Foster parents need to be supportive, nurturing and patient, so if these are characteristics you possess, it really doesn’t matter whether you’re single, married, or in a relationship. It certainly doesn’t matter if you are male or female either!
We shouldn’t lose sight of what fostering is – and what is important is that you are able to offer a child a caring home and that you can provide a bedroom within that home that a child can call ‘a space of their own’.
If you’re a single person who is considering becoming a foster parent, you should know that your relationship status won’t hold you back. Many single parents choose to become foster parents; also, plenty of foster parents don’t have biological children of their own. So if you have some experience of caring for children, perhaps in looking after younger relatives or as part of a career, we can consider your application.
Some single parents are unable to work traditional 9-5 jobs because of childcare commitments. But they make good candidates for foster care because they have experience of parenting and are able to fully commit to a fostering role for one or more children.
Whether you’re a single parent or a single person, as a foster carer you will receive financial support to help you afford to look after the foster children in your care. You can read more about foster care payments and your entitlements in our Financial Support section.
All foster carers need to be able to devote a significant amount of time to look after the children in their care. If your job or career makes it difficult for you to commit to foster care full time, don’t give up – there are other ways you can support children in need.
For example, if you are single and work full-time hours, you may be able to provide valuable respite foster care over weekends or during school holidays. This allows other parents or carers to take a much-needed break and gives children the opportunity to undertake new experiences, and to benefit from additional care and alternative positive role models.
Whether you foster as a couple or an individual, remember you’re never on your own: as an National Fostering Group carer, you’d be part of a strong fostering network with 24-hour support, local professionals on hand and locally-delivered training. Discover more about who can foster.
