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Just like children, foster carers come in all shapes and sizes, from all backgrounds and all walks of life. They are ordinary people who like children, have a genuine interest in their welfare and have the time and space to look after them.
Check-list for fostering
- Single, married, gay or lesbian
- Some experience of looking after children
- You have a strong partnership or family and friends
- Any cultural background
- Over 18 but there is no upper age limit
- Stable accommodation
- Good health. If you have a disability you can still foster if it does not prevent the caring tasks from being carried out
- Have a good understanding of the English language and are able to read and write
- Be able to use email and the internet, or be prepared to undertake basic IT training
- Be willing to attend ongoing fostering training
- Agree to a full criminal records check
The kind of person you are is the most important thing about being a foster carer.Here is a list of some of the qualities we look for:
- You like children and enjoy their company
- You are able to accept children from other cultural backgrounds to your own
- You can be non-judgmental about a child’s birth parents and why a child is in care
- You understand that it may take time for a child to respond to you and may not show thanks
- You could accept or deal with an angry or distressed child
- You can accept that your house may become messy
- You have a sense of humour
- You can accept that a foster child is not your own and will someday move on
Related Websites
- British Agency for Adoption and Fostering
- Department of Health: Fostering Services Standards
- Fostering Net
- Foster Talk
Related Tasks
Contact Torbay Foster Care Service
- Tel: 01803 207857
- Email: fostercareservice@torbay.gov.uk
- Fax:
Related Pages
- Education Support Services
- Family Service Directory
- Private Fostering
- Children Looked After
