Who can foster?
Many people rule themselves out of fostering but actually all kinds of people make wonderful foster carers. Regardless of relationship status, religion, ethnicity, sexuality, age, gender, income or number of birth children, the one thing in common is drive and determination to make a lasting and positive difference for the vulnerable child or young person in their life.
Is there a criteria I have to meet?
We know that our foster carers come from all walks of life offering different experiences, knowledge and skills.
There is a minimum requirement you will need to foster, these are:
You need to be 21, but there is no upper age limit to foster
You must have a spare bedroom, but you do not need to own your house
You must have a legal right to work in the UK
What do I need to foster?
To foster you don’t need to be a parent already, be married or in a couple, but you will need resilience, dedication, endurance and plenty of humour. So forget the myths this what you do need and what you definitely don’t, in order to foster a child or young person with FCA Scotland.
You have to be over 21 to foster, but there’s no upper age limit.
You don’t need qualifications or experience in childcare.
You must have a spare bedroom, but you don’t have to own your own house.
Generally, you need to be able to foster full time, though there are a few exceptions.
You don’t have to be in work as you will receive financial support.
You must have a legal right to work in the UK.
You’ll need patience, energy, resilience and commitment.
Regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, sexual orientation or disability, you can foster.
You don’t have to be a parent already, we will give you lots of training.
What makes a great foster carer?
When it comes to being a foster carer and fostering a child, it’s your personal qualities that count. We proudly welcome people from all backgrounds, all walks of life, all religions and sexual orientations. If you’ve got plenty of patience, resilience, empathy and commitment then we would love to hear from you!
Are you thinking of fostering?
Download FCA Scotland’s complete beginner’s guide to fostering a child.
Find out more on how to foster a child and the process involved, along with the fantastic benefits of fostering with FCA Scotland.
Can I foster if I’m single?
Of course! A lot of our foster carers at FCA Scotland are single men, women or parents.
Can I foster if I’m gay?
You can definitely foster no matter your sexuality. We are proud to welcome LGBTQ foster parents so find out more about joining FCA Scotland today!
Am I too old to start fostering?
There is no upper age limit to becoming a foster carer, as long as you are able to care for a child and meet their needs.
Disability and fostering
Right now we have many foster carer on our team with a physical disability or mental health condition, so there’s no reason you shouldn’t apply.
What next?
Take a look at the fostering process, get in touch or read through our FAQs if you are still unsure if you can foster.
Anyone can apply to foster with us. We welcome foster carers from all walks of life; no matter what your gender, age, race or sexual orientation. We do have criteria though:
- You need a spare room
- You need to be over 21
- You need to have British Citizenship or permanent leave to stay in the UK
No, we will give you all the training you need together with ongoing development and support.
Yes, you’ll need to have a spare bedroom to foster a child.
There are a number of different reasons why you need a spare bedroom in your home. Primarily it is part of the Fostering Services National Minimum Standards stating every child over the age of three should have their own bedroom. But not only this, there are many other factors such as the child’s safety, security and privacy to also consider.
A child needs their own bedroom to provide a sense of security and dedicated space to play or be creative without distraction.
No, every child and young person requires their own space, regardless of whether they’ve been raised in foster care.
A bedroom is a space in which children and young people can call theirs, giving them the much needed opportunity to play, discover, be imaginative and creative all without excessive disruptions. Some children who fostered may be troubled from previous experiences so providing a bedroom for them will help them to process events from their life and give them a place for time to reflect and think. Somewhere they can feel calm and relaxed.
Speak to our team
Whether you’re ready to start your journey or just want to chat to an expert, we’re here to talk.
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