Fostering Process
Below is the Starz short guide to the fostering process journey, followed by our frequency asked questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Applying to foster is a big decision and we expect you will have many questions – these can be discussed with any member of the Starz team and in particular with your assessing Social Worker throughout the process.
However here are a number of frequently asked questions posed by people enquiring about fostering that may answer some of your initial questions.
I am in a same sex relationship can we apply to foster?
Yes, a Prospective Foster Carers sexual orientation has no bearing on a person’s ability to foster a child/children, you will be assessed the same as any other potential foster carer household. We welcome applications from people with a range of skills, knowledge and life experience.
What support will I receive from Starz?
Starz Fostering CIC is a not-for-profit Independent Fostering Agency based in Emneth, Norfolk. We have a dedicated team who provide support, advice and supervision for Prospective Foster Carers in assessment, to our approved fostering households and the children in their care. Members of the team are on call outside of office hours in an emergency, 24 hours a day 365 per year.
Starz Fostering is a trauma informed service, our Foster Carers and staff receive additional training and support in providing therapeutic care for the children they look after. This starts during the assessment process with additional training in relation to working with traumatised children alongside the six session ‘Skills to Foster’ course.
How long does it take from when I enquire to becoming an approved Foster Carer and what does the process involve?
After you contact the Starz team, we will arrange for you to have an informal discussion about the process and ask you some initial questions about your current and previous circumstances. If the time is right for you to proceed further, we will arrange for members of the team to visit you and your partner (if applicable) at home; this is called an Initial Home Visit. We will ask you further information about your current circumstance, why you want to foster and ask to have a quick look around your home including the bedroom(s) that would be used for fostering.
If we all agree on the next step, we would invite you to an information course called Skills to Foster, and a further course on working with traumatised children. Following feedback after the courses have been completed, you will be invited to apply to foster. From the point your application is accepted to a completed assessment being presented to the fostering panel takes approximately 6 months, sometimes this is quicker, but it should take no longer than 8 months. The assessing Social Worker makes a recommendation in the assessment report that is shared with you.
The report is presented to the fostering panel, the panel members are independent from the agency and they also make a recommendation in respect of suitability. You and the assessing Social Worker are inviting to join part of the panel meeting.
The report and panel minutes are presented to the Agency Decision Maker, who makes the final decision regarding a Prospective Foster Carers suitability to Foster and approval. There are two stages to the assessment process Stage 1 and 2, often both stages start at the same time. Where possible when there are reasons when an assessment is not recommended to continue, these will be shared with you. A number of checks and reference are obtained during Stage 1 of the assessment, including a Disclosure and Barring Service check (includes a check with the Police), employment checks, family member reference, adult children references, previous partner checks (if applicable) and overseas checks (if applicable); please note this is not an exhaustive list.
For people who are currently or who have previously been approved as Foster Carers the assessment process can be shorter than 6 month, a reference will also be requested from the current/previous fostering agency during the assessment process.
Can I foster if I smoke/vape?
Fostering households where a member of the family smokes or vapes can only be approved to care for children over the age of 5 years old; this may also mean households can’t be approved for children with additional health needs i.e. asthma or a child with a disability and this would be considered during the matching process.
No one should smoke in the home or vehicles used for fostering.
I am transgender can I foster?
Yes, a Prospective Foster Carers gender/gender identity has no bearing on a person’s ability to foster a child/children, you will be assessed the same as any other potential foster carer household. We welcome applications from people with a range of skills, knowledge and life experience.
Can I foster if I have a health condition?
It is important to be in good health; both physically and mentally when caring for others. Everyone who is being assessed to foster has a medical assessment undertaken by their G.P. or a suitability qualified medical practitioner. A copy of the report is sent to the agency Medical Advisor who makes a recommendation on a Prospective Foster Carers health in relation to their suitability to foster or an approved Foster Carers continued suitability to foster.
I am 58 years old, am I too old to foster?
You need to be over 21 years old to foster, there is no upper age limit on fostering.
Can I foster if I rent my home?
When enquiring about fostering please check with your landlord to see if they would agree to you fostering in your rental home. A reference from the landlord is sought during the assessment process.
Can I foster if I have a disability?
Having a disability wouldn’t stop you from fostering if you are in good health. Everyone applying to foster has a medical assessment and a copy of the report is sent to the agency Medical Advisor who makes a recommendation on a Prospective Foster Carers health in relation to their suitability to foster or an approved Foster Carers continued suitability to foster.
Can I foster if I have pets?
An assessment is undertaken on dogs and any other family pets owned by people applying to foster, the assessments are then updated annually. There are some restrictions in place for example, if a pet has a history of biting someone, then the answer would be ‘no’, whilst that animal remained in the household.
On occasions a specialist pet assessment may be sought from a Vet or suitably qualified animal behaviourist.
Can I foster if I have my own children living at home?
A number of families foster while their children are still living at home. Your children would be involved in the assessment process and they would be invited to attend a session of the Skills to Foster courses specifically for the birth children of Prospective Foster Carers. Children living at home aged over 18 years old could be invited to attend the full Skills to Foster course. (and would be required to have checks completed i.e. a DBS check)
Your own children would never be expected to share a bedroom with a foster child and children who are fostered would need their own bedroom. On occasion there may be agreement from the local authorities placing brothers and sisters for these siblings to share a bedroom together.
When we consider matching children who need a foster care placement with our fostering families who have a vacancy, we explore a number of factors i.e. who else lives in the home, any pets, any cultural or religious needs of the child and how these can be met to ensure the best chance of a successful match for everyone. If any gaps are identified, which could be met by additional training would be offered at that point.
Can I apply to foster if I don’t currently have a spare bedroom?
No, a foster child will need their own bedroom. However, an enquiry for information would be welcome if you are certain that a room will be available in the near future (i.e. family members moving out/house move) but the process of assessment would not begin until you were living in property that had a spare bedroom.
I practice a religion; will this affect my application to foster?
We welcome applications from people of different faiths, heritage and cultural backgrounds to foster.
Can I continue to work if I was approved as a Foster Carer?
That would depend on your availability to undertake the fostering tasks. Fostering can be challenging at times and there are a number of meetings to attend either in relation to your role as an approved Foster Carer or for the child/children in your care.
If there are two Foster Carers in a household, we generally require one Foster Carer to be at home or have work which is flexible enough to mean that they can be available at short notice to pick a child up and care for them should they be ill or not in education for example.
I don’t drive, can I apply to foster?
This can make it more difficult but not impossible depending on other factors; for example can you easily access public transport locally to take the child to school or other appointments or activities they might have.
I am worried something in my history will stop me from being approved to foster, do I have to tell you?
Be honest from the start, we would rather you told us early on if there is something you think might affect your fostering application, so this can be carefully explored and discussed with you. We ask that you tell us about any worries or concerns you may have currently or historically. Social Workers undertaking the assessment will explore your history with you, starting from your memories around your own childhood through to the point of the assessment.
We need to gain a comprehensive understanding of you and your family to be able to undertake the assessment and to enable us to support you if you are approved to foster. We need you to be open about anything you think may affect your fostering application. If something is discovered during the assessment process that you had withheld and hadn’t shared, then this may end an assessment as we need you to be open with us at all times.
Am I employed by the fostering agency if I am approved?
No, Foster Carers are approved by the foster agency rather than employed. For HMRC (taxation purposes) the fostering role is considered as self-employed. Approved Foster Carers do receive an allowance when children are placed in their care, part of the allowance is a professional fee and part is an allowance to cover caring for the child.
Can I foster if I am single?
Yes, we welcome applications from single Prospective Foster Carers. On occasions some children who are looked after benefit from being placed with one care giver. All children and Foster Carers are carefully matched.
