What you need to become a foster carer.
Fostering is a rewarding way to make a positive difference to a child's life and a wonderful way to enrich your own. By providing a stable and welcoming home for a child you're giving them the chance for a better future.
We're looking for people who can:
- give children and young people a safe, caring and supportive home
- work with us as part of a team
We welcome people of any ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion. It doesn't matter whether you're married, in a civil partnership, or single, whether you have a job, or if you have a disability or long term health issue. There's no typical foster family, just as there's no typical child.
There are different types of foster care available, so you can choose the one that suits you best.
What you need to become a foster carer
All you need to become a foster carer is to be over 21 and have the space in your home and time in your life to care for a child. You'll also need to be in good enough health to care for a child.
It also helps to have:
- the support of your family
- a desire to help others learn
- a sense of humour
- a desire to learn new things
- patience and understanding
Don't rule yourself out, even if you feel you might not have everything it takes.
If you have questions about any aspect of fostering, or would like to talk to us about it before making a decision, call us on 0117 353 4200. We'd love to talk you through any questions you have, and help you with next steps.
