Frequently Asked Questions

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All our foster carers receive a combined weekly payment direct into their bank account for each placement. The payment is split into two parts Child allowance & professional fee. 

If you have two spare bedrooms, you could receive a childs allowance for each placement and two professional fees.

We also pay annual holiday, birthday & festival allowances. 

Read more about payments and allowances

All our foster carers are allocated a named supervising social worker who is their point of contact, and who will build a supportive relationship with the fostering family.

Your supervising social worker will maintain regular contact by  video call, email, telephone, and home visits. The regularity of these will depend upon your needs as a family. 

Your supervising social worker will also attend all meetings with you in relation to the child(ren) who is placed with you, until you become familiar with the process and feel confident.  

We know problems can arise outside office hours. We provide access to a First for Fostering social worker 24/7, who can help support you. 

Read more about our foster carer support

You must be 21 to be approved as a foster carer. There is no upper age limit for foster carers! 

You will need to have a spare bedroom and be living in stable accommodation. You can be in rented accommodation or own your own home. 

Absolutely, you do not need to own your own home to be able to foster. What is most important is that you can provide a safe, secure and loving home.  

Absolutely not, single applicants are welcome here at First for Fostering.

Yes you can, this just means that you will be unable to care for a child under 5 years old. The same also applies for vaping. 

Of  course, here First for Fostering we understand your pets are part of  your family. As part of your assessment to becoming a foster carer, we will also undertake a simple assessment of your pets.  

Yes you can, you do not need previous experience working with children to  become a foster carer. We we provide full training and support along the way.  

Of course, many foster carers have their own children and here at First for Fostering we carefully match children alongside your whole family, a process in which you and your family would be fully included in.   

Here at First for Fostering we do not have restrictions around working whilst  being a foster carer, however we will need you to evidence how you would  balance prioritising and meeting a child’s needs, your role as a foster  carer and work commitments. Many foster carers have their own children, and here at First for Fostering we  carefully match children alongside your whole family, a process in which you and your family would be fully included in.