Fostering
Frequently Asked Questions

Have you seen our tv Advert?

Am I too old to foster?

Age really is just a number. We have Foster Parents in their 20's and Foster Parents in their 70's, all doing an amazing job of looking after foster children.

The vast majority of our Foster Parents started fostering in their 30's 40's or 50's but we welcome applications from anyone over the age of 18 who feels that they may be able to make a real and lasting diffference to young people's lives.

Can I foster if I have pets?

Pets are usually a great ice breaker 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 or if you

had more than 4 dogs living in the home.

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 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 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.

Which fostering organisation is the best_

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 commited 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 two 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 will fostering affect my own children_

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. The minimum that you would receive to care for one child per week with The Hazel Project is £467 and the average weekly pay that our Foster Parents receive is £580.

Find out more here.

Will fostering affect my own children?

Fostering will change the lives of everyone in your home but more often than not, for the good!

There are many ways that we help your children to enjoy being part of a fostering family including our birth family groups which provide opportunity to make friends with other children from fostering families and chat through their experiences.

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 proove unmanageable. We do consider each persons indivdual 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.

Fostering unnacompanied asylum seeking children_

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 enviroment where you

cared for others or having had your own

children can be helpful, but isn't neccessary.

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.

Find out more here

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.

Which fostering agency pays the most__edited.jpg

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 childrens needs. Your children will always be our top priority when matching foster children with your family.