The Child, Youth and Family Service is ultimately responsible for the wellbeing of all children and young people in public care. They need to find the best way of looking after these children and young people to make sure they receive the best possible standard of care. Independent fostering agencies such as Key Assets provide a specialist fostering service and we work in partnership with them. We have our very own foster carers, social workers, therapists and education staff who work hard to ensure that the needs of the carers and children are met to a high standard and without delay.

2. What sort of children and young people are referred to Key Assets?

As an agency, we are able to provide high levels of service and support to foster carers and the children or young people in placement. We can, therefore, accept children and young people who have complex histories and may display some challenging behaviour. Our carers receive high levels of support and training from us in order to help these children and young people.

3. Who can apply to be a foster carer?

Anyone can apply to be a foster carer. It does not matter if your are single, married, gay or lesbian, young or old. Initial discussions will include questions about your home environment, motivation and commitment. Experience of fostering or related professional child care is desirable but not essential.

4. Would previous convictions prevent someone from fostering?

A previous criminal conviction would not necessarily disqualify you from fostering, it would depend upon the nature of the conviction and when it occured. It is standard for us to check police records at an early stage in the application process so we would need you to discuss any convictions with us as soon as possible so that we could decide whether or how it might affect your application. This information would remain confidential at all times.

5. What sort of checks are carried out on me and my home?

We undertake an assessment process which provides you with information about fostering and lets us get to know you. We carry out a criminal records check as well as checks with the Child, Youth and Family Service. We would also need to carry out a standard safety check on your home.

6. If I am going to be the main foster carer, do you need to carry out checks on my partner?

We regard all couples living together as partners in the fostering process, so we would require that you both have the necessary checks and training and that both take part in the assessment process.

We will also need to carry out checks on anyone in the household over the age of 18. Even if you are the main carer, anyone sharing your home will have some involvement in and influence on the fostering task.

7. Can a child I foster share a bedroom with one of my own children?

Key Assets will only place a child in a home where he or she will have their own bedroom (unless they are siblings)

8. Can I still go out to work and be a foster carer?

Although some agencies will allow this, at Key Assets we think that the high quality care which we consider everyone of our children and young people needs, can only be achieved by having one foster carer at home full time. Our foster carer/s are part of a professional and dedicated team and we offer them a remuneration and respite package which reflects their commitment.

9. Can I choose how long I want children and young people to stay with me?

Before you are approved as a foster carer/s with us, we will have discussed the different types of placements that are needed for our young people. You can decide which types of placement would suit you best. If you would prefer emergency or short term placements, you do need to be aware that it isn't always possible to know at the beginning of a placement exactly when a child will move on.

10. Can I choose which age group or sex I would prefer to foster?

Yes, you can. However you need to bear in mind that the majority of children referred to Key Assets are likely to be in the 10+ age group. If you are relying on income from fostering, you are far more likely to have continuous placements if you are willing to take teenagers as well as younger children. We do also require foster carers with sufficient space to take sibling groups. These children are often younger.

11. How much will I know about the child/young person before they are placed with me?

We discuss every placement with our foster carers and it is your decision as to whether to take a young person. We will provide you with as much information about the young person and their background as possible, including any difficult behaviour and how to manage it. You do need to be aware that sometimes we have very little information especially in an emergency. We would always however, seek to find out quickly as much as possible.

12. Who is responsible for taking the children to school and to the doctor, dentist etc?

We would normally expect foster carers to undertake these tasks. Occasionally, if you have a particular problem, your social worker would endeavour to make alternative arrangements.

13. What sort of help would I get with a child or young person who has special needs or a disability?

If a child has on-going medical needs, this will be explained to you before the placement is made and you will receive all the assistance necessary. Our role is to support you and this may include providing specialist equipment or training.

14. What sort of support will I get if I'm finding it difficult to cope?

You will have your own Key Assets social worker and support available to you 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We are building a team of children/young people's support workers to work with our carers and young people. We provide 21 nights paid respite for foster carers each year.

15. What sort of training will I get to be a foster carer?

We hold a Preparation for Assessment training course which usually takes place over three days. During the course, you will be given information about the assessment process and about fostering. Most work is in the form of exercises and role play. Course attendees, almost overwhelmingly report that they found the course extremely enjoyable and informative. Relationships formed during the course often continue after approval and provide the ongoing support network that becomes crucial.

Once our foster carers have completed our assessment process and have been approved we encourage and support those carers interested, to achieve professional qualifications.

16. How much allowance will I receive per week and what does it cover?

There is a basic allowance paid per week per child fostered. Your weekly allowance for each child fostered is intended to cover all living costs such as food, clothes, basic travel and a contribution to household bills, children's pocket money and regular recreational activities, birthdays and Christmas gifts etc. Occassionally, extra contributions can be made.

17. Will I be taxed on this income?

Our foster carers are not employees and are therefore classed as working on a 'self-employed' basis. It is important that you keep a record of income and expenditure. Taxation is an individual matter and we provide access to professional advice for foster carers.

18. If I decide to apply, how long will I have to wait before I begin having placements?

We usually start the assessment once your police and CYF checks have been received along with the medical report and some references. The length of the assessment process can vary from 4-6 months depending upon the complexity of your personal circumstances, and the availability of assessing social workers. We use qualified social workers who are independent of Key Assets. Once your assessment is completed, it will be presented to our Fostering Panel. If you are approved you can begin taking placements immediately if you are available. However, if you are fostering for someone else you may be required to give them at least 28 days notice.