Foster Care Fortnight: What you need to know about Foster Care in the UK

Delivered by leading fostering charity, The Fostering Network, Foster Care Fortnight is the biggest awareness event of its kind in the UK.  Since it’s inauguration in 1997, FCF has strived to showcase the ‘commitment, passion and dedication’ of foster carers while drawing attention to the huge need for foster carers in general.  

Historically, foster care has suffered from an unfair reputation. In many ways this is thanks to the way foster care experiences are catalogued in fictional media. Despite this, foster carers continue to provide an incredible service to children of care, across the UK. At Personnel Checks we work alongside some incredible fostering organisations and in honour of Foster Care Fortnight we’ve put together this article to dispel some of the common misconceptions of fostering. 

Living Arrangements 

People often assume that their existing living arrangements make them ineligible to become foster carers. One of the common myths is that you need to own your own house to be able to foster a child, but this isn’t the case! The key specification for a foster home is that it is safe, secure and comfortable. Whether you rent or own the property is irrelevant as long as you can offer a caring environment for a child. 

It also doesn’t matter what type of building it is. People regularly believe that something as simple as living in a flat would make them an unsuitable foster carer. Whether you live in a house, apartment block or flat, it doesn’t matter. As long as there is a spare bedroom, and it’s an appropriate environment for a child then there’s no reason for property type to be an issue.  

Personal Life 

Marital status, age, career responsibilities, sexual orientation and potentially differing religious beliefs have all been put forwards as reasons people thought that they were ineligible to foster. People have even assumed that having their own children in the household would prevent them from being able to provide a suitable foster home.  

In most cases, none of the points above would prevent you becoming a foster carer. On occasion, age may be a factor, as the minimum age you can foster is 21 years old, but there is no maximum age limit to become a foster carer. As long as you are deemed physically able to care for a child, you could be eligible.  

Extensive work is carried out by foster care agencies to determine the best match between foster child and carer. If you think you could provide a suitable home for a child of care, the best thing to do is reach out and start a conversation. 

The Benefits 

Fostering a child can be the biggest leap of faith that someone takes in their lifetime, but the benefits outweigh the risks. Bringing them into your home gives them a chance to see how a happy, healthy family unit works. This helps them develop the life skills they need to be a successful member of society. Being able to contribute to a child's personal growth like this can be one of the most satisfying things that you can do with your life.  

There are also plenty of financial incentives available to foster carers. While financial gain should never be the primary motivation for fostering a child, knowing that there is support available can make all the difference when deciding whether fostering is right for you. Many who may consider fostering rule themselves out thinking they cannot afford the cost of a child. Foster carers receive a weekly allowance that contributes to the costs of care. There are also various tax incentives and benefits available to help support your fostered child. 

Ultimately, fostering can help bring both purpose and joy into your life. Caring for a child in need and seeing the effect you have on their life journey can be one of the most rewarding things for a foster carer. If you want to get involved in fostering in your area, you can access more information and resources via the Foster Care Fortnight 2021 website, here.  

For more information about Personnel Checks background screening solutions and how we support national fostering organisations with their background checks, get in touch! You can give us a call on 01254 355688 or drop us an email at letstalk@personnelchecks.co.uk