Fostering

An extremely rewarding role

Fostering is an extremely rewarding role, whereby carers look after a child / young person for an agreed period of time working alongside a fostering agency and/or the local authority.

Fostering is encouraged in Islam and there is great importance placed on looking after vulnerable children and those who are orphaned.

There is a hadith about the virtue of taking care of the orphans:

From Sahl bin Sa’ad (may Allah be pleased with him), he said: “The Messenger of Allah sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said: “I and the one who looks after an orphan will be like this in Paradise,” showing his middle and index fingers and separating them.”

[Sahih al-Bukhari : Book 68, Hadith 53]

Fostering recruitment process

Express your Interest

Start by filling in an application to express your initial interest in fostering

Speak with our Recruitment Team

Our recruitment advisor will go through the process of fostering and assist you with any question that you may have about the process.

Referrel to Fostering Agency

You will then by referred to a relevant fostering agency or local authority and they will take over your application file.

Financial Support

Once you are an approved foster carer you will be provided with an allowance. It is important to note that part of the allowance will go towards the child's needs and the other part will be for the carer.

That exact amount of financial support will be based according to the policies in place at different local authorities and fostering agencies. Once you are officially approved as a foster carer you have to register as a self-employed individual with the HMRC and file your annual tax returns.

What support is available

Muslim Foster Network supports potential foster carers through carrying out our own vetting system and one to one liaison with an approved foster carer or trained team member who interviews potential foster carers.

Our support extends to further answering any questions you may have whilst trying to put your mind at ease. We intermediate between local authorities, independent foster agencies and prospective foster carers and in doing so carry out referrals. We also follow up and check the progress of applicants and follow through with feedback.

FAQs

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  • The health and wellbeing of children is a priority and the Government states they want children to be protected from the harmful effects of smoking. Most fostering services have their own policies surrounding smoking which is taken into consideration when any child is placed with you. Foster carers are given support to stop smoking or are unlikely to be able to foster certain groups of children under five and those with certain health conditions. All foster carers should provide a smoke-free environment for children they wish to welcome into their home.

  • Where possible, we try to keep children from the same family together, this is to prevent any stress or tension the child may experience.

  • This is a possibility, however, in some instances you’ll find that some children fit in better with a family than others, some children need more time to adjust to living in your home and sometimes things might not work out for you and the child. This may be resolved with extra support or training, conversing with your social worker or the child moving to another family.

  • The Government states that they want to see more people from different beliefs and faiths, from all sections of the community coming forward to foster. However, it is important that a child gets placed with foster carers who are able to meet their needs and they are more likely to if their religious and/or ethnic background is taken into consideration. To sum up, it doesn’t matter what your religion is as this should not affect your application to foster but you will need to take into account that a child may have an alternative religious belief or sexuality than yourself and how would you respond to it.

  • Absolutely. The fostering service will want a discussion surrounding how you would balance the needs of your own child with those that you foster. They will also view the impact fostering a child may have on your own child.

  • Previous financial problems should not affect your chances of fostering. However, you will need to submit proof that you are now financially capable of providing a stable home for any children that you wish to foster and that you are able to manage the fostering payments paid to you.