Fostering can be rewarding, meaningful and sometimes demanding. Foster carers help provide safe, stable and nurturing care for children and young people who may have experienced loss, uncertainty, separation, trauma or other challenges in their lives. Looking after your own physical and emotional wellbeing is an important part of being able to meet a child’s changing needs.
Having a health condition, disability, or a history of physical or mental health difficulties does not automatically prevent someone from becoming a foster carer. Each person’s circumstances are considered individually, with a focus on their ability to provide safe, consistent and nurturing care for children and young people.
Why is health considered during fostering assessments?
As part of the fostering assessment process, applicants will usually be asked to complete a health assessment or provide information about their health. This helps the fostering service understand:
- how your health and wellbeing may affect your day-to-day ability to care for a child or young person
- what support, reasonable adjustments or planning may be needed to help you fulfil the fostering role
- whether there are any current or future health considerations that may impact your capacity to provide consistent care
Health information is considered alongside many other aspects of the assessment process and is not viewed in isolation.
Talking about your health
The assessment process provides an opportunity to discuss your health openly and honestly. This may include existing health conditions, medication, past illnesses, disabilities, and aspects of your lifestyle that could affect your wellbeing.
You may also be asked about factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, exercise, sleep and how you manage stress. The purpose is not to seek perfection, but to gain a realistic understanding of how you look after your health and whether you can meet the needs of a child or young person placed with you.
People who have successfully addressed challenges in their lives, sought support when needed, or made positive changes to improve their health may demonstrate resilience, insight and determination, all of which can be valuable qualities in fostering.
If you have questions or concerns about your health, it can be helpful to discuss these with the fostering service early in your enquiry.
Smoking and fostering
Smoking does not automatically prevent someone from becoming a foster carer. However, fostering services have a responsibility to consider children’s health and wellbeing when making decisions about approval and matching.
Policies relating to smoking may vary between fostering services and may take account of a child’s age, health needs and individual circumstances.
If you smoke and are interested in fostering, it is worth discussing this openly during your initial enquiry. If you are considering reducing or stopping smoking, support may be available through your GP or local stop smoking services.
If you have experienced a serious illness
Many people who have experienced a serious illness go on to become foster carers. What is important is understanding how the illness has affected you, your current health, and any likely future impact on your ability to care for a child or young person.
As part of the assessment process, further information may be sought from relevant healthcare professionals where appropriate. Health information helps those involved in the assessment understand your circumstances and make child-centred decisions.
Each situation is considered individually, taking account of the nature of the illness, your current wellbeing, any treatment received, and the support available to you.
Mental health and fostering
Experiencing mental health difficulties, either currently or in the past, does not automatically rule someone out from fostering.
Many people will have experienced periods of anxiety, depression, stress, bereavement, trauma or other mental health challenges during their lives. These experiences can sometimes provide valuable insight, empathy and understanding.
When considering an application, the fostering service will want to understand:
- your current mental health and wellbeing
- any support, treatment or strategies that help you manage your health
- how you cope with stress and uncertainty
- the support network available to you
- your capacity to meet the needs of a child or young person
The focus is on understanding your overall circumstances, strengths, resilience and readiness for the fostering role.
Recognising strengths and resilience
Many foster carers bring valuable life experience to the role. Seeking support through counselling, therapy, peer support, medication or other health services during difficult periods demonstrates self-awareness and a commitment to wellbeing.
Being able to recognise when you need support, access help and maintain healthy coping strategies can be important strengths when caring for children and young people who may need patience, understanding and emotional consistency.
Finding out more
If you would like to explore whether fostering may be right for you, you can speak to a fostering service to discuss your individual circumstances and ask questions about the assessment process.