Your Questions
We understand that fostering is a life-changing decision that requires thoughtful consideration. It’s a journey filled with rewarding moments and meaningful experiences, but we also recognise it can come with questions and uncertainties. That’s why we’re here to support and guide you every step of the way. To help you get started, we’ve answered some of the most frequently asked questions about fostering below.
Who can foster?
If you are over 21 and a UK resident, you can apply to foster. You don’t need to own your own home, but you do need to have at least one spare bedroom. We welcome enquiries from single people, married people, and the LGBTQ+ community, and we are committed to equal opportunities, so if you feel you have the time and essential skills to start your fostering journey, we would love to hear from you.

What happens when we first make contact?
A member of our team will speak to you on the phone and gather information about you and your circumstances. We will make sure there is time to ask any questions and provide you with any further information you feel you need. If both parties decide it’s appropriate to complete a home visit, we will do this at a convenient time.
You can book a call with us here.

How long does it take to become a foster parent?
The assessment process typically takes 4 to 6 months. During this time, you’ll be supported by a dedicated assessing social worker and participate in preparation training sessions. These sessions are designed to guide and inform you while the agency completes essential checks and references to ensure the safety and well-being of children.You can find out more about the process here.

Can I work and foster?
The main foster parent needs to be available for the child or children they care for. There are lots of meetings involved in fostering including your own supervision, meetings for the children and support group attendance. You will be really busy as a foster parent, however in exceptional circumstances some foster parents can work around the fostering task and we would discuss this on a one-to-one basis. Learn more about working and fostering here.

Will training be ongoing to support me as a foster parent?
Yes absolutely, here at Changing Futures Fostering we see training as essential and an ongoing process. Learning is key to our foster parents being the best they can and often learning needs to be repeated to keep it up-to-date and relevant. With this in mind, we have a thorough pre-approval training programme that will help you through the early part of your journey and a comprehensive training plan that includes mandatory training and additional training to meet your and the children you care for needs. Learn more about our therapeutic fostering training programme here.

What types of fostering are there?
There are lots of different types of fostering needed but the main ones are Short Term, Long Term & Short Break Care.
Short-term placements can last anything for one night to a couple of years or more and give professionals working with children and their families a chance to complete assessments and make longer term plans for them.
Long-term placements are for children and young people who need a home with a foster family for the rest of their childhood. Some short-term placements can become long-term placements in the same foster family but other foster parents are assessed and matched to children as a long-term family from the onset.
Short-break placements provide a break for the full-time foster parent and can be from one night up to a couple of weeks. Different families have different needs so being flexible works.
Learn more about the different types of foster care here.

Will I receive money as a foster parent?
Yes, you will receive an allowance and support will be provided as you will be self-employed to understand tax etc. The allowance is paid per child based on age and needs. Find out more about our financial support here.
