Fostering
Fostering is a means of providing care in your home for children or young people who cannot live with their parents. Most of these children will eventually return to their families.
The length of time for which they need to be fostered can range from a few days to several months, or in a few cases for several years. Fostering can make a real difference to children’s lives. Caring for a child or young person in this way can be immensely rewarding.
Who can be a foster carer?
Single people or couples can foster, with or without children of their own. Carers can be heterosexual, lesbian or gay. We are looking for people who can offer a secure, safe, stable home for children and young people. You need to have time and space in your life for a foster child. Any child you care for will need attention and nurturing in order for them to adapt to having to leave their own family.
We need carers from all racial and religious groups to reflect the diversity of the children in Barnet’s care. You need to have a spare bedroom for a child to stay in. However, children up to 24 months can share a foster carer's bedroom.
How would I cope with the extra financial commitment of a foster child?
Barnet foster carers receive a maintenance allowance to cover the costs of caring for a child and a skill based fee as a reward for the care they provide. The total amount ranges from £350 to £512.00 a week per child. Special payments are also made for birthdays, family holidays and winter festivals.
The maintenance allowance is £175 a week for a child under 12 and £232 for a child over 12. The skill based fee ranges from £175 to £280 a week per child. There are extensive tax allowances for foster carers. and income from fostering does not affect eligibility to any means tested benefits.
Will I receive training and support if I need it?
Foster carers receive thorough training before fostering and ongoing training while fostering tailored to the specific needs of the foster carer. This training is designed to enable you and the young people you foster get the best possible experience from their time with you.
All carers have their own social worker who is there for day to day advice and support. There is also a 24 hour duty social worker for out of hours assistance. Equally important is our network of experienced foster carers who are always there to lend encouragement, friendship and help.
Why do some children need fostering?
A child may need to be fostered for a variety of reasons; an illness in the family where emergency care is needed, a child may have suffered abuse or neglect, or a breakdown in family relations. Sometimes children arrive unaccompanied from abroad.
How to find out more
- Contact the Recruitment and Training Team using the contact details opposite.
- We hold monthly information evenings, and the next one is Wednesday 17 December 2008. Please call if you would like to attend.
- Fostering information pack
(PDF 534KB)
To access a copy of the latest adoption and fostering inspection report please go to www.csci.org.uk
Children, young people and families
