Understanding Fostering Better
Thinking about fostering can bring up a lot of questions. You may be wondering whether you are suitable, what the assessment involves, how payments work, whether you need a spare bedroom, or what fostering would mean for your family and daily life.
This page is here to help you understand fostering more clearly. It is not about rushing you into applying. It is about giving you honest, practical information so you can decide whether fostering may be right for you.
If you would prefer to talk things through, you can contact Greater London Fostering or arrange a call back with our friendly team.
Can I Foster?
Many people rule themselves out of fostering before they have spoken to anyone. You do not need to have a perfect background, a particular type of family, or years of formal childcare experience. What matters most is whether you can offer a child a safe, stable and caring home, and whether fostering could realistically fit with your household and lifestyle.
Can I foster if I am single?
Yes. Single people can foster. What matters is your ability to provide a safe, stable and caring home, and whether you have support around you.
Can I foster if I rent my home?
Yes, you may be able to foster if you rent. You would need a stable home, suitable space. The renters rights act, means you don’t even need your landlords permission, however we would inform them.
Can I foster if I work full-time?
Possibly. It depends on your job, flexibility, household and the needs of the child. Some types of fostering require a carer to be available during the day.
Can I foster if I have children of my own?
Yes. Many foster carers have children of their own. Your children would be included in the assessment because fostering affects the whole household.
Spare Bedrooms and Home Requirements
Your home does not need to be large or perfect, but it does need to be safe, stable and suitable for fostering. In most cases, fostered children need their own bedroom so they have privacy, security and a space that belongs to them. There are some exceptions for baby-only fostering, where a baby may be able to sleep in a cot in the foster carer’s bedroom.
Do I need a spare bedroom to foster?
In most cases, yes. Fostered children usually need their own bedroom so they have privacy, safety and a space that belongs to them.
Can I foster a baby without a spare bedroom?
In some cases, yes. Greater London Fostering is actively recruiting baby-only foster carers, and babies may be able to sleep in a cot in the carer’s bedroom.
Do I need to own my home to foster?
No. You can foster if you rent or own your home, as long as your home is stable, safe and suitable for fostering.
Will my home be checked?
Yes. As part of the assessment, your home will be looked at to make sure it is safe and suitable for a child.
Types of Fostering
Fostering is not one-size-fits-all. Children need foster care for different reasons and for different lengths of time, so there are several types of fostering to consider. You do not need to know straight away which type would suit you best; our team can talk this through with you and help you understand what may fit your household, experience and availability.
What types of fostering are there?
There are several types, including short-term, long-term, emergency, respite, parent and child, sibling and baby fostering.
Do I have to choose a type of fostering straight away?
No. Our team can talk with you about your household, experience and availability before agreeing what type of fostering may suit you.
Can I choose the age of child I foster?
Your approval will include an age range and type of fostering. Matching decisions are made carefully around the child’s needs and your household.
Can I foster brothers and sisters together?
Possibly. Some children need to stay with their brothers or sisters, and suitable carers for sibling groups are always important.
Baby Fostering
Baby fostering involves caring for very young children at an important stage in their development. Babies need warmth, routine, close attention and consistent care while decisions are made about their future. Greater London Fostering is actively recruiting baby-only foster carers, and in some cases a spare bedroom may not always be required, as babies can sleep in a cot in the foster carer’s bedroom.
Is Greater London Fostering recruiting baby foster carers?
Yes. Greater London Fostering is actively recruiting baby-only foster carers.
What does baby fostering involve?
Baby fostering involves caring for very young children who need safety, nurture, routine and close attention while plans are made for their future.
Do babies need their own bedroom?
Not always. In some cases, babies can sleep in a cot in the foster carer’s bedroom.
Is baby fostering full-time?
Yes, baby fostering usually requires a high level of availability because babies need consistent care, health appointments, contact arrangements and daily routines.
Payments and Financial Support
Fostering is a caring role, but it also needs to be financially realistic. Foster carers receive a weekly payment while a child is placed with them, which helps cover the cost of caring for the child and includes a reward element for the foster carer. We believe it is important that payments are explained clearly, so you can understand what support is available before deciding whether fostering could work for you.
How much do foster carers get paid?
Greater London Fostering pays £479.50 per week for children aged 10 and under, and £507.50 per week for children aged 11 and over.
What does the fostering payment cover?
The payment includes the cost of caring for the child and a reward element for the foster carer.
Are foster care payments taxed?
Foster carers have specific tax arrangements and many pay little or no tax on fostering income, depending on their circumstances. You should take individual tax advice if needed.
Do I get paid when I do not have a child placed?
No, fostering payments are normally made when a child is placed with you. Our team can explain how this works in more detail.
Training and Support
Foster carers are not expected to do everything alone. Good training and reliable support are essential parts of fostering, both before you are approved and throughout your fostering journey. Greater London Fostering provides preparation training, ongoing learning, regular supervision and 24/7 support, so carers have people around them to turn to for advice, guidance and reassurance.
Will I receive training?
Yes. You will receive preparation training before approval and ongoing training after approval. We run training via zoom, as well as providing an eLearning training platform which is fostering specific.
Will I have a supervising social worker?
Yes. Approved foster carers have a supervising social worker who provides regular support, guidance and supervision.
Is support available in an emergency?
Yes. Greater London Fostering provides 24/7 support for foster carers.
Do foster carers get support groups?
Yes. Support groups help carers share experiences, learn from one another and feel part of a fostering community.
Still unsure whether fostering could work for you?
Many people have questions before they feel ready to apply. We are happy to talk things through.
Life as a Foster Carer
Life as a foster carer is built around everyday care: school runs, meals, routines, appointments, conversations and helping a child feel safe. It can be rewarding, but it can also be challenging, especially when children have experienced uncertainty, loss or trauma. Foster carers need patience, consistency and support, and they are never expected to do everything alone.
Is fostering difficult?
Fostering can be challenging. Children may have experienced trauma, loss or instability, so patience, consistency and support are important.
Will I work with the child’s family?
Children often have contact with birth family members, depending on their care plan. Foster carers may help support this, but arrangements vary.
What happens after I am approved?
After approval, matching is considered carefully. This means looking at whether a child’s needs fit with your household, skills and approval terms.
What if I am not ready to apply yet?
That is completely fine. You can ask questions, talk things through and take time to decide whether fostering is right for you.
The Assessment Process
The fostering assessment is a careful, supportive process designed to understand you, your household and the kind of fostering that may be right for you. It can feel detailed, but it is not about looking for perfection. It is about making sure fostering is safe for children, realistic for your family, and that you have the right support, training and understanding before becoming an approved foster carer.
How long does it take to become a foster carer?
The assessment usually takes several months. The exact timescale depends on your circumstances, checks, references and availability.
What happens during the fostering assessment?
The assessment looks at your background, household, experience, support network, home, motivation and ability to care for a child safely.
What is Skills to Foster training?
Skills to Foster is preparation training that helps you understand fostering, children’s needs, safer caring, teamwork and the role of a foster carer.
What happens at fostering panel?
A fostering panel reviews your assessment and makes a recommendation about approval. The final decision is made by the agency decision maker.