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Did you know that there is a fostering crisis in the UK? In December of last year, The Guardian reported on this issue, with Social Services charging how they needed thousands more foster carers to help children in need of homes. There is a desperate need for bedrooms and homes for children who need a safe place to live and a caring family to look after them. If you have considered fostering in the past, then now really is the time for you to help.
Fostering is such amazing way to give young people and children a good chance in life after a tricky start. These are children who need someone who cares, who wants them to thrive, to grow and be happy.
It’s Easier Than You Think to Become a Foster Carer
There a lot of misconceptions about fostering and a lot of people don’t think that they can foster, when actually they can.
For example, did you know that you can foster if you are a single person? If you are disabled or have had some mental health issues? LQBTQ+ members of the community, as well as people from different faiths and religions, are also welcome to foster. You can work, as long as you can attend appointments to support the child in your care. You can have pets, people with criminal records are considered, dependant on the crime. Of course anyone who has ever been convicted of harming a child would never be considered. It’s much more flexible than people realise.
How to Become a Foster Carer
If you are considering fosteing, then check out Time Out Fostering. They are a small agency that specialises in helping people become foster carers in the East and West Sussex, South London and the South East. They offer support and round-the-clock 24-7, are independent and are really passionate about the work that they do.
You can start by having a no-obligation call with Time Out Fostering and they can answer all of your questions and chat with you about the whole process.
You would need to do the following as part of the process:
- Complete a foster care training course
- Pass a DBS check
- Get a medical report from your GP
- Have local authority checks (that go back 7 years)
- Be able to provide references from friends and relatives
- Have a safety check of your home, which includes pets
It also sounds a bit daunting, but remember you won’t be doing it unsupported and it’s to make sure you and the child you foster are happy and safe throughout your journey.
Fostering as a Career
Fostering is a vocation and something you should only do if you feel passionate about doing so, it is also incredibly rewarding. If you are interested in becoming a foster carer, it can also be a career for you. How much you earn depends on your experience and the needs of the child you are caring for, but a carer’s allowance earning is between £420 to £1,100 per week.
If you have children who have left home, perhaps your house feels too quiet and you have a spare bedroom just sitting there, maybe you need some extra income too in the cost of living crisis, then fostering could be a good choice for you. A way to use that room, earn some income, and more importantly, breathe some love and life back into that too-quiet home.
What Do I Need To Foster?
You will need a spare bedroom as well as a willingness to help a young person and give them a caring home. Every foster child needs their own room in order to have their own space to live in and feel safe and they cannot share with someone else. You can rent or own your home, it doesn’t matter which, as long as you have a spare bedroom. You also need to be aged 18 or over. There is also no upper age limit to fostering, as long as you are fit and well.
Next Steps
Are you or someone you know considering becoming a foster carer and want to have a no-obligation chat to find out more? Simply fill in this form and one of Time Out’s friendly team will be in touch at a time that suits you. You could change a child’s life!