What household requirements should I meet before applying to foster?

Household requirements for fostering cover more than the physical condition of your home. The fostering service will assess whether your household can provide a consistent, private and suitable environment for a child, while also meeting safeguarding, health and practical care requirements. The exact criteria can vary according to the fostering service and the types of placements you are considering.

All members of the household need to be considered. This normally includes adults, children and any other people who regularly live in or visit the home. Everyone should understand what fostering may involve, including changes to routines, privacy and family life. The views of children already in the household are important, particularly where a placement could affect their bedrooms, personal space, school routine or relationships.

Adults in the household may need to complete relevant safeguarding checks and provide information about their health, employment and personal circumstances. These checks are not intended to assess whether a family is perfect. They help the fostering service identify any issues that could affect a child’s safety or your ability to provide care. You should be open about previous convictions, significant changes in circumstances and other matters that may arise during assessment.

Your home should support privacy and day-to-day care. In addition to meeting bedroom requirements, the property should have suitable shared facilities and enough room for ordinary family life. The assessment may consider:

• whether the child can have appropriate privacy and personal storage;
• the condition, cleanliness and general organisation of the property;
• access to bathing, washing, cooking and eating facilities;
• stairs, windows, balconies, garden areas and other possible hazards;
• fire safety, smoke alarms, heating and electrical safety;
• the security of medicines, cleaning products, tools, alcohol and other dangerous items; and
• whether pets or other animals can be managed safely around a child.

A fostering assessor will usually look at the home in person and discuss what changes, if any, are needed. This does not mean the property must be large, newly decorated or owned by you. The key issue is whether it can be made suitable for the child’s assessed needs and whether risks can be managed. Some placements may require additional arrangements, such as specialist equipment, increased supervision or adaptations.

Health and household routines also form part of suitability. You do not generally need to be in perfect health, but you should be able to manage the physical and emotional demands of caring for a child. A medical assessment may be requested to consider your health in context, including any condition, treatment or disability and how it affects daily life. The focus is on safe, sustainable care rather than excluding people because they have a diagnosis or impairment.

Your household should have routines that can accommodate appointments, contact arrangements, school attendance, meetings and training. Consider whether work patterns, caring responsibilities, travel arrangements or frequent overnight commitments could affect your ability to be available when a child needs support. If you foster as a couple, both adults should understand their roles and agree how responsibilities will be shared. The fostering service will discuss the practical arrangements rather than applying one arrangement to every household.

Smoking and vaping may also be discussed because exposure to smoke and related household risks can affect children’s health. You may need to follow specific rules about where smoking takes place and how tobacco, vaping products and associated equipment are stored. Pets should be declared, including dogs and animals kept outside the home, so that their temperament, supervision and potential risks can be assessed.

Before applying, it is useful to check whether:

• every household member is willing to take part in discussions and checks;
• you can provide a private, appropriately furnished bedroom and safe personal space;
• hazards can be identified and controlled throughout the property;
• your household routines can accommodate the needs of a looked-after child;
• pets, smoking, visitors and other household activities can be managed safely; and
• you are prepared to make reasonable changes if the assessment identifies them.

Do not make major alterations or buy equipment before speaking with the fostering service. Requirements can depend on the child’s age, needs and the type of fostering you are applying for. An initial discussion can clarify which household members will be involved, what checks are required and whether any specific home improvements should be considered before the assessment progresses.