What disqualifies you from being a foster parent?
To protect children and young people in foster care, potential foster parents must be rigorously checked. While most people looking to provide foster care pass with flying colours, there are circumstances that make it much harder for people to take on this important role in society. Here, we look at some factors that can disqualify you from becoming a foster parent in the UK.
Criminal records
A criminal conviction can impact the chances of being a foster parent, but the kinds of crime, how long ago it took place, and its severity are considered.
Some convictions, especially those related to children, instantly disqualify a person from fostering. However, there are other serious offence that prevent people providing foster care. These include murder, manslaughter, armed robbery, violent crimes, blackmail, drug dealing, drunk driving, living on immoral earnings and racial crimes.
Financial instability
Being financial unstable can also impact someone serving as a foster carer.
Foster parents are expected to hold a stable income that can support themselves and the children or child in their care. A lack of steady income can raise doubts about financial stability.
While being in debt doesn’t prevent people providing care, money owed must be explained, so that the fostering agency feels confident that the carer can act responsibly with money.
Living situation
People who don’t have a spare room in their house or sufficient communal space can’t qualify as a foster carer.
Along with private space, having a communal area is extremely important to ensure the whole family has enough room to have their individual needs met and feel comfortable.
Foster children will need a room entirely of their own that has a window and door that they alone can use. The room should be situated either on the same floor as the foster parents, or one floor above.
The foster child’s room should also have the basics of a bed to sleep in, storage for clothes and belongings, a chair and desk and a radiator. The room should be large enough to play in.
Under certain circumstances, same-sex siblings may share a bedroom. Again, under certain situations, birth children may also share. However, birth children and foster children are not allowed to share a room.
Health
It is possible for foster carers with a disability or a mental or physical health issue to gain approval. However, a fostering application requires an in-depth exploration of a person’s capabilities and situation. Everyone applying to be a foster carer must complete a health check, and during the process, candidates can also discuss their situation in detail with their Assessing Social Worker.
Concerning mental health and fostering, agencies must consider multiple factors. These include medications taken to manage conditions, the type of metal health issue and severity, and the carer’s current mental health.
Would-be carers with physical health problems or a disability can also explain their issue to the foster agency, discussing how it is managed and the way it may change over time. Disability is dealt with on an individual, case-by-case basis; however, a person who requires care themselves is disqualified from providing sole foster care to a child or young person.
Pets
Many families in the UK have pets, and foster children often respond well to living alongside animals at their placement – whether they are cats and dogs, or hamsters and horses.
As a result, most pets won’t disqualify a person from being a foster parent. However, there are certain exceptions.
Foster agencies use their initial visit to meet family pets and carry out a safety assessment. Agencies pay close attention to dog breeds that are identified as being more aggressive, like German Shepherds, Alsatians and Bulldogs.
A small number of breeds are not permitted as pets in foster homes. These include Japanese Tosas and Pit Bull Terriers, which owners are required to register due to the 1991/1997 Dangerous Dogs Act.
Previous child protection concerns
Finally, it is understood that previous child protection concerns make it impossible for people to serve as foster carers. A history of neglect concerns, abuse allegations or having children removed from parental care will result in automatic disqualification.
If you’re interested in getting involved in foster care in Cheshire, and can qualify, we are always interested in meeting families who have a home and love to share with children who need support. Reach out to our dedicated team at Beacon Fostering today to take the first step on your journey as a foster carer in the North West.