Can I foster?

The list of things that stop someone fostering is much shorter than people assume. You need space in your home, you need to be over 21, and you need the right to live in the UK.

Beyond that, what matters is whether you have the time and steadiness a child needs, and that's something the assessment works out with you rather than something you must prove before you get in touch.

People who rent their home can foster

There's no requirement to own the property you live in. What matters is that your home is secure enough for a child to settle into and has a bedroom for them.

People who work full time can foster

Plenty of foster carers work. Some kinds of fostering fit around a job more easily than others, and respite or short breaks can suit people who can only offer limited time, so the conversation is about what your week actually looks like rather than whether you're employed.

Single people can foster

You don't need to be in a couple, and single carers foster across South East London. What's looked at is your support network and your capacity rather than your relationship status.

Same-sex couples can foster

It makes no difference to whether you can foster or to how you're assessed.

People who don't have children of their own can foster

Experience of parenting isn't a requirement. Some carers come to fostering having worked with children in other ways, others with none of that background at all, because the training and the support around you are there to build what you need.

Older people can foster

There's no upper age limit, and people foster into their fifties, sixties and beyond. What's looked at is your health and your energy for the kind of fostering you're interested in.

People with health conditions and disabilities can foster

A health condition or disability doesn't automatically rule you out. You'll have a health assessment as part of the process, and it looks at whether you're well enough to care for a child rather than for a clean record.

What the assessment looks at

Becoming a foster carer in South East London takes around six months from first enquiry. You'll have a conversation with the team, a visit to your home and training before you're assessed, and the assessment covers a criminal record check, references and your health. A panel then makes the decision. Read more about the journey to becoming a foster carer.

Still unsure whether you can foster?

The first step is an informal chat with somebody on our team. We can answer any questions that you have about your suitability.