Can you foster if you have children of your own in Birmingham?

Having birth, adopted or stepchildren does not automatically prevent you from becoming a foster carer in Birmingham. The assessment will look at whether fostering is suitable for your whole household, including the ages, needs and views of your children and the practical effect a placement may have on family life.

Your children will usually be included in the assessment in an age-appropriate way. They may be asked how they feel about fostering, what they understand about it and whether they have concerns. Their views are important, but the assessing team will also consider the wider circumstances, including their emotional wellbeing, routines, privacy and relationship with you.

Fostering can affect different children in different ways. A child may welcome the idea of having another young person in the family, while also feeling uncertain about sharing attention, belongings or space. Open conversations can help children understand:

• why a child may need foster care
• what fostering could change in everyday family life
• which responsibilities belong to the adults
• how their privacy and personal belongings will be protected
• who they can speak to if fostering feels difficult

Your own children should not be expected to take on the role of a foster carer or provide care beyond what would normally be expected within the family. Adults remain responsible for the foster child’s care, supervision and safeguarding. Clear household boundaries and a safer caring plan help everyone understand what is and is not appropriate.

The assessment will also consider whether your home can meet the needs of a foster child alongside those of your existing children. This includes sleeping arrangements, use of shared spaces, school and activity routines, transport, supervision and how family time will be managed. A foster child will generally need suitable private sleeping space, subject to the fostering service’s requirements and the circumstances of the placement.

Matching is particularly important when you already have children. The fostering service should consider factors such as age, personality, behaviour, additional needs, family dynamics and any potential safeguarding concerns before recommending a placement. You should be given information about the child’s known needs so that you can consider whether the placement is right for your household. You do not have to accept every referral.

If one of your children has additional needs, health concerns or is going through a significant change, explain this during the initial enquiry and assessment. It does not necessarily rule out fostering, but the assessing team will need to understand what support your child requires and whether your household has the capacity for a placement at that time.

Preparation normally includes fostering training, discussions about safer caring, and guidance on managing relationships between foster children and other members of the household. You should also be able to discuss concerns with your supervising social worker once approved. Support may include advice about behaviour, contact with birth families, household boundaries and the effect of fostering on your children.

Before applying, it can be useful to involve everyone in the household in an honest discussion and consider practical questions such as:

• How would your children feel about sharing your time and attention?
• Could family routines accommodate appointments, meetings and contact arrangements?
• How would you protect each child’s privacy and personal belongings?
• Would your children know how to raise a concern?
• Do you have enough support from relatives or other trusted adults?

The final decision is based on the overall assessment of your household, not simply on whether you have children of your own. If fostering appears suitable, your family’s circumstances will continue to be considered when identifying an appropriate placement for you.