Who can foster?

White foster mother and kids

Foster carers come from all backgrounds

You can be:

single, married, divorced or living together
in a same sex relationship
identifying as any gender
from any ethnic or religious background
a homeowner or living in rented, housing association or council accommodation
employed or in receipt of benefits
already a parent
living with disabilities.

Requirements to being a foster carer

Most people can be considered as foster carers, but there are some requirements:

Ideally, you will have a spare bedroom for the sole use of a foster child (babies aged between 0-2 can share your bedroom).
You must live in reasonable travelling distance to Tower Hamlets
You must be aged over 21
You must have some experience of caring for or working with children or young people
If you are a couple then you must be able to demonstrate your relationship is stable and are both equally committed to fostering.
You must not be pregnant
You are a British citizen or have indefinite leave to remain
You must have no convictions for offences against children. Any other criminal history you have, may affect your ability to foster

Myth busting

Can I work and foster?

Answer:: YES. There are several ways of fostering and we can help you choose one that will fit in with your lifestyle. If you work and are considering fostering it is essential that your employer is flexible and you are available to attend meetings, promote contact with the birth family and be at home to care for the children or young people when required. You could also become a respite carer where you will provide short, regular periods of care such as a few days in the week, regular weekends and short breaks in the school holidays.

I am unemployed, does this rule me out as a foster carer?

Answer:: NO. Children benefit from having someone to care for them full-time and as a foster carer you will receive fostering allowances and other payments to cover the cost of caring for a child or young person.

I'm single, can I still foster?

Answer:: YES. Some children benefit from having one-to-one attention. What you will need is a committed support network.

Does a foster child need a room of their own?

Answer:: This depends on the age of the child. We are looking for foster homes which provide adequate space to a suitable standard. Our expectation is that foster children over the age of two will have their own bedroom. You can foster if you rent or live in council or housing association accommodation.

I am a smoker, can I still foster?

Answer:: Currently we do not place children under-five or vulnerable children who have respiratory, heart or other medical conditions, in homes where there is a smoker (this includes the use of e-cigarettes). We prefer foster carers to not smoke as smoking is unhealthy and we will encourage you to give up.

I am a disabled person, can I foster?

Answer:: YES. People with disabilities do become foster carers and make a valuable contribution to fostering. As part of the approval process for all foster carers, your GP will need to verify that you are mentally and physically able to look after children and are not putting your own health at risk.

I have no children of my own, can I foster?

Answer:: YES. We are looking for people who like, and have a genuine interest in, caring for children and young people. You must have had some experience of caring for or working with other people’s children.

With so much on offer, what are you waiting for? Start your fostering career now by giving us a call.

Tower Hamlets is proud to be a Fostering Friendly Employer

What does Fostering Friendly mean?

Being a Fostering Friendly employer means that Tower Hamlets supports employees who are also foster carers.

We know that fostering is a rewarding role, but it can sometimes involve training, meetings and appointments during working hours. To help with this, Tower Hamlets offers additional leave and flexible working arrangements for employees who foster.

This allows foster carers to attend training, take part in important meetings and provide the best possible care for children and young people, while continuing to balance their work commitments.

Supporting our Foster Carers

Tower Hamlets is proud to lead the way as a Fostering Friendly employer. We are committed to supporting our staff who foster by providing:

additional paid leave for fostering responsibilities

flexibility in working hours where possible

support from managers, colleagues, and the wider organisation.

We also encourage other local employers to become Fostering Friendly, helping more people to consider fostering and supporting those who already make a difference in children's lives.

To find out if your employer is Fostering Friendly, visit the Fostering Network website.

Make an enquiry