Fostering

If you’re thinking about fostering, but are worried that you might not fit the mould - don’t worry, there’s no such thing as a typical foster carer:

• you don’t need to have had your own children, but some experience looking after children or young people is helpful.

• you can be single, married, living with a partner, lesbian, gay, transgender, or bisexual. All we ask is that you have a stable and supportive home environment.

• you don’t need to own your home. You can be renting, but you will need a spare room for the child. If you don’t have a spare room, you may be eligible to foster a baby aged 0-2 in your bedroom.

• you don’t need childcare qualifications; we’ll provide all the training you need, especially if you’re caring for children with specific needs. We’ll always consider your experience, knowledge, and skills to match the needs of the child before placing them with you.

Eligibility requirements for fostering with us

What we need to consider

Fostering can be a full-time job, so we’ll consider whether you’re currently working. You can still foster school-age children if you work, but you’ll need to be able to take them to and from school and look after them full-time during school holidays. If you don’t have the time for full-time fostering, you might want to consider fostering for short breaks or respite care.

​Fostering requires time and dedication. You must be able to prioritise the needs of the child and attend training sessions and meetings. We will work with you to ensure this commitment is possible for you and your family.​

Having a strong support network of friends and family is incredibly helpful. Fostering can be challenging, and having people to lean on makes a big difference. Here at Fostering Barnsley, we offer a range of support, including Mockingbird Hubs and dedicated, experienced social workers.

If you smoke or vape, we can’t place a child under five years old with you or a child with specific health needs or disabilities. We also expect you not to smoke around children or encourage them to smoke.

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check is required to become a foster carer. Having a criminal record doesn’t automatically disqualify you, but certain offences might. We can discuss this during the application process.