Fostering Agency Medway Kent
Frequently asked questionsHere you’ll find the answers to some of our most frequently asked questions.
Am I too old to foster?
Age really is just a number. We have foster parents of all ages doing an amazing job of looking after foster children.
The vast majority of our foster parents started fostering in their 30s 40s or 50s but we welcome applications from anyone over the age of 18 who feels that they may be able to make a real and lasting difference to young people’s lives.
Can I foster if I have pets?
Pets are usually a great icebreaker and can often help children to settle into their foster families. We would need to do a pet assessment on each animal, to make sure they are not going to pose a danger to the young people in your care.
We would not be able to proceed if you owned dogs listed on the dangerous dogs’ list.
Should I foster or adopt?
Fostering and adoption are different and it is worth researching both to see what would best suit your family. Adoption is permanent with adoptive parents taking full, legal responsibility for their child.
Fostering involves providing a safe home for children while they are unable to live with their own family. This could be for a few days (emergency), a few months (short term) or several years (long term). Foster parents receive ongoing support, training and pay for this role.
Can I choose who I foster?
It’s only natural to have a preference for the age of the child who you feel confident and comfortable fostering.
Some of our foster parents love looking after teenagers, some prefer caring for younger children and some specialise in parent and child fostering.
Our referrals team get to know each of our potential foster parents during the assessment process so that they can match the right child with you once approved.
Will a criminal record stop me from fostering?
We carry out enhanced DBS checks as part of the fostering assessment so it’s important that you mention any past criminal convictions to us. Often, the mistakes we have made and the difficult times that we have faced in our lives make us stronger, more resilient, understanding and empathetic, which are some of the key qualities that we look for in foster parents.
Minor historical offences would not count against you in your application to foster. You would not be able to foster if you have ever committed any sexual offences or committed any crimes involving a child.
Who would I call if times got tough?
Your Fostering Supervisor would be your closest professional colleague and would support you throughout your fostering career, both when things are going well and when issues occur.
Outside of office hours, we have three wonderful ladies who cover our “out of hours” service and would be there to advise you on what action to take for the best. You would also be able to draw on the support of your fellow foster parents, who are likely to know exactly how you feel and offer helpful advice.
You would never be left to face a challenging situation alone.
Can I foster if I am single?
Absolutely! We have lots of single foster parents doing an amazing job.
As long as you are able to provide a nurturing, happy home and want to improve the life of a child, we would love to hear from you.
How much will I be paid to foster?
Fostering pay varies greatly depending on the number of children you are able to care for and the level of their needs. Find out more on our fostering pay page.
How long does it take to become a foster parent?
Usually four to five months, beginning with a friendly chat, where we’ll share some useful information and give you the chance to ask all of your questions. If you decide to move forward, you’ll be invited to complete an application form and start the assessment process. This includes background checks, references, and taking part in our “Skills to Foster” training course to help you to feel more prepared. An assessing social worker will spend time getting to know you and your household, helping to highlight your strengths and qualities. Once your assessment is complete, your application will go to a fostering panel. If all goes well, you’ll then be approved and ready to start your fostering journey and we’ll be with you every step of the way.
What is a Personal Development Plan?
Every foster parent has a Personal Development Plan (PDP), which is first developed during the fostering assessment process. It outlines the foster parents initial learning needs, required training, and a realistic timeline for completing that training. The plans are reviewed on a regular basis both during supervisory visits and at the annual home review.
At each review, training needs for the upcoming 12 months are discussed and agreed. Foster parents play an active role in shaping their Personal Development Plans, ensuring that they reflect their own development goals and the specific needs of the children in their care.
What is a Care Plan?
It is a detailed document that outlines the needs and objectives for a child in foster care. Social workers should work with children, their foster parents and often their birth family, to create the fostering care plan, which outlines the child’s needs, wishes and feelings.
It should include information on the child’s health, education, emotional and behavioural development and social relationships. It should address the child’s contact with their birth family, their cultural and identity needs and any required therapeutic support. The care plan should be regularly reviewed and updated and short and long term goals should be set. It guides foster parents and professionals in providing consistent care and enables progress to be monitored.
What is a Pathway Plan?
Pathway plans support young people leaving care by outlining the steps and assistance needed for a smooth transition into adulthood. These personalised plans cover key areas such as education, employment, health, housing, finances, family contact, and life skills. They include setting realistic goals, identifying resources, and assigning responsibilities to the young person and their support network, including social workers, foster parents, and educators.
Planning should begin before age 16 and be reviewed regularly until the young person turns 21, or 25 if needed.
Can you work during the day whilst foster children are at school?
We believe that foster children need more than just a safe space-they need stability and consistent support. Many of the children will have faced disruptions to their education, emotional struggles, or behavioural challenges.
We need foster parents who are able to be fully committed and fully available and we offer a liveable wage to enable them to focus on helping their children thrive.
Unlike other organisations who allow full-time work alongside fostering, we want to ensure that your time and energy are able to be dedicated to your child’s well-being.
Who can become a foster parent?
How often would a foster child see their birth family?
It really depends on the child’s individual case and court decisions. If it’s safe and in the child’s best interest, visits can be twice a week or more. The idea is to help keep the connection between the child and their family and support the goal of getting them back together, if that’s possible. These visits are usually supervised and happen in a neutral area. If it’s not safe or if reunification isn’t part of the plan, visits might be limited, put on hold, or not allowed at all. As a foster parent, you’ll often help out by supporting the child emotionally and helping with transport to and from visits.
What training do foster parents receive?
Before you’re approved to foster, you’ll go through some training to help you get ready and help you feel more prepared. Once approved to foster, there will be ongoing training and support to help you keep building your skills and be able to provide the best possible care.
Can I foster siblings?
Yes, social services try to keep siblings together whenever possible as it helps to maintain their bond and gives them a bit of emotional stability during a tough time. If you have the space and resources, you can be approved to foster a sibling group. When that’s not possible, regular contact between separated siblings should be arranged.
What kind of home do you need to foster?
You don’t need a big or fancy house to foster, but you do need a safe, stable, and welcoming environment. A spare bedroom is essential, as each foster child needs their own space. Your home should be clean, comfortable, and suitable for a child or young person to live with you in. Most importantly, it should feel like a place where a child can feel secure and cared for.
What training do I need to do to become a foster parent?
To become a foster parent, you’ll need to complete some pre-approval training; things like safeguarding, first aid and managing challenging behaviour training as well as a 2 day skills to foster course. It’s all about helping you get ready to support children who have been through tough times like abuse, neglect, or family changes. The training is designed to give you the skills and know-how to be the best foster parent you can be.
Do I have to be a British Citizen to be able to foster?
We have wonderful foster parents of various nationalities. The important thing is that you have indefinite leave to remain in the UK.
Many of our families care for their foster children for years rather than for months and often until they reach independence. We need foster parents who are able to be around long-term to minimise the chances of further disruption to children who have already experienced significant instability.
Do foster parents have to be able to drive?
We have foster parents who don’t drive and are still able to do a fantastic job. Things like your geographical location, access to public transport, to local schools and your creativity around getting to training and meetings, which are often much further afield, would all play a part.
If someone lived rurally, with poor public transport links, it is likely that the travel time and travel costs involved would sadly prove unmanageable. We do consider each person’s individual circumstances rather than having a blanket approach, so please do get in touch.
Can I apply to foster if I am moving home?
Your home environment forms an important part of your fostering assessment so we would need to begin the assessment in the home that you would be fostering from.
Moving is also stressful! The fostering assessment takes a lot of time and energy, so we would recommend that you wait until you are moved and settled.
Feel free to get in touch sooner and we can send you relevant and useful information until the time is right and you are ready to proceed.
Do I need qualifications to foster?
We provide training before you are approved to foster as well as ongoing training thereafter.
Having worked in an environment where you cared for others or having had your own children can be helpful, but isn’t necessary.
Do I need to own my own home to foster?
You do not need to own your home home to foster. Many of our foster families live in private rented accommodation or social housing. We will just need to write to your Landlord to get permission for you to foster from the home.
Can foster children share a bedroom?
We know that it can be frustrating but foster children do need their own bedroom; a place of safety to retreat to if things get overwhelming.
Same-sex foster siblings are sometimes able to share a room. Non-related children and siblings of opposite sexes will need their own bedrooms.
Is fostering pay taxable?
The government increased the tax relief rate (Qualifying Care Relief) for Foster Parents in April 2023 which has meant that the vast majority of foster parents are no longer taxed on their fostering income.
The fixed amount has risen to £18,140 per year tax-free and in addition, the weekly tax relief per child has increased to £375/week for children under 11 and £450/week for children aged 11 years and over.
Can I foster if I have a health condition?
Successfully living with or having had a physical or mental health condition in the past would not prevent you from fostering as long as it would not impact your ability to safely care for a child.
A medical is requested as a standard part of the assessment process and we ask that you let us know of any current or past health conditions and any limitations that you have so that we can best support you in your fostering application.
Can I foster if I have young children?
Yes, absolutely! Lots of our foster parents have their own young children or babies.
Some foster children will thrive in a busier home with lots of foster siblings while others prefer quieter homes where they are the only child.
We need a range of families to suit different foster children’s needs. Your children will always be our top priority when matching foster children with your family.
Can I foster if I have young children?
Yes, absolutely! Lots of our foster parents have their own young children or babies.
Some foster children will thrive in a busier home with lots of foster siblings while others prefer quieter homes where they are the only child.
We need a range of families to suit different foster children’s needs. Your children will always be our top priority when matching foster children with your family.
What is Emergency Fostering?
Emergency foster care is required when a child needs immediate safety and support, often due to a sudden family crisis, a breakdown in home circumstances, serious parental health issues, or when a child is found to be at immediate risk of harm or neglect. This type of care is usually needed at very short notice, sometimes overnight or for just a few days, offering a temporary solution until a long term arrangement can be established. Emergency foster parents need to be flexible, resilient, and ready to respond to the unpredictable nature of emergency fostering and be able to provide a secure, nurturing, and stable environment for the child during a particularly vulnerable time.
Do you need to have been a parent to foster?
No, you don’t need to have parented children to be able to foster. We look for people with the right personal qualities, such as empathy, patience and resilience and the ability to provide a safe, stable and nurturing environment. Full training and ongoing support are provided to help you develop the skills needed to foster successfully.
What does the assessment process to become a foster parent look like?
The first step is to contact us and request our Introduction to Fostering brochure, which offers a helpful overview of what fostering with us involves. If you want to learn more, we’ll arrange a visit to meet you in person and answer any questions you have. If you decide to proceed, we’ll send you an application form and begin the assessment process. This includes background checks, reference requests, and pre-approval training. Throughout this time, a social worker will work closely with you to understand your strengths and support you. All the information gathered will be presented to our fostering panel. Support and training continue throughout your fostering journey, with ongoing opportunities for learning and guidance. From application to approval, the whole process usually takes around four to five months.
Can you have multiple foster children?
Yes! You can foster more than one child, as long as it makes sense for you and you are able to meet their needs. Lots of foster parents look after sibling groups which helps to keep families together, or they may welcome different children over time if they’ve got the space, time, and emotional energy for it. The usual limit is up to three children, unless you will be fostering a sibling group or there is a special situation. Every case is looked at individually to make sure it’s the right fit for everyone involved.
How long do foster children stay in foster care?
The length of time a child stays in foster care can vary widely. Some children may only be with you for a few weeks or months while their family works through challenges. Others may stay much longer, sometimes even years, if returning home isn’t possible or if they’re waiting to be adopted.
The main goal of foster care is to provide a safe, stable, and supportive environment while a long-term plan is determined. That plan could involve reunification with their birth family, adoption, or another permanent arrangement.
Can I go on holiday with foster children?
Usually you can and it’s something we encourage which will create lasting memories! The childrens well-being comes first and many may not have been on holiday before so planning ahead and preparing them for the change is key.
If you’re going abroad, allow time for passport arrangements. In rare cases, a birth parent may have the right to refuse overseas travel.
Can I make decisions on where foster children go to school
Children usually continue attending their current school to maintain stability, familiarity, and existing friendships with classmates and teachers.
If a child is expected to stay with you long-term, foster parents work with the child’s support team to decide what’s best for their education. In some cases, transferring to a closer school may be in the child’s best interest.
The main goal is always to ensure the child has a stable, supportive environment where they can learn and thrive.
What do foster parents do?
Foster parents provide a safe, caring, and steady home for children who can’t live with their own families. They make sure the child’s basic needs, like food, clothes, and a place to sleep are covered, while also giving plenty of emotional support and guidance. They team up with social workers, schools, and doctors to keep an eye on the child’s well-being and help them heal from any tough experiences. Foster parents also encourage the child’s growth and help them stay connected to their family or community whenever possible, always focusing on what’s best for the child.
What is the role of social workers in foster care?
Your supervising social worker will be your closest colleague while fostering. They read daily logs, check in at least once a week and visit once a month to make sure all is well, more often if it is not. Social workers also help set up family visits, coordinate things like therapy or school support, and work toward long-term goals like getting the child back with their birth family or finding a forever home through adoption. Basically, they’re the go-to people making sure the child’s best interests are front and center, and they connect everyone involved, the foster family, birth family, and the courts.