Although being a foster carer is incredibly rewarding, it is also challenging. You will need patience, flexibility, empathy and an ability to handle difficult situations. It also helps to have first-hand experience of looking after children, either as a parent or through work. 

As a foster carer, you can make a vital difference to a young person’s life, helping them to adjust to new circumstances and go on to thrive. It can be tough, yes, but few careers are as fulfilling!

Find out if you’re eligible to become a foster carer by taking our quiz.

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A foster carer has the potential to transform young lives so it’s essential that we make sure that you are truly suited to the role. The selection process takes about six months and during this time, we spend many hours with you and your family, getting to know you and assessing the impact fostering is likely to have, as well as identifying the strengths you can bring.

Tree House Care carries out several statutory checks including a Disclosure & Barring Service check and we ask for work and personal references. We also ask you to undergo a full medical examination, so we can be confident you’re in good health.

But it’s not all one-way – you’ll be put in touch with our community of experienced foster carers so you can get a first-hand feel for the highs and lows of fostering. This way you can decide whether fostering is right for you and your family before taking the plunge!

Find out more about the foster care application process here >

At Tree House Care, we believe in collaboration – working together to do the right thing for our children. Each foster carer is treated as a team member and we provide you with the tools you need to offer an outstanding level of care. 

Help is always just a phone call away and we’ll meet with you at least once a month to make sure you have all the advice and guidance you could want. We also hold support groups so you can regularly meet with our community of foster carers.

During the period leading up to your approval as a foster carer, you will receive valuable training to set you on the path to success. Once approved, you will be offered regular fostering training on a wide range of topics from child development, to first aid. We follow a therapeutic fostering model, so you will receive specialised training and have access to our Trauma and Attachment Consultant, John.

Find out more about fostering with Tree House Care here >

Foster children need a high level of care and support and so it’s important that at least one foster carer is at home full-time. However, if you’re working at present, we wouldn’t expect you to give up work until your foster child is due to arrive at your home.

Many foster carers have children of their own. However, it is important to understand that fostering does have an impact on your own family dynamics.

As your own children will have to share you with a foster child, which may be quite challenging, we advise new applicants to wait until their own children are settled in secondary school.

Once you’ve made the decision to foster, the next stage is finding the fostering agency that fits your family. There are a few things to consider so we’ve put together a handy guide to choosing the agency that is right for you.

How do I choose a fostering agency? >

When it comes to matching a child with your family, we use our vast experience and will only ask you to consider welcoming a child into your family if we think it is right for everyone. We will respect your wishes and you will always have the final say.

Many new foster carers worry about whether they will bond with a child and whether the child will like them. Don’t worry – this is common – the training provided at Tree House Care will help with this and we will give you the understanding, tools, skills and expertise so that this isn’t a problem.

During the assessment, we’ll explore how your family works at the moment, your routines, family rules and the leisure activities you enjoy. This will help us determine who fits in with your family best. We know that putting time and thought into the matching process leads to better outcomes for all involved.

Many new foster carers are worried about the child’s birth family. Don’t be. Contact with the birth family is always managed closely and tightly, often through a legal order, and we wouldn’t put you in a position where you were at risk in any way. We’ll be there to support you and to help you support the child with all family visits.