Check if you are eligible to be a foster carer
Myth busting - setting the record straight about who can foster
At Leicestershire County Council, we try to spread positive messages about fostering and provide people with the truth and facts surrounding being a foster carer and foster family. Unfortunately, there are many misconceptions about fostering and what it means to be a foster carer or foster family.
We’ve decided to do some myth-busting to correct some of those unhelpful assumptions and set the record straight about fostering.
All we ask from our foster carers is that they have the space, time, and desire to help our children.
Myth 1: I won’t be considered as a foster carer because of my age.
Fact: As long as you’re 21, there’s no age limit to being a foster carer.
Myth 2: I need qualifications or experience to be a good foster carer.
Fact: You don’t need any experience or qualifications to foster, but you do need some relevant childcare experience. We also ask that you are fluent in speaking, reading, and writing in English. But fear not, our amazing fostering team are available 24/7 to provide you with support.
Myth 3: I can’t foster, I’m not married or in a relationship.
Fact: You don’t have to be married or in a relationship! You can be single, living together, in a civil partnership or divorced.
All that matters is that you can provide our children with the love and support they need and deserve.
Myth 4: I don’t own anything ‘flash’, so can’t be a foster carer.
Fact: You only need to provide love and support. The materialistic things aren’t what our children or our fostering team are looking for! We review foster carer cases on an individual basis and all we ask is that you can provide a loving and safe environment for one of our children.
Myth 5: I can’t foster because I already have a job.
Fact: You can work and still foster a child. There are several different ways you can foster, allowing for flexibility around your lifestyle.
Myth 6: I can’t afford to foster.
Fact: We completely understand that people foster to make a difference, however we all have bills to pay! Leicestershire County Council provide generous allowances to foster carers to help cover the costs of taking in a child. See our Payments and Allowances page for more information.
Myth 7: I already have children.
Fact: Many carers have their own children – we carefully match a child to your household. Having your own children can also give you valuable childcare experience that could be useful when a child is placed with you. We offer several different ways to foster, allowing for flexibility around your lifestyle.
Myth 8: The LGBTQ+ community can’t foster.
Fact: This could not be further from the truth! There are a lot of successful LGBTQ+ foster carer stories. It’s not just possible for the LGBTQ+ community to foster, it’s greatly encouraged. As members of New Family Social we are actively working to ensure that our service is as friendly and inclusive as possible.
Diversity and inclusion
At Leicestershire County Council, we encourage diversity and inclusion, and we want to make the pool of available parents as wide as possible for the many children in our care. Whatever your gender, race, sexuality, living arrangements, age, and employment status, we want to hear from you.
Tell me more about fostering
If you’ve ever thought about fostering, whether you’re thinking about it for now or in the future, then get in touch. We’ll be able to help you to decide if fostering could fit into your life and provide lots of information too, at your pace.
We consider each person’s interest on an individual basis, so please don’t rule yourself out… count yourself in!