Will your relationship status affect your chances of being accepted as a foster parent? This is a common worry potential applicants have, and sadly it does hold back a lot of people who would make excellent carers.
It’s a wide misconception that foster carers need to be married in order to be accepted. Here we address this myth and look at the truth behind relationship status and fostering.
Can I apply if I am not married?
Absolutely! Despite popular belief, marriage isn’t a requirement when becoming a foster carer. In fact, there are plenty of single foster parents in the UK currently doing a fantastic job at providing a loving, secure home to a vulnerable child.
In many situations, being single can be a positive thing. Each and every person is different, and this is the same for foster children. Each child who enters foster care has come from a different background, and have their own unique circumstances. For example, perhaps they have been abused in some which has resulted in them having trust issues towards a specific gender.
Your marital status is never seen as a barrier to foster care, so whether you’re married or single, we’d love to hear from you.
I’m in a same sex relationship, can I apply?
Yes! There are many same sex couples approved as foster carers, and much like with single applicants, there can be benefits of being a same sex couple.
We always encourage same se couples to apply as your relationship status is certainly not going to affect your chances of being approved.
What if I’m with a new partner?
This is the only scenario when your relationship status could affect your application. Before placing a child into a foster placement, we need to know that they are going to be well looked after in a stable environment. For this reason, we do recommend giving any new relationship at least a year before applying. However, that said, we do look at each application on a case-by-case basis, so this still may not necessarily affect your application.
I’m single, what if I meet someone later down the line?
We have a lot of single foster parents, so it’s unsurprising we often get asked about what would happen if they were to meet someone. When you become a foster carer, this situation is discussed with you. Firstly, you would need to let us know about the new relationship before your new partner meets the child in your care. Your dedicated social worker will then advise you on how to move forward.
There are a lot of myths surrounding who can and can’t foster. However, contrary to popular belief, relationship status is rarely a barrier to becoming a foster parent.