Fostering Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children

What is sanctuary-seeking fostering?

More and more unaccompanied children are entering the UK from overseas, forced from their homes and family by war, famine and disease or persecution and social upheaval. They’re generally boys aged over 14, from a long list of countries including Afghanistan and Syria. Often enduring hardship and long, dangerous journeys, they arrive in the UK – many without money, without speaking English, and without a clear idea of if their families are alive, or whether they’ll be allowed to stay. On top of all this, they may have to apply for asylum, a long and complicated legal process.

All of this means that fostering unaccompanied young children has a unique and distinctive character, calling for empathy and huge reserves of patience and skill. Your role is to support them for as long as they need, helping them adapt to a new culture, maintain contact with their roots, and plan for the future, all at the same time!

Supporting you

Don’t worry, we’ll be there to help you at every step with the support of social workers, therapists and other professionals. Our training is designed to help too, not least in understanding more about the culture and experiences of the children in your care.

In an ideal world, you’ll speak the child’s language or be familiar with their heritage – but sadly, as these children demonstrate, we’re not living in an ideal world. So, provided you’re compassionate and open minded, we’d welcome your application.

And for every week they’re with you, you’ll receive a generous payment plus allowances for events such as birthdays and holidays.

Fostering Story

Meet our foster carer who gave a Vietnamese boy a new life in Glasgow.

Fostering Allowances

You’ll receive a generous fostering payment for every week a child or young person is in your care, designed to reward your professionalism and commitment.

Find out more about our fostering allowances here.

How to become a
foster carer

To become a foster carer the first step is to fill out our online form and we’ll be in touch to talk to you more about fostering, check you meet the initial criteria to foster and of course answer any questions you may have. Our team will then arrange to visit you at home, so find out in more depth about fostering and also give us the opportunity to get to know you better. You’ll then need to fill in an application form and, if accepted, you’ll start your full fostering assessment.

Interested in becoming a foster parent with FCA Scotland?

Do you have the skills and compassion needed to be a foster parent? Enter your town or postcode to find your nearest office or get in touch today.

Other types of fostering

Long term fostering

For a child or young person this means that the care planning process has concluded that they will thrive best if they are cared for away from home on a permanent basis. This type of fostering would mean caring for a child or young person until independence.

Interim fostering

Interim fostering involves caring for a baby, child or young person for a few weeks or months while difficulties at home are resolved and is often linked to further assessments of the young person or family members together with court processes.

Child in short term foster care having fun

Short break fostering

Also known as respite fostering, this is where a foster carer takes on the care and support of a child or young person so that the usual foster carer can take a well-deserved break. We offer all of our foster carers respite care every year.

Child in Continuning care with foster carer

Continuing care

Continuing Care takes children through to the age of 21, ensuring a more seamless and supported transition to adulthood. It’s available to all young people who are, or have been, in a continuing relationship with a foster carer.

Solo fostering

In some cases, it’s often important for the child or young person to be a ‘solo’ placement – in other words, they’re the only child in the home. That means solo fostering is usually only suitable for foster carers without other children in their home.

Fostering siblings

Keeping brothers and sisters together after being placed in foster care is crucial. This type of fostering focuses on matching sibling groups with foster homes big enough for multiple foster children and foster parents who are capable of meeting their needs.

Specialist fostering

Calling for huge amounts of care, compassion and patience, this type of fostering often involves handling medications and managing complex care routines, so it’s especially demanding on your time and commitment.

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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