Frequently Asked Questions

Transferring from another agency is very straightforward and you have the right to choose who you foster with. There is a protocol outlined by the Fostering Network which sets out what needs to happen and People Who Foster will support you through this process. Contact us  to discuss how we can help.

Yes – being single does not prevent you from becoming a foster carer. People who Foster will be there to support you, however fostering can be very demanding both practically and emotionally, so it is essential that you have a good strong support network of your own and this can be discussed during your assessment.

People Who Foster pay a generous allowance to carers which is paid monthly. The amount can vary depending on the needs of the child you are caring for. The allowance ensures that all financial aspects of the child’s care is covered, for example food, clothing, activities, travel and holidays.

A large proportion of this fee is non-taxable due to the governments tax relief for foster carers. For the purposes of calculating tax, you are also considered self employed by HMRC and will therefore need to complete an annual tax return.

More information can be found here or contact us to find out more.

Some benefits are not affected whilst others may be. Without knowing individual circumstances, it is difficult to give a definitive answer. We advise contacting your Citizens Advice Bureau to get further information on how the fostering allowance will affect you.

No – there are no age restrictions that apply to fostering and our assessments of applicants are based on many factors including physical health, emotional capacity, knowledge and experience and your support networks to determine whether you may be suitable to become a foster carer.

No – all looked after children are entitled to privacy and must have their own bedroom. In some circumstances siblings may share bedrooms but this must be agreed with the children’s social workers prior to placement and this decision will only be made if it is deemed in the best interests of the children.

Not necessarily. This depends on what the conviction is for. We will conduct a check with the police but advise that you be open and honest about this at the point of application so any issues can be addressed early on in the assessment.

Absolutely – we welcome applications from all backgrounds and do not discriminate on the grounds of sexuality.

People Who Foster work closely with the Local Authority to find out as much information as we can about the child or young person before they are placed. This is essential to ensure we can match appropriately. In some circumstances, there may be limited information available which may affect our decisions with regards to matching.