FAQs
Who can foster?
Anyone can apply to foster with us. We welcome foster carers from all walks of life; no matter what your gender, age, race or sexual orientation. We do have criteria though:
- You need a spare room
- You need to be over 21
- You need to have British Citizenship or indefinite leave to remain
Yes, You do not need to be married or in a relationship to be a foster carer. In fact, being a single carer can be beneficial when a child or young person needs a home with a single male or female carer.
Yes, having a disability does not necessarily stop you fostering. We consider each applicant based on their individual circumstances.
Yes, pets can be a great asset in fostering, however we will need to carry out an assessment to ensure there are no risks.
At Beams we understand people may have experiences from their past which can often be a strength in the fostering role. Having a criminal record would not necessarily stop you from becoming a foster carer, however it depends on the nature of the crime and when it occurred. We carry out checks with the local authority and DBS as part of the assessment process so it is important that you are open and honest about any convictions with us from the very start of the process.
Finances & Fostering
This varies and is based on the type of referral you have and the needs of the child in your care.
- Payments start from £447.78 – £671.16 per child, per week inclusive of pocket money, clothing allowance and savings for the child
- You will also receive additional Festival and Birthday allowances
- There may be other fees and allowances that you can claim.
Foster parents are classed as self-employed so when you start fostering, you will need to register as self-employed and file tax returns.
This means you’re entitled to tax relief on your income. You could pay very little or no tax or national insurance, depending on your own financial circumstances.
There are a range of foster care benefits schemes available in the UK to help support foster carers.
As a foster carer, it’s possible you may be eligible for a discount in your Council Tax if you can prove you’re on low income or claiming benefits.
Disability Living Allowance (DLA) is a government benefit paid to children and young people under the age of 16 who have additional care or mobility needs. This is usually because of ill health or a disability. DLA is paid on top of any other benefits, income, or tax credits that you may receive.
If you are looking after a foster child who is under 16 and has additional care requirements because of their disability or health, you may be able to claim DLA. DLA is paid to the main foster carer to help enhance the foster child’s life, ensuring they can lead a rich and fulfilling life.
Ideally, we ask for at least one foster parent to be available for fostering on a full-time basis, so that we can ensure that the child or young person in your care is being looked after in the best way possible. As a foster parent, you have responsibility for day-to-day tasks; the school run, be available during school holidays, attend medical appointments on behalf or with your foster child, attend training, review meetings. Should you have a problem on an odd occasion, your supervising social worker can help you make alternative arrangements.
In some cases, it is still possible for you to continue working on a part-time or flexible basis depending on your individual circumstances.
What support will I receive?
Beams offer a comprehensive training programme throughout the year. You will have your own training and development plan based on your individual learning needs. We ask each carer to attend a minimum of 2 courses each year (4 courses for single carers), but ideally you will attend our full range of training days and workshops.
Support groups are held bi-monthly and offer a more informal space for our carers to get together and share their experiences. Groups will often have a topic/theme which is chosen by our carers, and feedback is sought at these groups.
You will be allocated a Supervising Social Worker who will support you through your fostering journey. They will visit your home regularly and support you to attend meetings etc.
As a foster carer for Beams you will have access to our experienced child and family practitioner who can provide additional support and advice.
Our carers will have access to a private systemic therapist if required.
Foster carers are entitled to a holiday or time off from the fostering role. This can look very different for each household and your supervising social worker will support you with this. Our generous payments are inclusive of 2 weeks respite should you require. Wherever possible, we encourage you to have a Nominated Sitter who can stay in your home to care for the child or young person whilst you are away. This could be a family member or close friend who will undergo an assessment to provide this support.
We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to offer any support and advice needed.
At Beams we pride ourselves on being a small and friendly team so you will always hear a familiar voice at the end of the phone. Our foster carers value the personable approach we offer and feel part of the team.
Application Process
The length of the assessment can vary depending on your availability, checks being undertaken, and individual factors to your assessment but will generally take between 3-6 months.
- Initial Enquiry & Screening
- Home Visit
- Skills to Foster Training
- Application
- Stage 1 – Checks with local authority and DBS for anyone aged 18 or over, Medical Checks, Employer, School, and Personal References.
- Stage 2 – Assessment of suitability and capacity
- Fostering Panel
Transfer To Us
Yes. Anyone can transfer to another fostering provider, although you can only be registered with one at any time.
In most cases yes. We will work closely with the local authority to ensure a child is supported through the transfer.
Following initial discussions we will follow the transfer protocol with the local authority and/or agency. Beams will then undertake the Form F assessment, although this should not take as long as your initial assessment as you are already registered as a foster carer.