North Lanarkshire Council

Why is temporary fostering important?

Temporary fostering means:

• caring for a child or children in you own home
• working with us to return them home
• helping those who cannot return home to move on with permanent families
• working closely with teachers, social workers and other professionals who are involved with the child
• caring for children over periods ranging from a few days to two years

What will we ask of you?

An application to become a temporary foster carer will be accepted from you if you are married, part of a civil partnership, in a same sex relationship or living together in an enduring relationship. You can be a one parent family or single and you do not need any qualifications to become a foster carer.

If you make an enquiry about fostering, a member of our Children's Carers' team will visit you and provide details about preparatory groups and the assessment process. The assessment is carried out using a competency based approach which allows you to demonstrate your existing skills and knowledge.

This assessment also includes:

• visits to your home
• individual interviews
• statutory checks including health and police
• references from people who know you including a family member
• reference from any previous significant partner and an employee reference where appropriate

What support will you receive?

We provide training, support and advice to help you develop as a foster carer.

We also provide a fostering allowance to cover day to day expenses of caring for a child and a fee in recognition of your role and contribution.

A day in the life of a temporary foster carer