Check Your
Fostering Eligibility
Answer these quick questions and you can see if you are ready to foster.
Click on a tab next to each question to discover more
Are you a homeowner?
You are a homeowner
As long as you have a spare bedroom, we don’t mind whether you own your home or not.
You are not a homeowner
As long as you have a spare bedroom, we don’t mind whether you own your home or not.
What’s your marital status?
Married
If you’re living with your spouse, you’ll go through the approval process together. You don’t need to be in a heterosexual relationship, we have many LGBTQ+ couple who foster with us too.
Living with partner
If you’re living with your partner, you’ll go through the approval process together. You don’t need to be in a heterosexual relationship, we have many LGBTQ+ couple who foster with us too.
Civil partnership
If you’re living with your partner, you’ll go through the approval process together. You don’t need to be in a heterosexual relationship, we have many LGBTQ+ couple who foster with us too.
Single
You don’t need to be married to foster. You don’t even need to be a couple to foster, we have many single foster casers in Sandwell.
Do you work?
Working full time
As a foster carer, you’ll need to be available to attend training and take the children you care for to school. If you want to foster and work full time, we can talk about the best ways to fit fostering around your lifestyle.
Working part time
Some of our carers choose to foster and work part time. You’ll need to be flexible and available during the day to attend training and take the kids to school.
Not working
You don’t have to be in work before you can foster. Fostering is a rewarding career and we offer generous payments, professional training and plenty of opportunities for personal development.
Are you over 21?
Over 21
Great! There’s no upper age limit to fostering with us either. All we ask is that you’re reasonably fit, healthy and active.
Under 21
You need to be over 21 to foster, but please contact us if you’re thinking about becoming a carer in the future and would like to find out more.
Do you have your own children?
You have your own children
Your children are an important part of the fostering family, your parenting experience will be helpful and we know that becoming a foster family will also be a valuable life experience for your own children.
You don't have your own children
You don’t need to be a parent to become a foster carer. It helps if you have experience of caring for children, but what’s just as important is that you have the energy and humour and patience to become a foster carer.
Have a spare bedroom?
You have a spare bedroom
Great, we’ll talk about your living space with you during the assessment process.
You haven't got a spare room
Foster children need their own space, so you’ll need a spare bedroom to become a foster carer with us.
You will have a spare bedroom soon
If you’re moving house, having an extension or will have a bedroom available soon, we can discuss this with you.
Worked with or cared for children before?
Worked with or cared for children
Great, we’ll talk about your experience with you during the assessment process
Haven't worked with or cared for children
Don’t worry. Although experience can help, your personal qualities can be just as important, and we’ll offer you all the training and support you need.
Do you have a disability?
You have a disability
You can still foster if you have a disability – chat to us and we’ll tell you more.
You don't have a disability
Our foster carers come from all backgrounds and we consider every applicant on an individual basis.