the panel.
More Information
Career tips
It might help your application if you have experience looking after children. This could be from caring for your own children or other children in your family.
Your whole family will be involved in fostering. It's important to tell them you're applying to be a foster carer. You should be clear with them about what is involved and the support you'll need.
There are different types of fostering, including short-term, long-term and emergency foster care.
Further information
You can find out more about fostering from: