Fostering teenagers

Teenage foster children are often overlooked by potential carers. Many foster families favour younger children, believing teens are more difficult to look after. However, providing a home and nurturing environment for a young person at such a pivotal time can be an extremely rewarding experience.

What are the main foster carer responsibilities to teenagers?

Carers have a key role to play in supporting the teens they foster, but they also have responsibilities. These include encouraging them to gain valuable life skills that let them become independent and feel empowered.

They must also ensure teens are attending school and getting the most from their studies. Foster parents are also there to help teenagers deal with what is often a tumultuous time, assisting them in managing their feelings and emotions and working through teenage angst.

When appropriate, foster carers are also responsible for keeping contact with the teenager’s birth family.

Requirements for fostering teenagers

Here in the UK, there are certain requirements you must meet to foster a teenager. At our agency, we work with foster families of a diverse range of cultures, ages, sexual orientation and upbringings. Providing they can meet the legal requirement necessary and are dedicated to the young people they will provide a home for, we are always looking to meet potential foster parents.

You won’t need previous experience to foster a teen, as targeted training is provided and your race, gender, sexual orientation and ethnicity are not important. You can foster a teen whether you are single or married and whether you rent or own a house.

While there isn’t an upper age limit for a foster parent, carers must be aged 21 or above. You must also have a spare bedroom available in your home for the teenager to call their own.

It’s essential that you hold the legal right to work and live in the UK and have both the time and emotional availability needed to care for a teen foster child. However, it is possible to have a full-time job and foster in certain cases. It goes without saying that you’ll also need patience, resilience, energy and commitment.

Are you interested in foster care in Cheshire?

If you would like to become a foster parent to a teenager, you’ll find the guidance and support you need at Beacon Fostering. Whether you have some experience or are completely new to fostering, get in touch with us today to explore the services we provide.