Fostering FAQs
Your questions answered
Who can become a foster carer?
Do I need to have children of my own?
Do I have to live in Hammersmith & Fulham?
Can I work and be a foster carer?
Do I have to have training before I can look after a child?
Can I foster if I am already a childminder?
Can I foster for more than one Borough?
Do I have to take a child to school?
Can a child change schools and go to one closer to where I live?
What about other types of foster care?
I am interested in fostering, how do I find out more?
Who can become a foster carer?
All sorts of people make good foster carers. The children we support come from many different backgrounds and we need foster carers to reflect the diverse needs of these children. We encourage applications from people:
- at least 23 years old
- of all nationalities and from all cultural, religious and social backgrounds including those with a disability
- who have any language as their first language
Do I need to have children of my own?
No, but we will look at your previous experience of looking after children or working with children.
We will assess your parenting skills as part of the application process. We expect you to have some experience of caring for children and a good understanding of the energy and commitment you need to look after a child or young person.
If you do have children, they will play an important role in making your foster child feel at home.
Do I have to be married or be with a partner to be a foster carer?
No, you can foster whether you are sigle, married, living with a partner, whether you are heterosexual, gay or lesbian.
Do I have to live in Hammersmith & Fulham?
No, you don’t have to live in Hammersmith & Fulham but you do need to live within the Greater London area and have good transport links to the area. Most of the children you will be fostering will be at school in the borough, meetings will also be held here and you will have to attend regular meetings and training at our offices.
Can I work and be a foster carer?
Yes, however this will depend on the age of the child you wish to foster. You need to be a full-time carer for children aged birth to five. If you are working you can only foster children of school age. We would need to consider what arrangements you have for school holidays and taking the child to and from school.
Will I be paid?
You will be given a professional fostering fee and an allowance for your foster child's care, when a child is in placement.
Do I have to have training before I can look after a child?
Yes. You will have to attend training and evaluation sessions before you can be approved to foster a child. If you are making a joint application with a partner both of you have to attend these sessions.
You will be provided with specific fostering training while you are fostering. You will also be given the opportunity to work towards a Diplomain Caring for Children and Young People.
Can a child share a bedroom?
Ideally every foster child would have their own room, but we recognise that this is not always possible. We do, however, have the following rules about children sharing rooms:
• Birth - two years old can sleep in the carer’s room in a cot
• No sharing with foster carer’s own children
• Two to eight years old of either gender can share if they are siblings
• Nine to 13 years old can share if they are siblings of the same gender
• If bunk beds are involved, under 5’s are on the lower bunk only. Bunk beds are unsuitable for 14 plus years old.
• 14 plus years old must have their own room.
Can I foster if I’m already a childminder?
Yes, you can. However this depends on the age of the child you wish to foster and your Ofsted approval.
Can I foster for more than one borough?
No, you can only be an approved foster carer for one Fostering Agency at any one time.
Do I have to take a child to school?
Yes you do have to be able to take a child to school, or make arrangements within your own support network for someone to take the child to school. This person would need to have a Criminal Records Bureau Check and be interviewed.
Can the child change schools and go to one closer to where I live?
Stability for foster children is very important so we try to avoid them having to change schools. However, on occasions, and if the child’s needs allow, children can change school.
What about other types of foster care?
There are many ways of supporting a child or young person. In Hammersmith & Fulham we have a wide range of specialist fostering schemes that may be suitable for you. Some of these are:
-
Scheme foster care
Scheme foster carer’s provide short term care for Hammersmith & Fulham looked after children from birth to 17. This can be anything from an overnight stay in an emergency to several months, whilst permanent plans are made for the foster child. As a Scheme foster carer you would provide a stable and caring family environment for foster children during a difficult period in their lives. The majority of children return either to their parents or extended family -
PACT (parents and carers together)
Occasional care in your own home for young people between 11 and 16 years old. This may be a regular, planned visit or an emergency overnight stay.
You will be matched with a family at risk of breaking down. The care you provide will give parents and teenagers a break from each other and can help families stay together. -
Shared Care
Support service for disabled children and their families. Carers are matched to a family to provide either daytime or overnight care in their own homes, or befriending in the community. This important service allows the parents of a disabled child to have a break or spend time with their other children. It also provides the child with opportunities to make friends and enjoy new experiences.
What is permanent fostering?
Some children may need to be looked after permanently without being legally adopted.
This may be because they are unable to live with their birth family for practical reasons but wish to remain in close contact with their parents. In this case we would look for permanent foster care.
This may not suit people looking to build a family through adoption. But it may be right for you if your own children have grown up and left home.
I am interested in fostering, how do I find out more?
Call us on Freephone 0800 169 3497 or email us fostering@lbhf.gov.uk
If you are interested in fostering we will take brief details from you and then arrange for a social worker to visit you at home.
This is the first stage of the assessment process and gives you the opportunity to talk to us about what is involved. It also gives us a chance to find out more about what you can offer a child or young person.
The whole process, from when you first contact us, to being approved to foster a child, usually takes about six months.
Page last updated: 23/05/2011
