Can Foster Children Share a Bedroom?
A spare bedroom is a prerequisite for any carer who wants to foster a child in the UK. You also need to understand the type of bedroom that is recommended for foster children as you plan to start fostering.
One of the basic commitments that foster carers have in the UK is the provision of an extra room to accommodate the foster child.
Is it possible for foster children to share a bedroom?
No, it is impossible to be approved as a foster carer in the UK if you do not have a spare bedroom for each foster child.
This legal requirement is stemmed from several safeguarding issues that the authorities are trying to protect the foster child against. In addition to having a spare bedroom, you must also know the recommended specifications of a good bedroom for a foster child.
Can foster children from the same family share a bedroom?
What happens if you are fostering siblings, do they need separate bedrooms or they can share a bedroom?
Well, the rule remains simple – foster children cannot share a room. However, there is an exception if you are fostering siblings of the same sex. But even with this exception, you will need approval from the local authority for the siblings to share a bedroom.
In such a scenario, the siblings have to be young and come from a background of sharing a room. Don’t rush to separate the siblings if they were previously sharing a room. You need them to settle better, thus, try as much as possible to maintain their comfort levels.
Requirements for children sharing rooms
In case you are fostering siblings,
- They must be within a certain age group. Most agencies will allow up to 11 years.
- They must also be of the same sex
- The bedroom must be big enough to accommodate two children and give them the individual privacy that they need.
Why do foster children need to have their bedrooms?
Given the fact that a majority of foster children come from traumatic backgrounds, they need a safe place they can retreat to alone. Having their bedrooms make it possible for them to enjoy some privacy.
Foster children need to have their own bedrooms to avoid any rivalry that may occur if the children share a bedroom with other children.
It is also a safeguarding concern if foster children of different sex share the same bedroom.
What a spare bedroom is
You need to know what a spare bedroom is to get it right when fostering children.
- Should be on the same floor as the carer’s or a floor above to guarantee safety and security
- It should have windows and a door
- It should have an age-appropriate bed
- It should have storage
- It should be large enough for play
- It should have provisions for heating
What a spare bedroom is not
You cannot have a spare bedroom for a child if it is:
- Used as a through room where people pass to access other rooms in the house
- It is a room of a young person at the university
- It is a room for another child who has left the space for a foster child to share with another sibling
- It is a room used regularly by overnight guests.
Conclusion
Now you know when a spare bedroom is needed for foster children. You’ve also learnt what a spare bedroom is and what it should look like.
If you are unsure about anything, please contact us today and we will answer all your questions about foster children sharing a bedroom.
