Many people think about fostering for years before they ever make an enquiry.
You might have had the thought quietly in the background — after seeing something on the news, after your own children grew older, or simply because you know you have space in your home and in your life.
Then the questions start:
Am I even eligible?
Could I afford it?
What’s the process actually like?
Would I be supported properly?
If you’re exploring how to become a foster carer, this guide will walk you through it clearly — without pressure, without jargon, and without pretending it’s something it’s not.
What Does Fostering Really Involve?
When people begin researching how to become a foster carer, they often focus on the process — the forms, the panel, the approval. But before any of that, it’s important to understand what the role actually involves day to day.
Fostering is not a dramatic, heroic act played out in big moments. Most of it happens in ordinary routines — school runs, homework, tea at the table, quiet conversations before bed. Yet for a child who has experienced instability, those ordinary moments can be profoundly powerful.
At its heart, fostering is about offering stability to a child whose world has been unsettled.
Children come into care for complex reasons — neglect, family breakdown, domestic abuse, parental illness. By the time they arrive, they may have experienced loss, confusion or trauma.
Your role isn’t to “fix” everything.
It’s to provide:
Consistency
Safety
Patience
Predictable routines
Advocacy when they need a voice
It’s ordinary family life, done intentionally and with professional support around you.
Who Can Become a Foster Carer?
Many prospective carers disqualify themselves before they even make an enquiry. They assume they’re too old, too busy, single, renting, or somehow not the “right type” of person.
In reality, fostering in the UK is far more inclusive than people imagine.
There is no single mould. Foster carers come from a wide range of backgrounds, cultures and life experiences — and that diversity is needed because children in care are equally diverse.
You can apply if you are:
Over 21
Single, married or in a long-term relationship
Working, self-employed or at home
A homeowner or renting
With or without children of your own
There’s no requirement to be wealthy, to have a particular career, or to have raised children already.
What matters more is emotional stability, resilience and a willingness to learn.
The Fostering Process: What Actually Happens
One of the biggest sources of anxiety is not knowing what the assessment involves. The word “assessment” alone can sound intimidating.
In practice, the fostering process is structured but supportive. Its purpose isn’t to judge you — it’s to understand you properly, so that children are matched safely and appropriately.
Here’s what that usually looks like.
1. Initial Conversation
Most journeys begin with a phone call, website chat or enquiry form.
This stage is informal. It’s a chance for you to ask honest questions and get clear answers about time commitments, finances and support.
There’s no obligation to proceed.
2. Home Visit
If you choose to continue, a we’ll visit you at home, or do a zoom call where you can show us around.
This meeting allows space to explore your motivation, household routines, work arrangements and the practical layout of your home. It also gives you the opportunity to understand how the agency works and what support truly looks like in practice.
It’s a two-way conversation.
3. Checks and References
If you proceed, formal checks begin — DBS, medical, references, local authority checks.
This can feel intrusive, but it’s about protecting children.
4. The Assessment (Form F)
This is the most detailed part of the journey.
Over several sessions, a supervising social worker will explore your life experience, relationships, parenting views, strengths and vulnerabilities.
It usually takes around 3–4 months.
Done well, this process is reflective rather than interrogative. Many carers say they learn a great deal about themselves during it.
5. Fostering Panel and Approval
An independent panel reviews your assessment and makes a recommendation. A final decision is then made by the agency decision maker.
From enquiry to approval, the process typically takes between four and six months.
How Much Do Foster Carers Get Paid?
Money is often the question people feel slightly uncomfortable asking — yet it’s entirely reasonable.
If you are considering reducing work hours or fostering full time, you need to know whether it’s financially viable for your household. Avoiding the topic doesn’t help anyone.
Fostering is not a salary in the traditional sense. It is a professional fee combined with an allowance to cover the child’s day-to-day costs.
At Fostering Hearts, our carers receive:
£479.50 per week for children aged 0–10
£507.50 per week for children aged 11+
Many foster carers also benefit from favourable tax arrangements under HMRC’s Qualifying Care Relief scheme, meaning generally all of the fostering income is tax free.
When comparing fostering allowance in the UK, it’s important to look at the whole picture — not just the headline weekly figure.
Why Support Makes or Breaks the Experience
It’s easy to underestimate how important professional support will feel once a child is placed.
In the early days of a placement, routines are new, behaviours may be unsettled and emotions can run high. In those moments, having a supervising social worker who truly has time for you is not a luxury — it’s essential.
One of the clearest indicators of support quality is caseload size.
At Fostering Hearts:
Each supervising social worker supports around six to eight families.
Support is available 24/7. We are always there for you.
Decisions are made relationally, not corporately, and we will see you as part of the professional team around the child.
Smaller caseloads mean your social worker has time to know your household properly. Time to answer calls. Time to visit. Time to think carefully about matching decisions.
That depth of support often makes the difference between simply coping and genuinely thriving as a foster carer.
Fostering in the Midlands, Yorkshire, Greater Manchester and the East of England
Fostering needs vary across the UK, but across the Midlands, Yorkshire, Greater Manchester and the East of England, there is ongoing demand for carers able to provide stability — particularly for older children and sibling groups – we even need carers to carer for babies, which means you can foster without having a spare room..
Local understanding matters more than many people realise. Schools, CAMHS services, local authority processes and support networks differ regionally.
Working with an agency that understands your local landscape can make practical challenges smoother and help you feel less isolated.
Can You Work and Foster?
It depends on the type of fostering.
Some placements require one carer to be available full time, especially when children are first settling.
Other arrangements may allow part-time or flexible work.
This is explored carefully during assessment so that fostering works sustainably for your household.
What Makes a Strong Foster Carer?
There’s no perfect profile.
However, strong foster carers often demonstrate:
Emotional resilience
Reflective thinking
Patience under pressure
A willingness to accept support
Openness to training
You don’t need to have all the answers. You do need to be willing to learn.
If You’re Already Approved and Considering a Transfer
Some carers begin exploring how to transfer fostering agency after feeling unsupported.
Common reasons include:
High social worker caseloads
Delayed responses
Feeling professionally undervalued
Transfers are structured and handled carefully to protect children and carers.
If you’re curious about moving agencies, it can start with a confidential conversation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to become a foster carer?
Typically four to six months from initial enquiry to approval.
Do I need to own my home?
No. You can rent. From may 2026 you no longer need your landlords permission.
Can single people foster?
Yes. Many successful foster carers are single.
Is fostering taxable?
Foster carers benefit from favourable tax arrangements under Qualifying Care Relief.
Do I need previous childcare experience?
No. Training and ongoing support are provided.
Taking the Next Step
If fostering has been sitting in the back of your mind for a while, it might be worth having a conversation.
Not an application. Not a commitment.
Just a conversation.
You can:
Use the website chat to ask informal questions.
Or request a call back here:
https://fosteringhearts.co.uk/book-a-call-back/- Send us a question via whatsapp. 07467 744 944
Sometimes clarity begins with a single honest discussion.
