ways to foster
becoming a foster carer
Becoming a foster carer is life-changing. It’s a decision to give something back and make a difference in your local community.
You’ve got to be sure that it’s the right decision for you and your family. You’ve got to be sure that you’ll be matched with a child who is right for your particular personality and skills, your family situation.
However, fostering is more flexible (and rewarding) than you may think.
how to become a foster parent
We’re always on the lookout for more people keen to help us change children’s lives. If you’re researching how to become a foster carer, you’ve already got the first step covered. Your interest has brought you to us.
At Foster Wales, the most important quality of a foster parent is their willingness to have a positive impact on young people as they grow up.
Our mission is to equip you with all the necessary information about the process of becoming a foster carer, from submitting your application to factors we consider when deciding who can foster a child, and what to expect once your fostering application has been approved.
Read more: How do you become a foster carer?
who can become a foster parent?
Foster parents have varied lifestyles, professions and experience; everyone is welcome into the fostering community, no matter what their sexual orientation or family situation.
The key requirement is that you have a spare room where the child you foster can make themselves at home. That, and the desire to give young people the love and support they need.
Read more: Who can foster?
how long does it take to become a foster parent?
Generally speaking, once you’ve started the application process, it will take about half a year to get approved and become a foster carer. This might seem lengthy – and feel rather frustrating if you are ready to welcome a child into your home – but it’s important for your local authority to run all the necessary checks so we can be sure the young people we place in your care are safe and happy.
The process involves a medical assessment, gathering some character references so we get to know you better, a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check to ensure you have a clean criminal record, a training course, and several house visits.
Once a panel has reviewed your application and you’re approved , you are ready to become a foster carer, and we’ll begin the search for a child to match you with.
Read more: How long does it take to become a foster carer?
how much do foster carers get paid?
While this is never the main motivation for becoming a foster parent, it’s good to know what sort of financial support is available.
You’re entitled to a set allowance per child you foster, as well as an additional payment for yourself -all of which is designed to help with day-to-day needs and family adventures together.
When you’re fostering a child, you can also take advantage of other support and rewards, ranging from local resources to discounts.
Read more: support and rewards
what disqualifies you from becoming a foster parent?
As a rule, we want to say yes to everyone who wants to become a foster parent – but we also have a duty to the children in our care to ensure they’re safe, so we have to do our due diligence.
The most clear-cut reason for disqualification is you, or someone in your household, having a serious criminal conviction. This would be a violent or sexual crime.
Minor offences that happened decades ago are not always a deal breaker, especially if we’re able to go over the details with you. In any case, the best way to approach past convictions is with full transparency.
Other factors that might mean your application is rejected include being too busy (including lots of travel), lacking suitable housing, poor health, or potentially dangerous pets. If the rest of the household hasn’t bought into the idea of fostering a child, we might also need to say no.
Read more: Five common reasons that can disqualify you from becoming a foster carer
why foster with foster wales?
If you’re ready to take the first step on your way to becoming a foster parent, we’re here to provide support, preparing you for the joys – and responsibilities – of fostering a child.
When you join our fostering community, you won’t be working with a distant organisation far removed from your community. We are a network of local authority services, each with a direct connection to local communities across Wales.
This means there will always be a dedicated team with local knowledge on hand to guide you, every step of the way, from your application through to when you are fostering a child.
We’re deeply invested in the well-being of all young people in our care and we make every effort to keep children local where we can, and when that’s right for them. We are also non-profit, so you know all our resources go towards building a better future for our community.
Read more: Why choose us?
becoming a foster parent with foster wales
We have 22 local teams covering different areas across Wales who can provide invaluable knowledge of the local children in their care, as well as introduce you to the community of local foster parents.
If you’re ready to become a foster carer with us, find your local authority and reach out to them for a friendly chat. They will provide you with all the information you need and guide you through the next steps.
We’re just helping them by giving them all the things that we believe children deserve to have, like a home, people who love them and a place to feel safe.”
faqs
how long can I foster a child?
There are different types of foster care, ranging from short breaks to short term fostering and long term foster care, as well as more specialist areas, such as parent and child fostering. What type of care a young person needs will depend on the individual child and their background.
During your assessment as a foster carer, we’ll go over each type of fostering with you, so we can determine what’s the best fit for you and your loved ones. Of course, as time goes on your situation might change – but rest assured, how you foster can be adjusted depending on your needs.
find your local foster wales team
Enter your postcode to find a link to your local foster care team.
