What are the requirements for fostering?

The basic eligibility requirements for fostering are:

• Applicants must have a reasonable understanding of what fostering is before they apply. Detailed information is available on the Sparks Fostering website.

• Applicants must be available to provide day to day care for children, including school runs when necessary

• Fostering applicants must have some experience and knowledge of caring for children. The knowledge and skills will be developed through training with the fostering provider.

• To be age 21 or older

• All members of the household must be happy to proceed

• The home must be clean and safe (not necessarily tidy at all times, especially if other children live in the home)

• The home must not have dangerous pets such as banned dogs.

• Have a spare bedroom (all children over age 3 are expected to have their own bedrooms unless they’ve already been sharing for a long time and don’t want their own room)

• Fostering applicants must be healthy and be likely to be healthy for at least the next few years

• A history of serious offending may prevent a fostering assessment from progressing

• A history of having children removed from the applicant’s care, or allegations of harm may prevent an application from progressing

• Applicants must be able to provide personal references which support the application

• Foster carers must have some professional skills such as being able to complete documents, complete training (which may be in person or online), and be able to contribute effectively with multi-agency staff

The Sparks Fostering Quiz (https://sparksfostering.org/free-quiz/) provides 20 questions to check an applicant’s eligibility to foster.