How to Foster a Baby?
Do you want to foster a baby? Well, you’ll need to understand basic legislation and rules about fostering a baby in the United Kingdom. Luckily, we have all the information that you need to get started today.
We’ll share critical information including eligibility requirements, types of fostering, challenges, and frequently asked questions about fostering babies in the United Kingdom.
Who is eligible to foster a baby in the United Kingdom?
As a foster parent, you essentially commit yourself to provide a family environment for a baby or young person. The basic eligibility requirements that you must meet include the following:
- You must be a UK resident
- You must be in a position to take care of the baby or young person
- You must be at least 18 years; however, most agencies have set a minimum age of 21 years for fostering babies.
In essence, your journey to becoming a foster parent starts with meeting these basic requirements. However, from experience, we recommend that you consider the various types of foster care available, especially if you are seeking newborn foster care. The conditions might be somewhat different than when fostering young children.
The circumstances of the child will dictate the type of fostering and whether or not you will be needed to take care of the child on a full-time basis.
In addition to the above requirements, you will also go through fostering assessment that checks your suitability of taking care of a child. Only after passing this assessment will you be allowed to foster a child.
Your responsibilities
As a foster parent, you must be prepared for the following set of responsibilities:
- Take care of the child considering that he/she is part of a team, which could include, the child’s birth family, schools, local authority, and health professionals
- Keep records of the foster child
- Attend foster meetings
- Assist the foster child to manage his/her behaviour and feelings
- Attend foster training
There could be more specified responsibilities assigned to you depending on the fostering circumstances.
Types of foster care
Firstly, let’s take note of the difference between foster care and adoption. Foster care has a duration attached, unlike adoption which is indefinite. The duration that you will spend with a fostered child largely depends on the type of foster care.
Therefore, we will review the various types of foster care to help you decide on which is ideal for your situation.
Long term
This is a kind of fostering where you care for a child whose circumstances cannot allow him/her to be with his/her family. As a foster parent, you remain the primary carer until the child reaches a legal age.
Short term
This type means you a fostering for a limited period while other arrangements are made pertaining the child’s future.
‘family and friends’ or ‘kinship’
This type of foster care a child known to you or who is related to you, for example, you may be an uncle to the child that you want to foster.
Emergency
Emergency foster care for babies UK is usually unforeseen and foster parents are given a notice of about 24 hours to provide a safe place for a foster child to stay until the emergency is resolved. It should last only a few days.
Respite and short breaks
This is when you are tasked to care for children who have special needs or disabilities while their carers take a short break. The reason why parents or foster parents may take a break from parenting is that children with disabilities and special needs often have complexity that makes it hard for their carers to take care of them on full-time basis.
Remand
This type of care requires initial training because you will be handling children or young people who are remanded by a court of law. Most of these children have complex mannerisms that make it difficult to contain properly without prior experience or training.
In this type of foster care, you care for children who are being remanded by a court. Unlike other types of foster care, this one requires special training before you are allowed to become a foster parent simply because remanded young people have special and often complex mannerisms that make it tricky to contain them.
Specialist therapeutic
To become a foster parent under this type, you will either need some experience in fostering or have a set of special skills to care for children with complex needs. Professional qualification in any specialist therapeutic area will fasten your case to foster a baby or a young person.
Fostering for adoption
Do you want to adopt after fostering? Well, fostering for adoption is a type that is open for parents who want to eventually adopt a child. Adopting a newborn from foster care is more complex than simply providing foster care.
You will need an approval as an adopter by an agency to foster for adoption.
Applying to become a foster parent
Now that you know the various types of foster care, we’ll take you through the steps needed to become a foster parent.
- Apply to become a foster parent through an agency or the local council
- Attend a preparation course on fostering
- Every adult in your household must pass the DBS check
- You will be assessed on your ability to care for a child
- State any preference that you have for fostering babies e.g. age, gender, etc. Remember, you will not choose a child that you want from a group, and neither will you have a trial period with the child.
- Your agency will review your application and meet with a panel to make a recommendation.
- A decision on your application will be made.
Frequently asked questions
I don’t have a car or drive; would this be considered a problem?
No, there is no requirement for a foster parent to have a car. However, you will be expected to have access to public transport.
Are the courses family-friendly i.e. during school hours?
Yes, the courses are family-friendly and delivered during school hours.
I am a single parent, does this matter?
No, being a single parent cannot hinder you from fostering babies.
What happens if I wanted a night out or had to go to a parents’ evening? Could a family member babysit?
Yes, anyone who is sufficiently reliable and mature is allowed to care for your children under foster care.
Does the training I did with another agency count?
Provided the training you did is evidenced, it will count.
Getting started
With the information that we have provided, you are set to become a foster parent. If you are a first time foster parent, it might be a bit challenging but this guide explains the basics that will get you started the right way.
Always keep close contact with your agency or the local authority for fostering opportunities. Remember, you don’t have a guarantee that your application will be accepted. However, understanding the basic requirements and different options to your fostering quest will make your case easier.