The skills you need

We welcome foster carers from different nationalities, ethnicities and all walks of life.

To be considered as a foster carer, we look for people with the:

  • ability to care for children and young people
  • ability to provide a safe and caring environment
  • ability to work with our children's social care
  • commitment to training and personal development

You can foster if you're:

  • aged over 18
  • mature enough and have enough energy to foster
  • married, in a civil partnership, single, divorced, or living with a partner
  • from any cultural, ethnic, religious or social background
  • LGBTQIA+
  • living within a 20-mile radius of Royal Greenwich
  • living in accommodation with a spare room
  • renting or a home owner with enough space to accommodate a child
  • in good health

You do not have to be a parent although experience of caring for a child would be useful.

If you or a member of your household smokes, we expect smoking to only take place outside your home, and you will not be able to foster children under 5 years of age.

What can prevent fostering

You cannot become a foster carer if:

  • you do not have secure housing
  • you do not have indefinite leave to remain in the UK
  • your child or children are known to social care or are currently in care
  • you have been charged with any offence against children

You may not be accepted for fostering if any of the following apply:

  • you do not have a spare room for a child
  • you're unable to show how you'll manage the fostering task whilst being in a full or part-time job - you need to show us that you have the time and the ability to meet the needs of foster children in your care
  • you speak limited English
  • you have certain pets, including any animal registered under the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976 or any dog registered under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991
  • you have potentially unsafe equipment in and around the home

Find out how to apply to be a foster carer

Contact us

First floor, The Woolwich Centre,
35 Wellington Street,
Woolwich SE18 6HQ

Telephone: 0800 052 1499

Email: Fostering-Recruitment@royalgreenwich.gov.uk