Could you foster?

People from all walks of life can become foster carers, whether you rent your home, are retired, or unemployed. The key is providing a stable, supportive, and committed environment for a child to thrive.

Below we answer some frequently asked questions and you can take our new quiz to find out if you can foster.

Take our Could I foster? quiz

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Here are some common questions potential foster carers often ask:

Do I need a spare room?

To foster, you need a spare room.

The exception to this is fostering babies, who can share your bedroom until around 36 months old.

Related children under a certain age can share a room.

Short Breaks carers only need to provide a room when the child stays.

What if my home is rented?

You don't need to own your home to foster with us.

Renters just need a stable tenancy and their landlord's approval.

Do I need to have my own children?

No, you don't need to have your own children to foster, but some childcare experience can be beneficial.

If you do have children at home, they need to be comfortable with becoming a fostering family.

We offer various support for foster carers' children.

Can I have pets?

Yes, many of our foster carers have pets.

For some children, animals can be therapeutic.

Do I need to have a driving licence?

No, you don't need to drive or own a car.

However, you will need access to public transport.

Is there an age limit?

To foster with us, you need to be over 21 and have some life experience and maturity.

There's no upper age limit, but you must be healthy enough to meet a child's needs.

Will the children be local?

Children in foster care typically come from Surrey, but we also have unaccompanied asylum-seeking children needing homes.

We strive to place children with foster carers who can meet their cultural needs, though this isn't always possible.

All foster carers must be open-minded about who they care for.

Can I work and foster?

You can work full-time and be a Supported Lodgings or Short Breaks carer.

It's possible to foster a school-aged child while working, but you'll need friends or family to help with care outside school hours and during holidays.

For pre-school-aged children or Parent and Child fostering, one carer must be home full-time.

All foster carers need work flexibility for daytime meetings with social workers and other professionals. If you wish to talk to your workplace about becoming a foster carer, please contact us for more information. We can provide more information on becoming a Fostering Friendly Employer in Surrey and the many benefits it can bring to a business.

If you claim Universal Credit, check how fostering may affect it.

All foster carers must register as self-employed with HMRC, and we will assist you with this process.

What if I'm unemployed?

You can foster even if you're unemployed.

Fostering usually doesn't prevent you from claiming benefits.

Foster carers receive a weekly allowance to cover the living costs of children in their care, but only when a child is living with you.

If you're a single carer with little or no other income, check if you can claim Universal Credit.

As a foster carer, you need to register as self-employed with HMRC.

Foster carers benefit from tax breaks, often resulting in no tax on fostering income.

What if I don't live in Surrey?

If you live near the borders of Surrey, you can still foster with us.

For those further away or planning to move, check Local Authority Fostering South East for other local authorities in the South East.

Do I need to be married?

We welcome you regardless of your relationship status; Whether you're single, married, divorced, widowed, cohabiting, or in a civil partnership.

My first language is not English

You don't need to be a native English speaker to foster.

You just need to speak English well enough to communicate effectively with the child in your care.

We are always looking for more bilingual carers.

I am not from the UK

You can foster as long as you have indefinite leave to remain or settlement in the UK.

We welcome carers from diverse backgrounds.

I am LGBTQ+

We proudly support LGBTQ+ individuals and do not discriminate based on gender identity or sexual orientation.

We are always happy to welcome new LGBTQ+ carers.

I have a disability or long-standing medical condition

All foster carers must undergo a medical assessment.

Our medical advisor will determine if you are fit to foster.

If you take medication and it doesn't impact your daily life, you are unlikely to be excluded on medical grounds.

What if I smoke or vape?

You cannot foster a child under five if anyone in the household smokes or vapes.

However, you can foster older children if smoking or vaping is done outside the home.

I have a criminal conviction

Having a criminal conviction won't always prevent you from fostering.

However, you cannot foster if you have convictions for crimes against children or violent crimes.

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