There are many factors that may lead to children being fostered. Children may come into care due to illness, relationship problems, family breakdown, or perhaps a situation where the child’s welfare is threatened.

• You’ll need a spare bedroom, to provide privacy to the looked after child
• You’ll need to be able to commit to the time and support the children and young people need to reach their potential
• You must be over 21 years of age to foster
• Do not have a criminal conviction against children or of a sexual nature.

Anyone can apply to become a foster carer. Fostering Innovations welcome foster carers who are single, married, co-habiting, divorced, gay, lesbian and heterosexual. Fostering Innovations welcome carers from different religions and a variety of ethnic groups.

We believe that the highest quality care, which we consider every one of our children and young people need, can only be achieved by having one carer at home full time. However, in some circumstances where there is a single carer, you may be able to continue to work, depending upon your specific situation. We will make every effort to be flexible to your circumstances whilst ensuring that the delivery of the highest quality foster care remains our primary target.

Yes, you can. However, you need to bear in mind that the majority of children referred for Fostering are in the 11+ age group. If you are relying on income from fostering, you are far more likely to have continuous placements if you are willing to take teenagers as well as younger children. Children and young people taken into care can be anything from 0-18 years old.

Your weekly fostering allowance intended to cover living costs such as food, clothes, basic travel and household bills. There is also a reward element for the foster carer in recognition of the demands of the fostering task. Fostering allowance / income has no impact on your benefits.

Foster carers work on a ‘self employed’ basis. Foster carers receive very favourable tax treatment on income derived solely from fostering. In 2003 HMRC set up a tax scheme for foster carers to simplify the calculation of their taxable income by comparing a ‘Qualifying Amount’ to their total fostering income