You like children and young people and enjoy their company

You can work effectively alongside other people in the child’s life

You can understand, and are prepared to learn, how children behave when they have been emotionally or physically hurt

You are willing to attend training courses, foster care development courses and support groups

You have room in your home for a child or children

You do not have a police record for violence or offences against children

Whatever your marital status

Whatever your sexual orientation

Whether you have a disability or medical condition (provided it is stable and does not affect your ability to care for a child)

Even if you already have children of your own – provided your children are happy to accept a foster child into your home

Whether or not you own your own home – provided you have stable tenancy

Whether or not you work - there are different types of foster care to suit a wide range of employment circumstances

Whether you are retired - provided you are healthy and have plenty of energy to help children for a reasonable period into the future

Whether your own childhood was difficult – provided you have been able to reflect on the experience and can now use this in a positive way to help children

Whatever religious / ethnic background you are from. We need carers from all different religions / cultures in order to match children and young people with suitable families.