Getting started

You can apply to become a foster carer if you are 21 years or over. Although this is the minimum age to apply we want to ensure prospective foster carers have sufficient life experience before making such a big life changing decision.

Private fostering occurs when a parent makes arrangements for their child to be cared for by someone other than themselves for more than 28 days. This includes extended family, for example a cousin, a great aunt or great uncle, a great grandparent; or a family friend. It does not include close blood relatives: a grandparent, brother, sister, uncle or aunt (whether full blood or half blood or by marriage or civil partnership) or a step-parent. A child is considered to be anyone under the age of 16, or a disabled young person under 18.

We always want to talk with potential foster carers. Additionally, if you or someone you know currently fosters with an independent fostering agency they can transfer to us. If you are a foster carer with Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council or you are an RMBC employee, there is a cash incentive Foster Carer Referral Scheme.

Level 4 carers, previously Foster Plus carers, foster children with additional needs. Level 4 carers, undergo specialist training to gain the skills and knowledge to carry out therapeutic parenting.

There are many misconceptions about who can or cannot become a foster carer. Here, we’ve put together some of the most common ones that people ask us about.

Like all children, every foster child is different. Many foster children have unfortunately had negative or traumatic experiences, which can lead to some challenging behaviours or mental health difficulties. All our foster carers receive training on how to manage different behaviours.

Welcoming a foster child into your home will be one of the more rewarding things you will ever do. However, there can be bumps in the road as you build a relationship with your foster child. Your social worker will work closely with you throughout the whole journey to ensure that both you and your foster child are happy in your home.

On average our foster carers earn £428 per week. However, the actual amount you will earn depends on a few things like how many children you have on placement in your home, their ages and other factors.

Your children are an important part of the assessment process, and we make sure that we take their thoughts and needs into account when placing a foster child into your home.

At Fostering Rotherham, we have 3 'Mockingbird Hubs'. These are groups of foster carers and social workers who are there to support each other and host events, based on the geographical location.