How to Foster Children in the United Kingdom

Fostering Children Has Benefits for Both Parents and Kids

There are many children who are no longer able to live at home with their biological families for a variety of reasons. When this happens, children get placed into foster care with a family who can offer them the opportunity to thrive with the structure, support and love of a family.

How Does Foster Care Affect Children’s Lives?

There are many reasons for a child to be placed into a foster home: abuse, exploitation or deliberate neglect by the parents or a family member living in the home. Once any of these issues are observed and proven in court, the child is removed from their family and placed into a foster home.

Most of these children have experienced some form of trauma and are left feeling unsafe with possible life-long emotional scars. Some children also have medical issues as well as severe behavioral problems. With the support and influence of a loving foster family, many of these problems can be addressed and worked on as their environment becomes safe, and they can heal and grow with the hope of a better future.

Providing a safe, happy home for children to thrive in is invaluable, which is why appropriate foster homes are so important when it comes to fostering their wellbeing.

How Do You Foster a Child?

Fostering children is a big commitment but if you have a heart for children in need and enough space your home, then there are many fostering agencies who can assist you with the process and offer support.

One of the requirements to become a foster parent is that you must be a resident of the United Kingdom or have indefinite leave to remain, and you must be able to take care of a child on a full-time basis. There are a few steps that you would need to take to be approved to be a foster parent.

1. You have to register with your local council or an independent fostering agency, however, you can only register with one service.
2. You are then required to go on a preparation course.
3. Every adult in your family as well as yourself will be required to pass an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check.
4. You and your family will then be assessed to make sure that you are able to care for a child.
5. You may put forward your preferences of the children that you may care for, such as the age and gender; however, you may not choose a specific child and there is no trial period.
6. The service will then review your application and you will meet with a panel who then makes a recommendation.

How Much Do You Get for Fostering a Child?

In the United Kingdom a foster family receives an allowance which ranges from £137 up to £240 per week. Where you live, which service you use, the child’s specific needs, your skills and experience and the child’s age will all be determining factors of the amount you receive.

This allowance helps cover the child’s expenses such as food, clothes, medication, and transport costs for schooling.

Types of Foster Home Placements

When fostering a child there are various placement types.

Short term fostering involves caring for a child for a short period of time while the family, with the support of a social worker, prepares the child to be re-united with their family or moved to an adoptive family.

Long term fostering can occur when the child does not necessarily get adopted and is unable to live with their parents permanently.

In the case of a child with a medical or physical condition or learning disability such as autism, ADHD, ADD or reading problems, a child will go into a special needs foster placement.

There are also special placements for babies and toddlers, refugees and kinship fostering where a family member living in another home can foster the child.

Pros and Cons of Fostering Children

Pros

• Fostering a child can be a great way to build a family.
• Some people who are unable to have a child of their own find fulfilment in fostering children.
• Expenses are subsidized for the child’s needs.
• Helping children in need is emotionally fulfilling.
• You’re able to become part of a larger community of foster families.

Cons

• Some children may have emotional or behavioral issues.
• There may be issues with biological parents trying to intervene.
• If the child is adopted or their biological families regains custody, they will move out of your home.

Final Notes

There are so many innocent children who end up in situations that they don’t deserve and have no control of. Fostering a child is a wonderful way of giving back and making a huge difference in a young person’s life.