FAQs

An independent agency is separate from, but works in partnership with, local authorities. All the children referred to us for placement are referred from LAs. The way in which independent agencies supervise, support and train foster carers often differs and independent agencies often have higher level of expectations of attendance at support groups and training. Independent agencies generally pay a higher fee and expect one carer to be available on a full time basis to a placed child.

Ideally yes. However, this would also depend on the age and needs of a placed child. As a general rule of thumb it would be advisable for younger children to be on the same floor as the foster carers.

We don’t have an upper age limit for our foster carers, but we do look at people’s ability to be a foster carer. Your health and wellbeing is very important and will help to determine whether you’re fit to foster. We also value life experiences that you have, all of which can help make you a better foster carer.

Yes. We have foster carers who are in same sex relationships and we welcome similar applications. We have a wide range of carers and ensure that everyone feels welcome and part of the team. We have recently signed up as an agency member to New Family Social, supporting LGBT foster carers across the UK.

Yes. We have many foster carers who are single. Team Fostering provides a great support package and we'll work with you to consider who in your life is able to offer you further practical and emotional support should you need it.

Yes, although certain restrictions apply. Currently, in the North East, Yorkshire and East Midlands your own children would need to be over 10 years of age, and in Teesside we would require any children living at home to be over the age of 18. We also advise the need to consider the impact of fostering on your own children and whether they are of an age/understanding to manage the challenges of fostering. We do include your own children in our assessment and preparation process and also in all the fun activities Team Fostering provides. Our Supervising Social Workers also make sure your own children feel supported as an important part of the fostering household.

Yes. At Team Fostering it is part of our ethical culture that we match placements carefully to foster families and we want carers to feel confident that a referred child will fit in to their family.

We don’t pay retainers. We work hard to ensure there are no significant gaps but, if this were to happen, foster carers are self-employed and would be expected to factor any potential placement gaps into their income management.

At Team Fostering we require all foster carers to do a set amount of training once they have been approved and after the first year. The expectation is that the primary carer will do more and the second carer will do less in subsequent years unless they wish and are able to attend more often.

Our aim at Team Fostering is that it should take no more than five to six months from receiving the application form to making a decision about your suitability to be a foster carer, and we provide support every step of the way.