Guides
Guides, sourced.
Written in plain English from official sources, which are listed at the end of every guide, with the date we last checked them. Where the rules differ between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, we say so.
- 01Read
How to become a foster carer in the UK: from first enquiry to first placement
Who you can apply to, what the checks and assessment involve, how long approval usually takes, and what support and pay look like once a child is placed with you.
8 min read · checked 27 October 2026
- 02Read
Who can foster: eligibility and requirements in the UK
What you actually need to become a foster carer in the UK: age, housing, relationships, work, health, criminal record checks, pets, smoking and immigration status, plus the myths that put people off applying.
9 min read · checked 27 October 2026
- 03Read
The fostering assessment and approval process explained
From the first home visit to the fostering panel, the agency decision and your first annual review: what happens, how long it takes, and what you can do if you are not approved.
9 min read · checked 27 October 2026
- 04Read
Types of fostering explained: which kind of foster carer could you be?
From emergency and short-term care to kinship, early permanence and Staying Put: what each type of fostering involves, who it suits, and how it shapes your approval, training and pay.
9 min read · checked 27 October 2026
- 05Read
Council or independent fostering agency: how to choose
How council fostering services and independent agencies differ in regulation, funding, placements, pay and support across the UK, and the questions to ask any service before you apply.
9 min read · checked 27 October 2026
- 06Read
Foster carer pay and allowances in the UK explained
How the child's allowance differs from the carer's fee, the 2026-27 minimum rates in each UK nation, what is paid between placements, and how tax, National Insurance and benefits work.
9 min read · checked 27 October 2026