Who is Allowed to Foster a Child in the UK?

The decision to foster is one that can have a tremendous impact on the lives of youngsters. Children who move into foster care are able to obtain the love of a family and the experience of living in a loving household that they may have been denied in the past. Also, sometimes, children's biological families are in emergency situations, and the young ones must live with a foster family for a short period of time.

Source: Fosteringteam.co.uk

People who are interested in helping these children may back away from the process because they do not feel as though they are qualified. Singles, homosexual couples, heterosexual couples, extended families and so forth are all allowed to apply for the fostering process. However, both or all parties must commit to having an active role in fostering the children. Aside from the application and assessment process, the major requirement for foster families is that they have a spare room for the child whom they foster.

The application process is detailed and extensive to ensure that the children are placed into a safe, nurturing and loving environment. People will need to submit their applications, and they will have to work closely with a social worker. During these discussions, the interested party's suitability as a foster parent, or as foster parents, will be assessed. Successful completion of this process, as well as the background checks, is what leads people to become foster parents.

Some wonder if they are allowed to have pets, and yes, they are. However, in some cases, a particular pet may not be suitable for a particular child. Others also wonder if they need to have a driver's license to foster a child. While a driver's license is not a requirement for fostering, having one can help the process and assist with the fostering.

The Fostering Team - who are they?

The Fostering Team is the leading alternative for parents and families seeking a new approach to foster care. Based in Manchester with connections throughout the United Kingdom, The Fostering Team maintains a deep commitment to finding the best solutions for children in need of a safe and nurturing, family environment. Their service is built around a community of caring people whose centre is the children themselves. They distinguish their company from other fostering programs by exercising responsive action when it comes to the care of children rather than relying on reactive policies after the fact. This pledge allows them to promise quality decisions and sensitivity when it comes to the care of individuals.

This team is composed of the most nurturing and dedicated individuals who are at the front of their profession. Their experience is enhanced by a personal dedication to each child that is proven to make a real difference in the system. The qualifications of their team members includes experience working with local authorities, residential services, possessing voluntary-agency backgrounds, and number of other positions associated with child-care services. The Fostering Team also focuses their efforts on cases that may be deemed difficult by other agencies. They take pride on providing outstanding service in regard to teenagers and their caregivers in addition to caretakers for children possessing special needs.

The support provided by The Fostering Team goes above and beyond that promised by your typical agency of this nature. They work closely with local authorities, providing out of hours services. Representatives regularly visit foster homes in the evenings, listen to the concerns of children, and provide support to caretakers at whatever hour it is needed. They experience continued success by relying on a small, family-oriented team that exercises regular communication and a proactive approach in order to discover family solutions for every child in need.

Consider Fostering As A Life-Changing Job

If you love children, then you should consider becoming foster parents. Most foster parents love what they do. The foster care process is lengthy, but well worth the wait. Foster care workers must make sure children are placed in the home that is safe and nurturing. The first step is to fill out the application found online.

Check your state’s website for specific requirements. The next step is the interview process and a home study. In some states you don’t have to be married to become a foster parent. You can even live in an apartment as long as the environment is safe and nurturing.

A foster care worker will come to your home to interview you. Your home doesn't have to look perfect, just clean and uncluttered. You must show proof of income that you can support yourself without the government’s subsidy. The monthly subsidy includes room and board, food and incidentals. Make sure you have enough room to care for foster children. Most government programs offer intensive training to potential foster parents.

Taking care of a foster child is a lot of work. Some children have been disrupted from their previous home and are very insecure. You must have a lot of patience and love to care for these children. Foster children need stability in their lives to become productive citizens. Whether you’re looking to care for a foster child long or short term, there is a huge need for loving foster parents.

It takes approximately four to six months to complete the foster care process. If you have a lot of love to give to a foster child, then contact your state’s foster care program. The subsidy offered by the state should not be considered a full-time income. Most foster parents find their job to be extremely rewarding.

Could you become a foster carer?

When looking to make a difference, with a rewarding career, a lot of people choose to work with kids. For this reason, if you like children, you should think about a career in the foster industry, and here are a few reasons why.

Help kids: First and foremost, as mentioned, if you want to help people, you should consider a career in the foster industry. Think about it, there are thousands of kids who need a parent, and it’s a sad reality that many more will face in the future. When working in this industry, you can help people find what they want, and you can make sure that the kids are happy, well protected and in a good home.

Long-term career: While you should not think about money in this industry, you should think of your own life. Luckily, this is a career that can give you solid earnings for the long-term. Simply put, there will always be a demand, and you will have an easy time keeping your career if you know what you are doing.

But, you must have passion: Without thinking about it too much, it’s obvious that it’s not easy for everyone to work in this industry. Foster Care is a temporary solution for the children so it can be difficult detaching yourself and can be extremely emotional. However, if you like kids and you have a solid outlook and want to help, you can easily change the lives of many children, all over the country. In the end, you must think of your own wants and needs as well.

If you you are still interesting in fostering a child we would recommend speaking to a foster care agency, such as www.thefosteringteam.co.uk in Manchester.

Fostering & Adoption - what are the differences

Both adoption and fostering are types of situations which can provide children in need with long-term care. However, there is a major difference between the two. When you choose to adopt a child, they legally become your responsibility and all rights are removed from the child's birth parents. When fostering a child, you may be providing them with long-term care, but this is typically only a temporary situation. The child legally remains the responsibility of their birth parents or the local authority. When deciding between adoption or fostering a child, it is important to know the differences between the two and which one would be the best option for your family.

About Adoption
Many individuals choose to adopt a child when they would like to permanently expand their family. It can take a long period of time to adopt a child, as there are many different steps to complete during the adoption process such as a home study, background screenings and more. When a child becomes available for adoption, the court will permanently transfer all parental rights and responsibilities to the new family, removing them from their birth parents. Adoption is truly life-changing, as this child becomes a full member of your family.

There are also two different types of adoption. This includes a closed adoption and an open adoption. In a closed adoption, the child will have no contact with their birth family. In an open adoption, contact may be possible through letters, photos and other agreed upon terms.

To learn more about the steps for adoption please read the following; https://www.gov.uk/child-adoption/overview


About Foster Care
When a child is unable to live with their birth parents or other relatives due to a number of different circumstances, they may be placed into foster care. When placed with a family, they will live with them for either a short period or long period of time, depending on when they are able to return to their birth parents. In some cases, if the child is unable to return to their birth parents, the foster parents may have the option to adopt them.

To learn more about the steps to becoming a foster parent please read the following; http://www.thefosteringteam.co.uk/fostering/