Where I live
I don’t have a big house?
The size of your house will not necessarily be a determining factor in whether you can foster or not. What will be looked at is whether you have a spare room that is big enough for a young person to live in, and whether the accommodation is safe.
I don’t own my own house?
Not owning your own house does not bar you from fostering but you will need to demonstrate stability. There are lots of foster carers who live in rented accommodation. Most fostering services require you to have a spare bedroom to ensure the child you foster has the privacy and space they require.
I still live with my parents?
You can apply to become a foster carer when you live with your parents, but during the assessment the fostering service will explore who would be the ‘main’ foster carer. If anyone else will be involved in caring for the child or young person, they will have to be assessed and approved too, to guarantee the safety and wellbeing of the looked after child.
Previously published on the Fostering Network website.