There is no such thing as an ideal foster carer! 

The most important thing is that you enjoy having children in your life whether it’s for a day, a week, a month, a year or a lifetime.

The following list may help you decide if fostering is for you:

• You need real commitment to look after a child for as long as they need to stay with you.
  
  
• You need patience, flexibility, time and energy.
  
  
• You need to have enough time to share with a child – so think about how your work and other commitments will fit in with fostering.
  
  
• You can live in your own home or rent a home anywhere in Northamptonshire.
  
  
• You may be single, married or divorced, living together or in a same sex couple.
  
  
• It doesn’t matter whether or not you have your own children or if they are still living at home.
  
  
• You can be working, unemployed or retired.
  
  
• You don’t need any qualifications or experience.  We will help you gain confidence in your own abilities and develop new skills.
  
  
• Criminal convictions in the past may not affect your application – though you should tell us about them right from the start.
  
  
• Convictions for offences against children automatically disqualify anyone from fostering.
  
  
• You can be from any ethnic or cultural background, follow a religion or not.
  
  
• You can foster if you are disabled, though this depends on the nature of your disability and the type of support you would need.
  
  
• You need to show the willingness to work as part of a team.
  
  
• Age isn’t a barrier as long as you are 21 years or over.
  
  
• You need to be physically and mentally fit enough to look after a child. 
• We ask applicants to have a medical examination. 
• This will be through your GP and, with your permission, the report is sent to our medical advisor who decides if there is any reason why you shouldn’t be approved as a carer. 
• We meet the costs of the medical examination.
  
  
• Smokers cannot foster babies or children under the age of four or children with respiratory conditions.
  
  
• Pets are usually fine, but any that are considered dangerous might affect your application.