Your Fostering Questions Answered

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Many people choose to foster because they want to make a real difference to a child or young person’s life. That difference can come through important decisions such as helping a young person choose the right college course, supporting them as they develop their independence skills or encouraging them to think positively about their future. Fostering can also be found in day to day care from reassuring a child when they are having a difficult day to helping them complete their homework or celebrating something they have achieved.

These everyday experiences are part of what can make fostering such a meaningful role. Progress does not always arrive through major milestones. Sometimes it is seeing a child become more comfortable expressing themselves, discovering something they enjoy or developing the confidence to try something new. Foster carers have the opportunity to recognise these moments and provide the encouragement that helps children continue moving forward.

For some people, fostering is also about becoming part of a wider community of carers who share a commitment to children and young people. Although every fostering household and every placement is different, carers share an understanding of the responsibility involved in opening their homes and family lives to children who need care.

Foster carers can also help children develop a stronger sense of identity and belonging. This can mean encouraging their individual interests, respecting their background and experiences and helping them recognise the qualities that make them unique. As children grow older, carers can encourage them to think about their ambitions, develop confidence in their abilities and begin making decisions about the direction they would like their lives to take.

Fostering can be a flexible and rewarding career choice that can fit well with family life. However, becoming a foster carer is also a significant responsibility, which is why preparation and ongoing development are so important. At Ideal Fostering, prospective foster carers undergo an in-depth fostering assessment. This provides an opportunity to look carefully at their experience, circumstances, strengths and readiness to foster. It also allows prospective carers to learn more about the responsibilities involved and consider how fostering could work within their household.

Learning does not end once a carer is approved. Foster carers receive ongoing training and support designed to develop their knowledge, skills and understanding throughout their fostering journey. Children and young people can have very different needs and experiences, so having opportunities to continue learning can help carers respond appropriately as different situations arise.

The quality of Ideal Fostering’s recruitment, preparation and assessment of carers has also been recognised by Ofsted. In its reporting, Ofsted highlighted the agency’s effective recruitment and preparation of carers, noting that this contributes to a range of skilled carers who are able to meet diverse needs. Ofsted also identified the assessment of foster carers as a key strength, describing assessments as:

“accurate, focused and analytical assessments of foster carers”

This emphasis on careful assessment reflects the importance of finding carers with the right qualities, commitment and potential rather than simply increasing numbers.

Choosing to foster therefore involves much more than deciding that you would like to help children. It means developing your skills, working with others, continuing to learn and being prepared for both the responsibilities and rewards. For the right person or family, fostering can offer the opportunity to use their experience, patience and individual strengths for something that matters. Whether the difference comes through an important life decision or one small moment of encouragement, foster carers have the opportunity to be a consistent and positive presence in a child or young person’s life.

The foster carer’s role is to provide high quality care for the child. The legal responsibility for all children in foster care rests with the local authority and the foster carers will work in partnership with the local authority to provide this. The foster carers may also work with other professionals such as therapists, teachers or doctors to help the child to deal with emotional traumas or physical or learning disabilities.

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Fostering gives you the opportunity to make a real difference to the life of a child or young person. That difference can come in many forms. Sometimes it is about the ‘big stuff’, such as helping a young person choose the right college course, encouraging them to develop their independence or supporting them as they begin to think about their future.

Just as importantly, fostering is also about the ‘little stuff’. Helping a child with their homework, sitting down together to paint a picture, sharing a meal, celebrating an achievement or simply being there to listen can all become important parts of everyday life. These ordinary moments can help a child feel valued, supported and part of a family environment.

For many people, fostering can also be a flexible choice that fits well alongside family life. There are different types of fostering and every foster family is different, which is why understanding what may work for your individual circumstances is an important part of the process. At Ideal Fostering, we can help you explore what fostering involves and consider how it could fit with your home, family and existing commitments.

Fostering also comes with financial considerations. Foster carers receive an allowance for the important role they undertake and the costs associated with caring for a child or young person. At Ideal Fostering, we recognise the commitment, time and responsibility involved in fostering and provide competitive financial allowances to our foster carers. We can explain how fostering allowances work and help you understand the financial side of fostering before you make any decisions.

For some people, one of the most rewarding aspects of fostering is becoming part of a wider community of people who share a desire to support children and young people. Foster carers can play an important role in giving children a sense of belonging, helping them understand and appreciate what makes them unique and encouraging them to recognise their own abilities and potential.

It is not about expecting every day to be perfect. Children and young people who need foster care will have their own experiences, personalities, needs and challenges.

What a foster carer can offer is consistency, understanding, encouragement and a safe family environment in which a child has the opportunity to develop.

You can help a child or young person in countless ways. It might be helping them discover a new interest, encouraging them at school, teaching practical skills, building their confidence or simply making sure they know there is someone there who cares about what happens to them.

By helping a child feel safe, secure, nurtured and listened to, foster carers can play a vital role during an important period of their life.

The everyday care, guidance and encouragement you provide can help children and young people build confidence, develop skills and look towards their future with a greater sense of possibility. For many foster carers, that opportunity to be there for a child when they need it is one of the most meaningful reasons to foster.

Pre-Approval Training & Preparation

Our Skills to Foster programme prepares you for fostering with an understanding of children’s needs, trauma, loss and the importance of safe, consistent care.

You’ll learn from our Management Team, Psychotherapist and experienced foster carers, complete essential First Aid and Safeguarding training, and be paired with an experienced carer through our buddy system. Birth children can also receive bespoke support and training from our Therapeutic Support Team.

By the time you attend Panel, you’ll be prepared and ready to foster.

Support

We provide comprehensive professional, practical and therapeutic support throughout your fostering journey.

Supervising Social Workers & Management

Our experienced Supervising Social Workers provide consistent day-to-day guidance, work closely with other professionals and ensure each child’s needs remain central to their care.

Supported by our Management Team, carers have access to help 24/7, 365 days a year, including evenings, weekends and bank holidays.

Our in-house medical adviser, an experienced GMC-registered GP, also provides health-related training, advice and signposting.

Home Finding Team Our Home Finding Team gets to know each carer’s household, strengths and preferences to support thoughtful matching based on a child’s practical and emotional needs, identity, relationships and long-term stability.

Therapeutic Support Team

Our specialist team provides therapeutic training, workshops and practical support for carers and young people. This includes home-based support, appointments, transport, activities and one-to-one work, helping carers understand behaviour and build safe, trusting relationships.

Foster Care Allowance

We offer competitive fostering fees, with payments based on placement type, age and individual needs.

Carers can also receive birthday, festival, holiday and furniture allowances, plus annual and referral bonuses.

Training & Ongoing Development

Our free ongoing training programme combines practical learning with bespoke development tailored to carers and the children they support, helping you continually build your confidence, knowledge and therapeutic fostering skills.

Events & Activities

Throughout the year, we organise activities for carers and children, including day trips, parties, summer and Christmas celebrations, afternoon teas, support groups and listening circles. Children can also take part in activities designed to build confidence, independence and life skills.

Join the Ideal Fostering Family

Ideal is built around partnership between carers and staff, with a shared commitment to therapeutic, child-focused care. Together, we help children feel safe, understood and supported to build positive futures.

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Ideal fostering pays some of the most competitive fees in the country. You will receive a competitive fee, paid monthly direct into your bank account. In addition to the normal foster caring fees, Ideal Fostering also pay out other allowances such as birthday allowances, festival allowance, clothing allowance, furniture allowance, residential school trips contribution, bus pass payment, equipment allowance, holiday allowance, an annual bonus.

We also offer a one-off payment when you refer a potential foster carer to our agency. Whilst the exact amount of fostering payments offered to foster carers varies as it depends on the type of placement, age of the child and the child’s individual needs, our average weekly fee is £560.54 (up to £721). Furthermore, when our foster carers reach special milestones such as 5, 10, 15 or 20 years with Ideal Fostering, we take great pride in recognising and celebrating their dedication, commitment and the difference they have made to the lives of Children In Our Care, by marking these special occasions in a meaningful way

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If you already have children, one of the biggest questions you may have when considering fostering is how it could affect them and your family life. Fostering can be a positive and enriching experience for families, but it also brings changes. It is important that everyone in the household understands what fostering could involve and has the opportunity to share how they feel about it. Fostering involves the whole family. Although adults take on the formal responsibilities of being foster carers, your own children will share their home and aspects of their family life with the children and young people who come to stay. For this reason, we believe your children should play an important part in conversations about fostering from the very beginning.

Taking time to talk openly as a family can help your children understand why you are considering fostering and what may change. They may be excited about the idea, but they may also have questions or concerns. They might wonder about sharing your time and attention, how family routines could change or what it will be like having another child living in their home. These are all important conversations to have. The children of foster carers can play an integral role in the fostering experience. When a foster child first arrives, the household will be unfamiliar to them. Your children can sometimes help them become familiar with everyday family routines, introduce them to their surroundings and help them feel included.

Relationships between children can develop in different ways. Some may become close and form relationships that continue beyond a placement, while others may need more time and space to adjust. Just as every foster child is different, every birth child will have their own personality and feelings about fostering. There should never be an expectation that children will automatically form a particular type of relationship. It is equally important to recognise that fostering can sometimes be challenging for your own children. They may occasionally find sharing their home, belongings, parents or routines difficult. They may also experience emotions when a foster child leaves the family home, particularly if they have developed a close relationship. This is why communication remains important throughout your fostering journey, not simply when you first decide to apply. Giving your children opportunities to talk openly about their experiences can help you understand how fostering is affecting them and recognise when they may need additional reassurance or support.

At Ideal Fostering, your children’s views and experiences form part of the fostering assessment. Birth children are included within the assessment process and will have opportunities to meet the social worker undertaking the assessment. These discussions are not about expecting your children to have all the answers. They provide an opportunity for them to learn more about fostering, express their feelings and develop a better understanding of what the experience could mean for them.

Preparation and training can also help the whole family feel more informed. As part of the preparation training undertaken by prospective foster carers, there is an opportunity for your own children to attend a session designed to give them greater insight into fostering and how it may affect family life. Support continues beyond the assessment and preparation stages. Ideal Fostering also arranges a yearly support group for foster carers’ own children. This gives them an opportunity to talk about their experiences or worries with experienced support staff and meet other children who understand what it is like to be part of a fostering family.

Access to experienced social workers can also help families think through situations and better understand how fostering may affect different members of the household. Fostering will bring change to family life, which is why careful preparation, honest conversations and ongoing communication matter. Your children’s feelings should continue to be heard and respected throughout the experience. For some families, fostering can bring new perspectives and experiences and give children an opportunity to play their own part in welcoming and supporting others. The important thing is to approach fostering together, giving every member of the family the time, information and support they need to understand the journey ahead.

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Yes! We believe that high-quality training and support play an important role in helping foster carers develop the confidence, knowledge and skills they need. Fostering can bring many different experiences, and every child or young person will have their own circumstances, personality and needs. Good preparation and continued learning can help carers feel equipped for the different situations they may encounter. Our comprehensive training programme covers a wide range of areas relevant to fostering and is complemented by access to regular support groups, where carers can share experiences, discuss different aspects of fostering and continue learning alongside others. Training is not simply something that happens at the beginning of the process. As carers gain experience and encounter different situations, their learning and development continues. This helps foster carers build upon their existing strengths, develop new skills and increase their understanding.

Our approach recognises that foster carers themselves come from a wide variety of backgrounds. Some people begin their journey with previous professional or personal experience of caring for children, while others may have less direct experience. Training provides an opportunity for every prospective carer to develop a stronger understanding of fostering and the responsibilities associated with the role. All prospective foster carers with Ideal Fostering are provided with three days of Pre-Approval Training prior to assessment. This programme introduces the different aspects of being a foster carer and is designed to help individuals develop the knowledge and skills that can support them in the role. The training also provides an opportunity to explore fostering in greater depth before progressing further. Prospective carers can begin considering different situations they may experience, think about how fostering could affect their household and develop a clearer understanding of what may be expected of them. Our Pre-Approval Training is one of our most established training programmes and has developed over many years alongside our experience of working with foster carers, children and young people.

All prospective foster carers with Ideal Fostering are provided with three days of Pre-Approval Training prior to assessment. This programme introduces the different aspects of being a foster carer and is designed to help individuals develop the knowledge and skills that can support them in the role. The training also provides an opportunity to explore fostering in greater depth before progressing further. Prospective carers can begin considering different situations they may experience, think about how fostering could affect their household and develop a clearer understanding of what may be expected of them. Our Pre-Approval Training is one of our most established training programmes and has developed over many years alongside our experience of working with foster carers, children and young people.

Approval as a foster carer is not the end of your learning. We recognise that knowledge develops through a combination of training, practical experience, reflection and communication with other people involved in fostering. Our ongoing training programme gives carers opportunities to explore a broad range of subjects and continue developing their skills. This can help carers better understand behaviour, communication, relationships, safeguarding and the different experiences that can influence the needs of children and young people in foster care. Training can also provide an opportunity to reflect on your own experiences. As your fostering journey develops, subjects covered during earlier training may take on new relevance because you can relate them to situations you have encountered personally. There is also considerable value in learning alongside other foster carers. Support groups give carers opportunities to meet people who understand many of the realities of fostering and to discuss experiences within an appropriate and supportive environment.

Sharing knowledge and perspectives can help carers consider different approaches and recognise that other fostering households may have encountered similar situations. At Ideal Fostering, our aim is to make learning and development a continuing part of the fostering experience. From your initial Pre-Approval Training through to ongoing development and support groups, training is there to help you build your knowledge, strengthen your existing abilities and develop new skills as your experience grows.

There is no typical foster carer, our carers come from all different backgrounds. Carers may be single, divorced, working or not working, although for some types of fostering it may not be practical for the main carer to be working full-time. All foster carers share an understanding of children’s needs and have commitment and energy. All carers need the skills and abilities to look after children who have had difficult life experiences. We support the view that children need to be looked after by adults who are familiar with their culture, language and religion. We do ask that you have a spare bedroom and can pass the DBS and medical check during the assessment process.

They vary in age from babies to teenagers. We need foster carers for all types of children, younger and older children, children with disabilities and family groups of brothers and sisters. Some children will be able to return to their own families, others need to live with long-term foster carers, or an adoptive family, or until they are old enough and can live independently. For many children it will be important for them to maintain some contact with their own families. Many of the children have had damaging life experiences and as a result their behaviour can sometimes be challenging. This is where the thorough training programme and 24/7 support from Ideal will give you the confidence to deal with this.

Just as there is no stereotypical formula for a foster carer welcoming a child into their family, foster children will all feel individually about their foster families. As a foster carer you will get training on how to empathise with your foster child and encourage them to feel safe within your family.

Yes, you can be a foster carer whether single, living with a partner, married or divorced.

Yes, you just need to be able to provide a child with their own bedroom and a stable, safe and comfortable environment.

Because being a foster carer involves caring for a child, all potential foster carers going through application process do have to be asked about their background and lifestyle. All fostering agencies have to record this information and will share and ask for information from appropriate agencies like the health service or the criminal records bureau. However, your consent is needed for these checks to uphold the Data Protection Act. Having said this, all information about you will be treated as confidential within the constraints of inter-agency requirements.

All Fostering Agency Providers make every effort to prevent placements breaking down. Professional support is available to provide families with extra support to help them work together to maintain placements as well as placing children with families they can be happy in. However, should a placement break down the child will be moved to another placement and given extra support as will the foster family.

Foster children do not receive Child Benefit.

In parent and baby schemes, only the parent is in foster care, but the local authority pays an amount which is intended to cover accommodation and care for both parent and baby. We treat both parent and baby as being in foster care and you can claim a weekly amount for both parent and baby when calculating your qualifying amount.

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At Ideal Fostering, we celebrate diversity and recognise the wide-ranging skills, experiences and perspectives that different people can bring to fostering. What matters when considering a prospective foster carer is their ability to provide a child or young person with a safe, caring and supportive family environment. Being gay or lesbian is not a barrier to becoming a foster carer.

Foster families come in many different forms. There is no single picture of what a fostering household should look like, and children and young people themselves come from a wide variety of backgrounds and family experiences. Having foster carers with different life experiences helps us to build a diverse fostering community with a broad range of skills, perspectives and strengths.

Ideal Fostering has extensive experience of working with foster carers from the LGBTQ+ community, including supporting gay and lesbian carers through long, successful and rewarding fostering journeys with us. Over the years, we have worked with carers from a wide range of backgrounds and family circumstances, giving our team a strong understanding of the questions and considerations that can be particularly important to LGBTQ+ people thinking about fostering.

If you are considering fostering and would find it helpful to hear about the experiences of other carers, please speak to our team. Where appropriate, we can explore opportunities for you to learn more from existing foster carers and gain a more personal understanding of what fostering can involve.

We understand that prospective gay and lesbian foster carers may have questions that are specific to their own circumstances. You may wonder whether your sexual orientation will affect your application, how the assessment process works, or how children, birth families and professionals may respond to your family. We want you to feel comfortable asking these questions, and our experienced team will be happy to talk them through with you openly and honestly.

The fostering assessment is an opportunity for us to get to know you as an individual or couple, and for you to learn much more about fostering. Rather than expecting prospective carers to fit a particular family model, the process considers the qualities, experiences, circumstances and skills that you could bring to caring for a child or young person.

Your own life experiences can also contribute to the qualities you bring to fostering. Understanding identity, recognising individuality, communicating openly and appreciating different experiences and perspectives can all be valuable when supporting children and young people as they develop their own sense of who they are.

Every prospective foster carer needs preparation for the responsibilities involved, regardless of their background or family structure. Ideal Fostering provides training and support to help carers develop their knowledge, skills and confidence as they prepare to foster and throughout their fostering journey.

Training can help you explore different aspects of caring for children and young people, understand some of the experiences children in foster care may have had, and develop practical approaches that can support you in your role. Continued learning is an important part of fostering because every child is an individual, and different placements can bring different experiences and challenges.

We also recognise the importance of feeling part of a fostering community. Having opportunities to connect with other people who understand fostering can provide a valuable source of shared experience, knowledge, encouragement and support.

If you are gay or lesbian and have been wondering whether you could foster, we would encourage you to find out more rather than ruling yourself out. Your relationship status or sexual orientation does not determine whether you have the qualities needed to become a foster carer. An initial conversation with Ideal Fostering gives you the opportunity to ask questions, discuss your circumstances and learn more about the application and assessment process, without any assumption about what the outcome will be.

For further independent information, Fosterline also provides information for LGBTQ+ foster carers and people considering fostering. Fosterline is funded by the Department for Education and provides free, impartial and confidential advice to existing and prospective foster carers across England.

If you are considering fostering, we would be very happy to help you learn more about the journey, answer your questions and explore the contribution you could make as part of our diverse fostering community.

Ideal Fostering aim to complete the assessment of foster carers between four and six months. This will be dependent on your availability and how many children you have. You will be allocated an assessing social worker that will contact you and begin to start undertaking your statutory checks I.E DBS, Health etc.

Yes, Foster Carers must be over 21 years old and have some life experience. There is no upper age limit as long as you are fit and healthy and have the time, energy and enthusiasm for children and their interests, however this will be assessed on an individual basis.

Yes, but we would need to be sure that you have a good support network.

Yes, we encourage applications from all couples as well as any person who identifies as LGBTQ+.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

Local Authority checks

Ex-partners (except in exceptional circumstances)

Children, including those from previous relationships

Reference from current employer/fostering organisation/voluntary work

School/Health visitor reports for your own children (if appropriate)

Medical reports

At least 2 personal references

References from all previous employment involving children and vulnerable adults

General risk assessment of your home

Recommendations for improving safety

Overseas checks (if appropriate)

Your training and dedicated support team will help you to cope with a range of challenging behaviours. We will also try to “match” a child with you and your family as closely as possible to ensure a stable and secure home environment. Occasionally placements do break down despite everyone’s best efforts, although this is rare. In this instance you would be expected to work with the team to make the transition period as painless as possible for the child as he/she moves on. We would also offer you appropriate support that may help maintain the placement.

Whilst some children will enjoy having pets in the home, others may be frightened or not feel comfortable with this. We have a policy regarding pets and will make recommendations dependent on how many animals you have and how they are housed. Any animals in the home will be considered during a health and safety check and risk assessments to ensure that they don’t pose a risk to your foster child.

Most of our foster carers are consistently busy, especially if they are able to accept children and young people with a range of needs. We help you to match the type of referrals we receive by providing specialist training and offering additional support where needed for the more challenging placements.

No we require foster children to have their own bedrooms (unless they are a young sibling group).

Whilst the exact amount of fostering payments offered to foster carers varies depending on the type of placement, age of the child and the child’s individual needs, whatever the circumstances, Ideal Fostering are amongst the most rewarding.

All foster carers must register as self-employed, so must register to pay National Insurance contributions. All of our approved foster carers are members of Foster Talk who will talk through any legal or tax issues you may have.