What happens when a child is taken into care?
Benefits of being a foster parent
What is a care leaver?
How to become a foster parent
How to foster a child
What are the foster care requirements
Can I choose who I foster?
Fostering with pets FAQ
How long does it take to become a foster parent?
What is the role of an independent fostering agency?
Fostering a disabled child
Tips for coping when foster placements end
Becoming a foster parent does not take as long as you may initially think – on average, the process takes 3 – 6 months, which is usually dependent on the fostering assessment. Find out everything you need to know about fostering assessments in our helpful guide.
To foster a child in the UK, a number of integral checks will be made by the assessing independent fostering agency or local authority including a Disclosure Barring Service (DBS), as well as risk assessments and health checks. During this time, you will also attend foster care training sessions – specifically, our ‘Skills to Foster’ Training course – which will equip you with the essential skills and knowledge it takes to foster. Once all these checks are completed, you are then assessed by an independent panel that will review your assessment and make the final decision.
The foster care requirements may not be as strict as you think - there are a small number of primary requirements to become a foster carer:
Read our step by step guide on how to apply to be a foster carer for further information on this process.
A common misconception about foster carers is that you have to fit a very selective criteria but in reality a lot of people are eligible to apply to be foster parents! As long as you are over 21, a permanent UK resident, have a spare room and have time to care for someone else, you can apply to become a foster carer.
Your marital status, sexuality or religion doesn’t mean you can’t foster! If you have questions on if you can foster, read our commonly asked questions in the Can I foster if…? guide, or get in touch with our team today.
If you are interested in a career in fostering, contact our team for any queries you may have. To learn more about the fostering process, have a browse through our helpful knowledge centre.
If you’ve got any questions or would like to find out more about fostering with Capstone, fill out the form below.
An experienced fostering advisor from your local area will then be in touch.
Start the conversation today. Our team of friendly advisors are on hand to answer any foster care questions you may have. We can offer you honest and practical advice that can help you decide if becoming a foster carer is the right path for you.