Who can foster a child?

Action for Children foster carers come from all walks of life. A wide range of foster carers will give us more choice to better match with the diverse range of children and young people who need a safe and loving home.

We’re looking for caring people who can give a child in need their time, attention, affection and a safe, nurturing place to call home.

Foster carers need to be great listeners, optimistic, realistic, warm and passionate. If you have space in your heart to change a child’s life - you can be a good foster carer.

Foster carers can be single, married, homeowners or tenants. Action For Children Fostering welcomes people from all ethnic, cultural and religious backgrounds, with disabilities and the LGBTQ+ community.

Find out if you are eligible:

1. Are you over 21 (25 in Scotland and Wales)? YES/NO
2. Do you have a spare room? YES/NO
3. Do you have time to spare to dedicate to caring for a child? YES/NO
4. Do you enjoy the company of children? YES/NO
5. Are you fit and healthy with enough energy to look after a child? YES/NO
6. Are you free of any past, present or pending criminal convictions involving a sexual offence or an offence against a child? YES/NO
7. Are you a permanent resident of the UK? YES/NO
8. Are you either single or in a secure, long term relationship? YES/NO
9. Are you willing to attend training sessions, support groups and be part of a team? YES/NO
10. Can you provide references from someone who has known you for over 3 years? YES/NO

If you have answered YES to all of the above you are now ready to begin your fostering journey.

It’s really important that our foster carers reflect current, diverse family structures in society. We’re committed to being fair and inclusive across our whole organisation and welcome foster carers from all walks of life. We believe in promoting equality, valuing diversity, and working inclusively. As long as you have space in your heart to care for a young person in need, Action for Children Fostering welcomes and encourages you to apply to join our fostering family.

During the fostering process, applicants will need to provide references and undergo some compulsory checks including a medical and DBS, PVG or Access NI depending on your location.

As long as you are free of any past, present, or pending criminal convictions involving sexual assault or an offence against a child, you will be considered for fostering.

Your medical assessment will be arranged by you with your own GP and Action for Children Fostering will cover any costs incurred.

It is not an invasive assessment or unnecessarily intrusive.

We want to make sure fostering is in your best interests as well as the children you could be looking after.

Foster children have often experienced trauma in their lives.

Having a safe place, a place they can call their own, is essential. They need a dedicated place where they can play, be calm or to be creative without distraction.

No. Action for Children Fostering recognises that there are many types of mental health issues and we would discuss your particular circumstances in detail with you.

As long as your condition, and any medication you may be taking on a daily basis, wouldn’t affect your ability to care for a child in your home, this would not stop you from applying to be a foster carer.

As long as your condition does not stop you from doing that, you could apply to be a foster carer.

Action For Children Fostering welcomes all fostering applications and does not discriminate.

You can still apply to become a foster carer even if you have a physical disability or mental health issue.

Being a foster carer in England does not prevent you from having additional paid employment. In some parts of the UK, however, the main carer is required to be available full-time.

Are you ready to start your fostering journey with Action for Children Fostering?