20 Common Questions

What is the difference between an independent fostering agency and Local Authority / Health Social Services Trusts fostering?
What sort of children are referred to FCA?
Who can apply to be a foster carer?
Would previous convictions prevent someone from fostering?
What sort of checks are carried out on me and my home?
If I am going to be the main foster carer, do you need to carry out checks on my partner?
Can a child I foster share a bedroom with one of my own children?
Can I still go out to work and be a foster carer?
Can I choose how long I want children and young people to stay with me?
Can I choose which age group or sex I would prefer to foster?
How much will I know about the child/young person before they are placed with me?
Who is responsible for taking the children to school and to the doctor etc?
Are we allowed to smack foster children?
What sort of help would I get with a child who has special needs or a disability?
What sort of support will I get if I’m finding it difficult to cope?
What sort of training will I get to be a foster carer?
How much allowance will I receive per week and how is this decided?
What does the weekly allowance cover?
Will I be taxed on this income?
If I decide to apply, how long will I have to wait before I begin having placements?

What is the difference between an independent fostering agency and Local Authority / Health Social Services Trusts fostering?

The Local Authorities / Health Social Services Trusts are ultimately responsible for the well being of all children in public care. They need to find the best way of looking after these children to make sure that they receive the best possible standard of care.

Independent fostering agencies such as Foster Care Associates provide a specialist fostering service to Local Authorities / Health Social Services Trusts and we work in partnership with them. We have our own foster carers, social workers, therapists and education staff who work hard to ensure that the needs of the carers and children are met to high standards and without delay.
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What sort of children are referred to FCA?

As an agency, we are able to provide high levels of service and support to foster carers and the children in placement. We can, therefore, accept children who have complex histories and may display some challenging behaviour.

Our carers receive high levels of support and training from us in order to help these children.
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Who can apply to be a foster carer?

Anyone 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 fostering or related professional child care is desirable but not essential.
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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.
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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 local 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.
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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.
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Can a child I foster share a bedroom with one of my own children?

Some agencies or Local Authorities / Health Social Services Trusts will allow this, especially for younger children.

At FCA, however, we will only place a child in a home where he or she will have their own bedroom (unless they are a young sibling group).
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Can I still go out to work and be a foster carer?

Although some Local Authorities / Health Social Services Trusts and agencies will allow this, at FCA we think that the high 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. Our carers are part of a professional and dedicated team and we offer them a remuneration and respite package that reflects their commitment.
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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 types 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.
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Can I choose which age group or sex I would prefer to foster?

Yes, you can. However, you need to bear in mind that the majority of children referred to FCA are in the 11+ age group and we tend to have more boys than girls. 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.
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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.
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Who is responsible for taking the children to school and to the doctor etc?
We would normally expect carers to undertake these tasks. Occasionally, if you have a particular problem, your social worker would endeavour to make alternative arrangements.
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Are we allowed to smack foster children?

No form of corporal punishment is acceptable under the regulations governing fostering; this would include any form of smacking, slapping or shaking. We provide training to all our carers on alternative and effective ways to cope with any difficult behaviour.
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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.
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What sort of support will I get if I’m finding it difficult to cope?

You will have your own FCA social worker and support will be available to you 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We also have a team of children & young people support workers who work with our carers and young people. We provide three weeks’ paid respite for carers each year and, on occasion, additional regular respite breaks if considered necessary.

You will never be expected to cope on your own. In fact, we want and need you to tell us if you are having any problems at all so that we can help and support you and the young person with you.

Our carers have also found that regular Carers’ Support Group meetings have helped them to form a great network with other carers who are very supportive.
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What sort of training will I get to be a foster carer?

We hold a Preparation for Assessment training course that takes place over three days. During the course you will be given information about the assessment process and about fostering. Most work is in the form of exercises and role-play. Course attendees almost overwhelmingly report that they have found the course extremely enjoyable and informative. Lunch and refreshments are provided.

Once our carers have completed our assessment process and have been approved/appointed, we encourage and support those carers interested, to achieve professional qualifications by providing training to NVQ Level 3 in Child Care.
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How much allowance will I receive per week and how is this decided?

The basic allowance is £350 per week per child fostered. Sometimes, enhanced payments are made (if, for example, a child has particularly challenging behaviour and the Local Authority / Health and Social Services Trust has requested that they are a ‘solo placement’ with no other children in the household).
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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. Occasionally, extra contributions can be made.
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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 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.
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If I decide to apply, how long will I have to wait before I begin having placements?

We usually start the assessment once your statutory checks have been received i.e. Criminal Record Checks (these have replaced police checks and are even more thorough), medical report and some references. From the beginning of the assessment until the end can vary between 4-6 months depending upon the complexity of your personal circumstances, and the availability of assessing Social Workers – we use qualified Social Workers who are independent of FCA. Once your assessment – the ‘Form F’ – is completed, it will be presented to our Fostering Panel. If you are then approved/appointed you can begin taking placements. However, if you are fostering for a Local Authority / Health and Social Services Trust you may be required to give them 28 days notice.
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