What are the fostering requirements in the UK?

It’s important that your home is a safe and clean place to welcome a child. Any child in your care should have a room of their own which is always available to them; for example, if you have an older child living away at university and choose to foster, they would not be able to use their old bedroom over the holidays.

If you have your own children or have worked with children in a professional or voluntary setting, this is a great indicator that you likely already have many of the key parenting skills required to become an excellent foster parent. 

At Orange Grove, we understand the importance of taking care of the needs of every member of your fostering family. Because of this, we put lots of time and resources into supporting the wellbeing of your own children. We do this by offering tailored support, including support groups and online resources specially designed for children who foster.

Every foster parent needs a support network to lean on when times get hard, whether it be family members, friends, or other foster parents who you’ll get to know through our foster parent buddy scheme, regular support groups and local events. You’ll also be able to rely upon your local team, including your designated social worker and a family support worker. We encourage you to reach out to us day or night by calling our 24/7 helpline. 

You’re also welcome to invite your support network along on training sessions, so that everyone in your life can get a better understanding of how best to support you, your family, and the child in your care.

One important role of a foster parent is the ability to champion and advocate for the needs of the child in your care. You’ll also need to be prepared to work closely with others involved in ensuring the child in your care has the best outcomes possible, including other care professionals, your social worker, and your child’s school.

Depending on the circumstances, you may also work with therapists or members of the child's birth family. While this can sometimes be challenging, it’s important to form respectful and professional relationships with family members to help maintain those vital connections whenever possible.

We welcome foster parents who have underlying health conditions, disabilities, or mental health diagnoses. None of these lived experiences are necessarily an obstacle to becoming a foster parent. 

However, it’s important that your circumstances won’t affect your ability to look after a young person safely, and that you’ll have enough energy, both physical and emotional, to fulfil their needs and ensure that fostering won’t put a strain on your own wellbeing. 

You’ll receive a generous allowance from us while a child is in your care, designed to recognise your professionalism and commitment. We also offer other benefits, such as allowances for birthdays and religious festivals, discounts, and two weeks of paid respite.

As a foster parent, you may experience short periods where you’re not receiving an income from fostering due to not having a child living with you. However, with a dedicated referrals team, you can trust that as soon as you’re ready to welcome a child into your home, our expert team will be working hard to match you with children who will be a great fit to join your family. 

Our referrals team screen hundreds of referrals each day, meaning there is never a shortage of potential matches.