How do I contact the team at Assured Fostering
Here are our contact details;
Office number; 01204 808040
Registered Manager; Karen Foster – karen.foster@assuredfostering.co.uk – Tel; 07946604335
Senior Supervision Social Worker; Neil Raby – neil.raby@assuredfostering.co.uk – Tel; 07402379784
Administrator; Jody Carter – jody.carter@assuredfostering.co.uk – Tel; 07886151291
Do I need specific qualifications to foster?
No. When you are preparing to foster you will receive training to help you and your family identify and build upon the skills you already have, and develop new skills needed to foster. The first course you will attend is the The Skills to Foster course which is competed as part of your assessment and covers the basics of fostering. Once approved, you are supported in completing the Training, Support, and Development Standards for Foster Care, and you will also have access to ongoing training through Assured Fostering to support your ongoing development.
What support is available?
If you are approved to become a foster carer there are various sources of ongoing support available to you. The most important will be your supervising social worker, a member of the team allocated to support you from your fostering service, who should meet regularly with you to discuss any concerns you have, offer you supervision, and arrange any training you feel you need. Membership of The Fostering Network will be arranged by Assured Fostering. This provides you with access to a range of information and advice services
Can I foster if I have pets?
Having pets does not prevent you from fostering and actually they can be an asset to a foster family. However, every animal is different and your pets will be assessed as part of the process of becoming a foster carer, taking into account factors such as their temperament and behaviour. As a pet owner, you also need to think about how you would feel and react if a child injures one of your pets.
Do I have to be a British citizen in order to become a foster carer?
British citizenship is not required to be a foster carer in the UK however you do need to be a full time resident in the UK to foster with Assured Fostering. Children from a wide range of backgrounds need fostering and our foster carers come from all walks of life.
Will a police record stop me from fostering?
Not necessarily. The law states that the only criminal convictions that prevent people from fostering are those that relate to an offence against children or a sexual offence. Minor offences should not count against you in your application to foster. All criminal convictions will need to be disclosed when you first apply to foster as the application process to become a foster carer includes an enhanced criminal record check.
Can I foster if I have a long-term health condition?
Your health will be considered when applying to foster and any long-term conditions are taken into account. The most important factor is whether you are physically and psychologically fit enough to manage the demands of caring for a child – this may vary depending on the age of the children that you are approved for. All prospective foster carers are required to have a medical as part of the assessment process.
Do I have to speak English to a high standard to be a foster carer?
A large number of children in foster care do not have English as a first language and being placed in a home where their first language is spoken can be very beneficial for them. You will however need a good level of spoken and written English to be able to communicate with other professionals, support children’s education and make notes and keep records. If you have any particular communication needs, please let us know and we can discuss this with you.
We are a religious family, will this affect our application to foster?
No. Your religion does not affect your application to foster. Children should be placed with foster families that can meet their needs, including religious needs. However, you would need to consider how you would feel about discussing issues such as alternative religious beliefs or sexuality with a child and supporting children with different religions or belief’s to you.
Can I become a foster carer if I smoke
All foster carers need to provide a smoke-free environment for children. Whilst you can smoke, and be a foster carer, you are unable to be approved to care for children under the age of 5 years.
Can I become a foster carer if one of my own children has disabilities?
You can apply to become a foster carer if one of your children has a disability. We will want to discuss with you how you would balance the needs of any children who are placed with you with those of your own child and what the impact of having other children in their home could be on your own child.
How will fostering affect my children?
Fostering involves the whole family and will affect your children. Your children will play a key role in your fostering family and should be included in all stages of your assessment, and post approval process. It can be difficult for children who find themselves sharing their parents with children who have experienced a different family life however, many children also say that they have enjoyed their parents’ fostering and learnt a lot from it. Head over to Fostering with Birth Children and send any question’s your children may have over to Saffron; she may be able to help or offer some reassurance from her own experience of living in a family who fosters.
Will I have a say in who I foster?
When you initially enquire to Assured Fostering, we will have a discussion about the appropriate age range, the number of children you will be approved to foster, and any other considerations. This will be discussed further during your assessment process. Ideally, all children will be well-matched with your family and planned, but ultimately you have the right to turn down children you feel may not be a match with your family. You can have discussion’s with your supervising social worker or the fostering manager and make decisions together.
What if we don’t get on with the children?
Some children will take time to adjust to living in your home and we will support you in helping them to settle. Should there be issues you feel you are unable to resolve, it is important to discuss this with your supervising social worker. You may find if things are not working out for you, then the child will also be feeling that this is not the right place for them and, where necessary the decision may be made for the children to move to another fostering family and you, and the child, will receive support with this transition.
Are foster carers paid?
Yes. You will receive a weekly fostering allowance which is intended to cover the costs of looking after a child in your care, such as clothing, food and pocket money. Assured Fostering offer an inclusive fee of £450.00 per week, per child. This fee may increase depending on the needs of the child and level of support they require. This will be discussed when considering the match with your family.
Do foster carers pay tax and national insurance?
Foster carers are treated as self-employed for tax purposes. There is a generous tax scheme foster carers can use called Qualifying Care Relief. The scheme calculates a tax threshold unique to the fostering household which, when compared with their total fostering payments for the same tax year, determines if a foster carer has to pay any tax from their fostering. The vast majority of foster carers do not pay tax from their fostering.
Further information about tax and National Insurance is available on HM Revenue and Customs website.
Can I foster if I have previously had financial problems?
Previous financial problems should not prevent you from fostering. You will need to be able to show that you are now financially secure enough to provide a stable home for any children who are placed with you and that you are able to manage the fostering allowances paid to you.
I work full-time. Can I still foster?
Foster carers are expected to be available to care for children, attend meetings, training, support groups, and to promote and support contact between a child and their family therefore there would need to be flexibility with regards to your hours of work. This can be discussed at your intial enquiry stage.
Assured Fostering would not consider it appropriate for a child in your care to be in full-time daycare while you work, but would consider the use of after-school clubs and other childcare arrangements for older children.
Q: Can’t find the answer to your question?
A: You can ask us anything here, or by emailing us at enquiries@assuredfostering.co.uk or by calling Karen Foster on 07946604335.
