Each individual or family will bring something different to the role and there are only a few basic requirements to consider at the initial stages of your fostering journey. By far the most important thing to remember is children need understanding, patience and stability, so we are looking for carers who can be empathetic, resilient and committed.
Our large community of foster carers come from a range of backgrounds and you can foster if you are:
Becoming a foster carer affects your whole family and close friends and if you’re in a relationship, your partner must want to foster too. If you have your own children it is important to consider how they will feel sharing their home with another child.
Having formal experience working with children is an advantage but not a necessity as there are lots of other experiences that count, including voluntary work with children, working with vulnerable adults or raising your own family.
It is possible to be working in another job alongside fostering and this can be discussed as part of the application process.
Having a criminal record won’t necessarily prevent you from fostering unless you have been convicted of violent or sexual offences, but you must be open and transparent from the beginning. All foster carers also undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service check, as will any member of the household over the age of 16.
If you live in the North East of England, within 50 miles of Newcastle, and you'd like to become a foster carer, please: