Become a foster carer

You can apply to become a foster carer through:

• your local council
• an independent foster care agency
• a charity

Find registered fostering agencies on the Care Inspectorate.

Who can become a foster carer

You can foster a child if you:

• are a full-time resident in the UK
• are aged 18 or over - some agencies will not let you foster until age 21 but there's no upper age limit
• have a spare bedroom - some local councils may make exceptions depending on the child's age

You can foster a child regardless of:

• whether you rent your home or own it
• whether you have children already or not
• whether you work full-time or not - though some local councils may only let you do some types of fostering if you work full-time
• any 'protected characteristics' you have as part of the Equality Act (for example, your marital status, sexual orientation or religion)

Find out about protected characteristics on GOV.UK.

The application process

The organisation you apply through will carry out an assessment to make sure you're suitable to become a foster carer. This normally takes around 6 months and checks:

• your medical history
• your criminal record
• your finances
• that your home is suitable for a child - this includes home visits from a social worker
• with people who know you who can confirm the information on your application is true - you'll list these people in your application as 'referees'

You'll get to see the result of the assessment and respond if you disagree with any of the findings.

You'll also be interviewed by a group of experts, known as a 'fostering panel'. The organisation that you apply through will consider the panel's recommendations and your comments on the assessment. They will then decide whether to approve you as a foster carer.

You'll need to attend foster care preparation groups throughout the application process. These sessions will give you a chance to meet existing foster carers who will explain what it's like and answer your questions.

If you're approved as a foster carer

You'll need to sign a fostering agreement with the organisation you applied to confirming:

• details of the support and training you'll get
• that you'll treat any child you foster as if they're a member of your family
• that you will not physically punish any child you foster

Fostering agreements will be different for each organisation and some may have more things you need to agree to.

When a child is placed with you, you'll be told about their personal life, health and educational needs.

Appeal the decision of your foster care application

Speak to your local council's fostering team if you're unhappy with the decision not to recommend you as a foster carer. They will be able to tell you the reasons for the decision and give you information about how to appeal.

Foster carer reviews

After your first year, the organisation you applied to will check that you're still able to be a foster carer. After your first foster carer review, you'll be reviewed every 2 years.

Get help with fostering between foster care reviews.