Who Can Be a Foster Carer?

Almost anyone!

Many people don’t apply because they assume they won’t be suitable, but fostering is open to people from all walks of life. We welcome carers of all ages, cultures, ethnicities, religions, sexualities, and marital statuses.

Whether you’re single, married, renting, or a homeowner, what matters most is your ability to provide a safe, stable, and supportive home for a child.

Full-Time & Sleep Over Carers (Respite)

We are always looking for:

  • Full-Time Foster Carers – Available on a full-time basis to care for a child or young person.
  • Sleep Over Carers (Respite) – Offering breaks for our full-time carers, such as a weekend or a couple of nights a month. This gives carers vital time to recharge while ensuring the child is cared for in a safe, familiar environment.

The application and assessment process is exactly the same for both roles.

Family sitting in a field of leafs
boy and many smiling on a swing and laughing

What You’ll Need to Foster

To become a Foster Carer with Oak Fostering, you must:

  • Have a spare bedroom used solely for the foster child
  • Commit to ongoing training and development to become a reflective, empathetic carer who understands the impact of early life trauma
  • Be willing to complete an enhanced DBS check to confirm you are safe to work with children
  • Undergo a health assessment to confirm you’re fit and well enough for the role
  • Engage fully with the fostering assessment process
  • Support a child’s education, growth, and family connections
  • Be resilient and able to bounce back during challenging times
  • Appreciate that fostering can be demanding, but also incredibly rewarding

Experience Requirements

Some experience of working with or caring for children is helpful, but it’s not essential.

If you have previously worked with children, particularly those who have experienced trauma or display challenging behaviours, this can be a real advantage.

We provide full training and ongoing guidance to help you develop the skills needed to provide specialist therapeutic care.

Request A Call Back

If you are unsure if you will be suitable for the role – just ask us by requesting a call back and we can talk you through the whole process.

For People Thinking About Fostering

It’s okay to just be curious. Many of our carers started by simply finding out more.

  • Not sure if fostering is for you? Download our free info pack and read it in your own time.
  • Want to talk it through? Book a no-pressure call with our team.

We’ll answer questions like:

  • Do foster carers get paid?
  • What training will I receive?
  • Can I foster if I have pets or children of my own?
  • How does matching work?

Download our free info pack and read it in your own time.

Book a no-pressure call with our team.

Why Foster With Oak Fostering

When you foster with Oak, you’re not joining a system, you’re joining a family.

We’re a small, independent agency that works closely with just 25 fostering households at a time. And we keep it that way on purpose. It means we know every carer personally, every child by name, and we’re there when it matters, not just when the paperwork says so.

Many of us have fostered ourselves. So when we say “we get it”, we really do. We know the challenges, and we’ve felt the rewards. That empathy shapes everything we do.

Not Sure if You’re Eligible?

If you’re unsure whether fostering is right for you, the best step is to talk to us. We’ll explain the process, answer your questions, and help you understand what’s involved.

By filling in the form, you’ll be requesting a call back, and we’ll guide you through every step.

Need to speak to us or have any questions? Fill out the form below and we will get in touch!