Fostering

Frequently asked questions

1. Who can apply to be a foster carer? Answer
2. What sort of checks are carried out on me and my
    home? Answer
3. If I am going to be the main foster carer, do you need
    to carry out checks on my partner? Answer
4. Can a child I foster share a bedroom with one of my
    own children? Answer
5. Can I choose how long I want foster children and
    young people to stay with me? Answer
6. Can I choose which age group or sex I would prefer 
    to foster? Answer
7. How much will I know about the child/young person 
    before they are placed with me? Answer
8. What sort of help would I get with a child who has
    special needs or a disability? Answer
9. What sort of support will I get if I’m finding it difficult
    to cope? Answer
10. What sort of training will I get to be a foster carer? Answer
11. How much allowance will I receive per week and how
     is this decided? Answer
12. What does the weekly allowance cover? Answer
13. Will I be taxed on this income? Answer
14. Would previous convictions prevent someone from
     fostering? Answer
15. If I decide to apply, how long will I have to wait
     before I begin having placements? Answer

1. Who can apply to be a foster carer?
Anyone over the age of 21 can be a good foster carer. It does not matter if you are married or single, gay or lesbian, young or old.

Initial discussions will include questions about your home environment, motivation and commitment. Experience of working with children is desirable but not essential. back to top...

2. What sort of checks are carried out on me and my home?
We undertake an assessment process that provides you with information about fostering and lets us get to know you. We carry out a criminal records check as well as checks with the social services department, the health service, the education department and a register which lists those prevented from working with children. We would also need to carry out a standard safety check on your home. back to top...

3. If I am going to be the main foster carer, do you need to carry out checks on my partner?
We regard all couples living together as partners in the fostering process so we would require that you both have the necessary checks and training and that both take part in the assessment process.

We will need to carry out checks on anyone in the household over the age of 16. Even if you are the main carer, anyone sharing your home will have some involvement in and influence on the fostering task. back to top...

4. Can a child I foster share a bedroom with one of my own children?
Sibling groups or younger children are able to share a bedroom, but we will only place a child over the age of eight in a home where he or she will have their own bedroom. back to top...

5. Can I choose how long I want children and young people to stay with me?
Before you are approved/appointed as a carer with us, we will have discussed the different types of placements that are needed for our young people. You can decide which type of placement would suit you best. If you would prefer emergency or short-term placements, you do need to be aware that it isn’t always possible to know at the beginning of a placement exactly when a child will move on. back to top...

6. Can I choose which age group or sex I would prefer to foster?
Yes, you can. However, 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. We do also require carers with sufficient space to take sibling groups. These children are often younger. back to top...

7. How much will I know about the child/young person before they are placed with me?
We discuss every placement with our carers and it is your decision as to whether to take a young person. We will provide you with as much information about the young person and their background as possible, including any difficult behaviour and how to manage it.

You do need to be aware that sometimes we have very little information, especially in an emergency. We would always, however, seek to find out quickly as much as possible. back to top...

8. What sort of help would I get with a child who has special needs or a disability?
If a child has on-going medical needs, this will be explained to you before the placement is made and you will receive all the assistance necessary. Our role is to support you and this may include providing specialist equipment or training. back to top...

9. What sort of support will I get if I’m finding it difficult to cope?
You will have your own allocated Supervising Social Worker who will visit you on a monthly basis and will discuss your training needs.back to top...

Telephone support will be available to you 24 hours a day, seven days a week. All Westminster foster carers will have access to the Children and Adolescent Mental Health Worker who can offer advice and support about managing a child or young person’s behaviour. There is also a support group available for foster carers with regular meetings held either during the day or in the evening. We provide four weeks’ paid holiday for carers each year and a retainer fee will be paid to main-scheme carers for a period of six weeks if a suitable placement has not been made. back to top...

10. What sort of training will I get to be a foster carer?
We hold a preparation training course, which consists of six sessions and covers topics such as what do foster carers do, safer caring and understanding behaviour. Experienced foster carers take part in this training and you will also hear from children in care as well as their parents’ experiences. Our preparation training is available to all adult members of your household.

Once you have been approved as a foster carer you can expect ongoing training to help you develop your skills. Westminster also offers NVQ Training in Caring for Children and Young People Level 3, so your status as a professional is acknowledged. back to top...

11. How much allowance will I receive per week and how is this decided?
The basic allowance is dependent on the foster carer’s experience and the age of the child. New foster carers will receive £173 per week plus a weekly allowance for the child, (ranging from £116 for children aged under two and £176 for young people aged 16 and over) and more experienced foster carers will receive £223 per week plus a weekly allowance for the child. Enhanced payments may be made for those working on the specialist fostering scheme in recognition of the higher level of skill and the greater demands on the specialist foster carer in caring for very challenging young people. back to top...

12. What does the weekly allowance cover?
Your weekly allowance for each child fostered is intended to cover living costs such as food, clothes, basic travel, household bills etc. back to top...

13. Will I be taxed on this income?
Our carers work on a ‘self-employed’ basis. Foster carers receive very favourable tax treatment on income derived solely from fostering.

Under a new tax relief system introduced in 2003, foster carers whose gross receipts from foster care do not exceed an individual limit will be exempt from tax on their income from foster care.

Individual and more general advice on taxation is available from a number of sources including the Inland Revenue. back to top...

14. Would previous convictions prevent someone from fostering?
A previous criminal conviction would not necessarily disqualify you from fostering; it would depend upon the nature of the conviction and when it occurred. It is standard for us to check police records at an early stage in the application process so we would need you to discuss any convictions with us as soon as possible so that we could decide whether or how it might affect your application. This information would remain confidential at all times. back to top...

15. If I decide to apply, how long will I have to wait before I begin having placements?
It usually takes around six months from the start of the approval process until a child is placed with you. back to top...