Have you got what it takes to foster?

As part of our weekly feature in conjunction with Foster4, why not try this quiz and see if fostering could be the role for you?

1. Are you great with children and young people?

You could foster! Being a warm, nurturing and child-centred person is Foster4’s number 1 criteria.

If you have these qualities then you’re already well on your way to becoming a foster carer.

Whether you’re good at guiding teenagers down the right path or skilled in the Early Years age group, Foster4 would love to hear from you.

2. Do you have a spare bedroom? (or two?) You could foster! All children and young people need a place to call their own - a clean, calm bedroom that can become their place of sanctuary.

Sometimes young siblings who come into care may be able to share a bedroom, but having separate rooms can help them to become more independent and create healthy boundaries.

If you have more than one spare bedroom and could help to keep siblings together, Foster4 would be particularly keen to hear from you.

3. Do you have time in your life to foster?

You could foster! With more and more people working from home, fostering has become more accessible than ever.

If you’ve always thought about fostering, but couldn’t make it work, now may be your chance.

Taking children to and from school or nursery, liaising with teachers and other education and health professionals, is a big part of being a foster carer.

You’ll also have training courses to attend - with many now virtual - and you’ll need contingency plans if a child can’t attend school.

All of our fostering households, whether they are families, couples or solo carers, have different circumstances.

Whatever works for your family is fine by Foster4 as long as children and young people’s needs can be met.

4. Are you in reasonably good health?

You could foster! Stable health and mental health are important as caring for children can be physically and emotionally demanding.

You’ll have a medical with your own GP as part of your assessment and Foster4 offers lots of support, advice and wellbeing initiatives throughout your time as a carer.

5. Are you comfortable sharing your life with others?

You could foster! As a foster carer, openness and transparency are key.

As part of your assessment, you’ll develop a great relationship with the assessing social worker, who will always be looking to get the best from you, even when challenging your thinking or helping you to see things from a child’s perspective.

Once fostering, your home will become a home for others, and a place where other professionals can meet with you too. The buzz of a foster family home is like no other!

For more information about fostering visit foster4.co.uk or call 01925 444100. You can also email fosteringrecruitment@warrington.gov.uk or use @foster4cheshire on Facebook and Instagram.

Did you say yes to the questions in the quiz? You could be a foster carer!

Fostering is a unique role in that it really is open to almost anyone.

As long as you can say yes to the questions in the quiz, you are over 21 and you don’t have any convictions against children or serious criminal convictions, you could be a foster carer.

Foster4’s existing team of more than 450 households, who foster across Cheshire West and Chester, Halton and Warrington, come from all walks of life, from teaching assistants to care workers, childminders, builders, accountants, senior managers and full-time home makers.

Foster4 has carers with many different backgrounds.

It can be hard to put yourself out there and talk about your good qualities.

Foster4 is skilled in bringing the best out in people and the expert advice service can help you see how your skills and life experience could help you succeed in fostering, even if you can’t see it yet.

So, don’t be afraid to take that first step as Foster4 will be there to support you every step of the way.