Foster carers come from a variety of backgrounds and have different life experiences, skills and qualities to meet the diverse needs of children in care.

To be a foster carer you can: 

  • have your own children or have no previous parenting experience
  • continue to work, depending on the type of fostering you want to do and the needs of the children you care for
  • apply to foster whatever your cultural, ethnic, religious background or sexuality. However, you would need to demonstrate that you could support a child from a different background to yours    
  • be any age over 21 years, as long as you're in good general health.

What do foster carers need?

We are looking for people who:

  • want to make a positive difference to a child's life and help them feel safe
  • are patient, committed, empathetic and understanding
  • have at least one spare room at home
  • can provide a settled and stable environment for a child
  • have time, availability and practical means to support a child, such as taking them to school, contact and activities
  • can attend training
  • have some relevant experience through previous employment, voluntary work or personal experience
  • can work with professionals
  • are full time residents in the UK or have leave to remain.

Priority groups

We are particularly keen to hear from people who are able to care for children within at least one of our priority groups, as these are the children and young people we urgently need to find homes for. Our priority groups include:

  • sibling groups of children of all ages
  • children over the age of 10 years and teenagers
  • children with disabilities
  • children with complex health and emotional needs
  • children needing permanent or long term placements.