We’re sure you’ve got a lot of questions about what it takes to be a foster parent.
Here are some of the most often asked questions about the physical and practical needs, as well as your living situation.
What type of house do I need to foster?
Foster parents live in a variety of settings, ranging from huge detached houses to two-bedroom flats, but it’s critical that there’s enough area for an additional child or young person to live and grow.
As a result, you’ll require physical space, such as a spare bedroom in your home, to care for a child.
The entire family (including a foster child) should be able to fit comfortably in the home’s communal areas.
Do I need a spare bedroom to foster?
Yes, there must be enough bedroom space for all members of the family, as well as a separate bedroom for any potential foster children.
We normally consider it acceptable for foster carer’s own male and female children to share a bedroom until they reach the age of eight.
From the age of 13, if your children are of the same gender, they should have their own bedroom.
There are no hard and fast restrictions, but there are practice guidelines in place to protect the interests of both biological and potential foster children.
To provide the needed night time monitoring, children under the age of 11 should be on the same floor as the caregiver.
Can my children share bedroom with a foster child?
Your own children are allowed to share with their biological siblings, but not with a foster child.
Sharing bedrooms is not typically considered as a suitable solution for a variety of reasons. It is recognised that sharing bedrooms can be troublesome in the short, medium, and long term for a variety of reasons.
Can I foster if I’m renting my house?
You can be a foster carer whether you rent or own your house, but you must be able to create a home setting that you anticipate to remain in in the near future, especially for a child who will have already moved home to be placed in your care.
Do I need a driving license to become a foster parent?
Driving is not required to foster, especially for people who live in places with well-developed public transportation systems.
However, caring for children entails a lot of meetings and obligations, including school runs for children who may be schooled outside of a caregiver’s surrounding neighborhood.