Yes. Many foster carers have children of their own and find fostering to be a rewarding experience for the whole family. If you’re already a parent, you may be wondering how fostering will affect your children and whether having children of your own will impact your application. The good news is that many successful foster carers are raising their own children while also providing loving homes for children in care.
At South Gloucestershire Council, we understand that fostering is a family decision. That’s why we take time to get to know everyone in your household and make sure fostering is the right fit for your family.
Is it possible to foster when you have children?
Absolutely.
Many foster carers have children living at home, and their experience of parenting can be incredibly valuable when caring for children and young people in foster care. Having children of your own can help you understand children’s emotional needs, provide structure and routines, and create a warm and welcoming family environment.
Every family is different, and we’ll work with you to understand your circumstances and identify the types of fostering that might suit your household.
How will fostering affect my children?
Fostering is a shared family experience. When a child comes to live with you, they become part of your household and everyday life.
Many children who grow up in fostering families develop qualities such as:
- Empathy and understanding
- Patience and resilience
- Confidence in supporting others
- An appreciation of different life experiences
Like any change to family life, fostering can also bring challenges. Children living in care may be adjusting to a new environment and may need extra support and understanding as they settle in. That’s why we take time during the assessment process to talk about how fostering could affect everyone in your home.
Will my children be involved in the assessment?
Yes.
We believe it’s important for children to feel involved and included in the fostering journey. During your assessment, your social worker will spend time getting to know your family and talking with your children in an age-appropriate way.
We’ll explore things such as:
- How they feel about fostering
- Any questions or concerns they may have
- How fostering may affect family routines
- The support available to them
This helps us ensure that fostering is the right decision for the whole family.
Support for the whole family
At South Gloucestershire Council, we know that fostering affects everyone in the household, including your own children.
That’s why we offer dedicated support through our WAYPOINT team, which works specifically with children and young people who are part of fostering families. Whether your child was born into your family, adopted, or is part of a kinship family, they can access support designed around their experiences.
The WAYPOINT Team provides:
- One-to-one support sessions for children and young people who may be finding aspects of fostering challenging.
- Help understanding why children in care may sometimes behave differently or struggle with their emotions.
- Dedicated Children of Foster Carers Groups where young people can meet others from fostering families, make friends and share experiences.
- Regular activities including bowling, AirHop, Laser Tag, pizza making and trips out.
- Access to fostering events and celebrations throughout the year.
The team believes that children of foster carers play an important role in helping children in care feel welcome, safe and supported, and they’re there to make sure your children feel listened to and valued too.
Family events and activities
Fostering with South Gloucestershire Council means becoming part of a supportive community. Throughout the year, we organise family events that are open to foster carers, foster children and the children of foster carers.
From our Easter celebrations, Summer Festival, Halloween events and Christmas celebrations, these activities give families the chance to have fun together, build friendships and connect with other fostering families. They also help children of foster carers feel recognised and valued for the important role they play in supporting children in care.
What do children of foster carers say?
Many children describe feeling proud to be part of a fostering family.
One child of a South Gloucestershire foster carer said:
“Knowing that you’ve given someone the life they deserve over the life they had makes me feel proud of being a foster carer.”
Another young person involved with the Children of Foster Carers Group said:
“I enjoy being able to talk freely about fostering. I’ve made new friends.”
Is having children an advantage when fostering?
Not everyone who fosters has children of their own, but parenting experience can be helpful.
Many parents already have experience of:
- Supporting children through challenges
- Managing routines and boundaries
- Encouraging learning and development
- Creating a nurturing home environment
These are all skills that can be valuable when caring for children and young people who may have experienced difficult circumstances before entering care.
Could fostering be right for your family?
If you have children and are considering fostering, don’t assume that being a parent will prevent you from becoming a foster carer.
Many of our foster carers successfully balance the needs of their own family while providing safe, stable and loving homes for children in care. With the right support, fostering can be a positive and rewarding experience for everyone involved.
Find out more about fostering
If you’d like to learn more about fostering with South Gloucestershire Council, we’d love to hear from you.
Call: 01454 866423
Email: foster@southglos.gov.uk
Enquire
All fostering enquiries are handled first by our partners, Fostering South West (also known as the regional hub). The hub brings together enquiries for all local authorities across the South West. They aim to contact you within two days of your enquiry for an initial chat to help you decide whether fostering is right for you. If it is, the hub passes your enquiry to us (South Gloucestershire Council), and we support you through the rest of your fostering journey.
