Can you foster as a single foster carer?

Yes. You can foster as a single foster carer. You do not need to be married or in a relationship to provide a child with a safe, stable and caring home.
Children thrive in many different types of families. Successful fostering begins with carefully matching a child’s needs with the right foster carer, and there are circumstances where a single foster carer may be the best match for a child.

Children thrive in a variety of different families, of all shapes and sizes and the success of foster carers starts with the thoughtful matching of a child with a family. There are many times when single carers are the best match for children and hence why we work well with so many.

We look for certain qualities in our foster carers, qualities that convey their ability to be curious, playful, and empathetic. We look for patience and the ability to care deeply for a child who may have experienced abuse or neglect. As a foster carer, you will need these qualities.

As a single carer where you do not have a partner with whom you can share the care, you will welcome the support available from your supervising social worker and other like-minded foster carers. It’s nice to feel in a safe relationship where you can feel able to openly share your thoughts and ideas without fear of judgement. This comes from feeling part of a safe and valued relationship which we support you to develop with us.

We need our foster carers to be in good health, and have a home that provides a bedroom and the space that a child needs.

You can foster as a single person regardless of your gender.

You will be required to undertake a thorough application and assessment process, where you will be allocated a social worker to work closely with you. You will attend training and meet with foster carers and other people who are applying just like you. This is where you start to get to know other people in your area and develop supportive relationships.

We are happy to answer any questions you may have and send you more information.

It is worth considering whether you intend to continue to work while fostering or not. Some single foster carers continue to have part time jobs or work for themselves, from home, alongside fostering. You will need to be available to attend meetings from time to time and be available for children when they may be out of school. The needs of a child vary, depending on the child, and so when matching a child to you, we consider the needs of the child alongside your ability, lifestyle and availability to support the child to fulfil their true potential.

Being a single foster carer doesn’t necessarily mean that you will always need to be with the child in your care, as they are often in school during the day. The important thing is that flexibility is often required, but is dependent on the child living with you. You will need to consider that there are meetings with teachers, social workers and other professionals that you will be requested to attend, and this can restrict the type of work you can therefore do.

We seek your preferences for the type of foster caring you would like to do. Fostering can be done on a short or longer term. We will talk to you about this and help you find what you feel will suit you best, although we recognise that the length of a placement can vary because each child’s situation differs.

If you are thinking of fostering as a single foster carer, we welcome your call so that we can answer your questions and provide you with more information. We appreciate that before taking the first step you will have a lot to think about, but there are lots of children and young people who need people like you to help them feel safe and cared for and we hope that you can see the opportunity to foster as a single person is very positive indeed.