FAQs

General FAQ’S

What is the difference between fostering agencies and local authorities?

Local authorities have a legal responsibility for the safeguarding of the children & young people who are in care. Local authorities & Fostering Agencies work very closely with each other to find homes for children & young people in care. The reasons for local authorities choosing to work with an agency vary, it may be that they have a shortage of foster carer’s within the local authority and need the assistance of a fostering agency, it could also be because the child has complex needs which a specific agency is better equipped to deal with.

Can I work a full-time & be a foster carer?

Full- time work will generally not be an option when fostering, we would require that at least one carer is at home or works part time. This is in order for the children & young people are provided with the high-quality support, care & attention that they need.

How long does it take to become a foster carer?

The process in becoming an approved foster carer will typically take four to three months, with our fast track application process two months, and will include a in depth analysis of your life.

What happens after being approved to be a foster carer?

Once the agency decision maker has approved you to be a foster carer you will then be ready to have a placement of you child/young person. The placements team will begin actively searching for a placement, once a potential match has been identified, we will begin liaising with the local authority giving them brief details about yourself. Once a foster child is placed, you will continue to receive support from the agency & your supervising social worker.

Do I have a choice about who I foster?

We get to know our foster carers through the assessment process, it is during this process that we will conclude what will be a good match & who you can meet the needs of. You will be briefed with as much information as possible about the young person’s background, behaviours & needs, to ensure that you can offer the support required.

Ultimately you will have the final say on whether you can take on the young person or not & we will respect this decision. The child needs to be a good match for you & your family, as we want the best outcomes for our young people & carer’s.

Can I foster if I’m single?

Yes, here at outset fostering agency, we welcome single carers. Any adult can be a foster carer if they have empathy, resilience & the ability to nurture children & young people, being single will not affect your eligibility to foster. Some young people will in fact benefit from one-to-one attention from one carer. Unsure about your eligibility to become a foster carer? Use our use our quick eligibility checker.

Does my age affect my ability to foster?

The Fostering Regulations state that to foster you must be over the age of 21 years old. Those who are older need to be mindful a medical is carried out by their GP as part of the assessment process, to determine if they are capable of fostering.

Can I Foster if I have a criminal record?

Having a criminal record will not always rule you out of being able to foster, we need to know you are a safe person to look after children & young people. There will be DBS checks (Criminal Record Bureau Checks) carried out on anyone who wants to become a foster carer.  Certain criminal convictions will prevent you from being able to foster & is the reason DBS checks are carried out.

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Allowances & Tax benefits FAQ’S

What is a foster care allowance?

Foster care allowance is the money that is paid to foster carer’s weekly to support & care for the child. This allowance is paid by the fostering agency, the allowance can vary dependant on the needs of the child. Read more about foster care allowance here.

How much is the foster care allowance?

The amount you get paid as a foster carer is dependent on a number of different factors including the needs of the child in your care. Outset foster carers receive an average of £430 per week per child living in your home. This means if you support two children weekly you could receive an average foster care allowance of £860 per week. The allowance may be higher if the children have more needs & support.

Do I need to pay tax on my allowance?

Foster carers are classed as self-employed. You will need to register with HMRC and complete an annual Self-Assessment tax return. In general, foster carers are exempt from paying tax on the fostering allowance.

The exception to this would be if you are a foster carer with multiple placements or additional work that gives you an income above the current government threshold.

You can find out more about this from HMRCClick here to view their free online presentation

What does the weekly allowance cover?

The weekly allowance covers the food, clothing, activities, savings & more. During the assessment process and once you have a child in your care, we will help to guide you on what the allowance needs to cover.

Do foster carers pay national insurance?

Yes, As a Foster carer you will be registered as self-employed and will be required to pay national insurance contributions. You can contact SELF EMPLOYED HELPLINE(GOV.UK) for more information.

Are you ready to start your fostering journey?

Whether you’re ready to enquire or simply want to find out more, fill out the form bellow. An experienced fostering advisor will be in touch to answer your questions.

Need Support?

Get in touch and we will be happy to answer any questions that you have.

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